49ers playoff picture: Analyzing run home with Vikings, Eagles
Eagles run home
- Week 16: Dallas Cowboys @ AT&T Stadium
- Week 17: New Orleans Saints @ Lincoln Memorial Field
- Week 18: New York Giants @ Lincoln Memorial Field
Analysis
Exactly how long Jalen Hurts is out for is yet to be decided. A sprain to the throwing shoulder can be a difficult thing to come back from quickly, but the most difficult one will be the immediate game in Week 16.
The Dallas Cowboys are a good team, yes, and it would be hard enough to win in Texas even with Hurts at quarterback. The Eagles are likely to just rest Hurts for this game and take the loss if they need to.
The final two games are against two teams in the playoff hunt, but neither is as good as the Cowboys and both will be played in the hostile environment at Lincoln Memorial Field. The New Orleans Saints will be desperate for victories as they try to win the mediocre NFC South, but it’s worth wondering exactly how good they can be at Philadelphia even if Hurts doesn’t play that game.
In short, the NFC South is exceptionally bad. But we already knew this.
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The Giants are an interesting challenge to end the season. The NFC East is the exact opposite of the NFC South, and all four teams are above average at worst and the Giants fit into that category. The Giants might even have a playoff spot sown up by this point, but if they don’t, they’ll find the extra gear against a hated divisional opponent.
All in all, however, the Eagles are vastly superior to the Giants, and you would still make them the overwhelming favorite in this game.
Prediction
The window is slightly open for the 49ers or Vikings to take advantage of the injury to Hurts, but the truth is there might just be too much ground to make up in not enough time.
The Vikings are vulnerable, however. They’ve not been especially impressive and they won’t be able to do a massive comeback every week. The Niners are firing on all cylinders and are the superior outfit, they should be able to win out and take advantage.
No. 1 seed: Philadelphia
No. 2 seed: San Francisco
No. 3 seed: Minnesota
Next. 49ers must put these players on a snap count over final 3 games. dark