538 bye

After beating the Cowboys on the road for sole possession of first place in the NFC East, it almost feels like the big game is behind us for now. But Sunday’s afternoon’s game against Seattle has major implications too, especially for the first round bye.

According to FiveThirtyEight, the Eagles currently have a 48.8% chance of getting said bye. With a win against Seattle, that percentage jumps by 25.3%(!), and a loss drops it down 29.4%. That swing of 54.7% means the Eagles’ bye chances increase to 74.1% with a win, and slip down to 19.4% with a loss.

Though there is much more at stake in the AFC’s games this week — another 55 point swing for Miami in terms of playoff chances — the Seahawks/Eagles matchup is the most important in the NFC.

The big game against Dallas is over, sure. But now it’s on to the next one. And after that? Another potential first-place-on-the-line clash.

[The Eagles don’t hold all their own, ahem, Cards yet. Arizona and Green Bay are both 9-3, too, and hold tiebreakers over the Birds. But, the Cardinals appear to be heading in the wrong direction and have to play the Chiefs, Rams, Seahawks and 49ers.]

Check out all the scenarios here.

H/T to (@smokesdawg88)