NFL Playoff Picture: Jayden Daniels Hail Mary prevents Eagles from taking first place in the NFC East standings

The Philadelphia Eagles were primed to overtake first place in the NFC East.

In what was their most encouraging win in some time, the Birds beat the Cincinnati Bengals by 20 points to advance to 5-2.

And then it looked like the Washington Commanders were set to drop to 5-3. Down three points and down to their final play from their own 48-yard line, they needed a miracle.

Much to the Eagles’ chagrin, the Commanders got one with Jayden Daniels heaving up a Hail Mary touchdown to Noah Brown.

Pretty annoying for multiple reasons!

The Eagles failing to move into first place.
The Commanders not even playing all that well, failing to score a touchdown before this final play, and winning anyway.
Daniels looking like a problem the Eagles will have to deal with in their division for years to come.
Washington having this good vibes season, turning a page to a new era under different ownership. Just kinda feels like it’s their year in the division.

The Commanders are now 6-2. Next up on their schedule: a road game against the lowly New York Giants and a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Then they’ll face the Eagles in Philly on Thursday Night Football in Week 11. It’s looking like that one has the makings of a really good and important game. The Eagles will just have to take matters into their own hands if they’re not going to get help from other teams.

Here’s a look at the current NFC playoff picture.

PROJECTED PLAYOFF TEAMS
DIVISION LEADERS
1) Detroit Lions: 6-1
2) Washington Commanders: 6-2
3) Atlanta Falcons: 5-3
4) Arizona Cardinals: 4-4

WILD CARD TEAMS
5) Green Bay Packers: 6-2
6) Minnesota Vikings: 5-2
7) Philadelphia Eagles: 5-2

…

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN (I CAN SEE THROUGH YOU, SEE YOUR TRUE COLORS)
IN THE HUNT

8) Chicago Bears: 4-3
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-4
10) San Francisco 49ers: 4-4
11) Seattle Seahawks: 4-4
12) Los Angeles Rams: 3-4
13) Dallas Cowboys: 3-4

DEEPLY UNSERIOUS TEAMS

14) New York Giants: 2-5*
15) New Orleans Saints: 2-6
16) Carolina Panthers: 1-7

*Teams that have yet to finish playing in Week 8 as of this original publish time.