Talking heads like Eagles in 3-horse race atop NFC

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was in elementary school the last time an NFL conference entered Week 16 with three 12-win teams. The year was 1984, when Dan Marino’s Dolphins wound up capturing the AFC’s No. 1 seed ahead of John Elway and the Broncos. Seattle finished third in the three-horse race.

The Eagles are the new Dolphins. And after both Philadelphia (12-2) and Minnesota (12-2) both handled business on their home turf last week while Detroit (12-2) lost to Buffalo, the door is now open for a massive shift in the NFC’s playoff picture. Stephen A. Smith thinks the race belongs to Philadelphia, soaring on a 10-game winning streak thanks to Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and Vic Fangio.

“The Eagles, healthy, No. 1 total defense, No. 1 scoring defense,” Smith said Wednesday on ESPN’s First Take. “We’ve been talking so much about Hurts, Saquon and the crew, remember they are still sporadic offensively. Defensively is where they’ve elevated, and they’ve shined. Number one. This is what Vic Fangio has this defense looking like.”

Co-host Jeff Saturday agreed. The former center said the Eagles will claim the top spot in the NFC not only because they’re the best and healthiest team in the NFL. Philadelphia also has a favorable remaining schedule. Following its trip to Washington (9-5) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Philadelphia’s remaining games are against the Cowboys and Giants. The Eagles also have a shot at back-to-back NFC East titles, something no team done since Philadelphia did it from 2001-04.

“I feel confident that the Eagles will win out,” Saturday said.

The Lions, however, control the destiny of the conference because they currently possess the NFC’s best record (8-1) in conference games — the first tiebreaker to separate more than two teams — while Philadelphia and Minnesota are both 7-2. Detroit also is undefeated in NFC North division games, with wins against the Vikings, Bears and Packers. After traveling to Chicago (4-10) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Detroit gets the 49ers on the road and Minnesota in a Week 18 showdown at Ford Field.

But many expect Detroit’s unbelievable injury situation to cost the Lions at least one game down the stretch. And in an end-of-season tie between the Eagles and Vikings, according to the Detroit Free Press, could push the NFL’s tiebreaker criteria to a fourth step: Strength of victory. That would be bad news for Philadelphia because the team’s Minnesota has defeated have a better winning percentage than the Eagles’ list of wins.

Regardless of what happens as the NFL nears the season finale, expect a fantastic finish.

“It is amazing that we are talking about 15-2 for three different teams,” Saturday added. “That just shows you how good these playoff games are going to be. These are some good football teams, and it is fun to watch them come and have to play before the playoffs and then turn around and go play in the playoffs. I am fired up for it.”

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