Thanksgiving Day for the Eagles was one of the better days this season.

After beating their arch rival Cowboys in Dallas 33-10 and seemingly seizing control of the NFC East and controlling their own destiny for a playoff birth, it all fell apart Sunday night.

A 21-0 hole and 38-27 loss ultimately left the Eagles on the outside looking in regarding the NFC playoff picture falling one game behind the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East.

In order for the Eagles to reclaim first place in the NFC East, help must come from the Indianapolis Colts, who travel to Dallas on Sunday for a 4:25 matchup against the Cowboys. If the Colts beat the Cowboys and the Eagles beat the Redskins on the previous day, the Eagles can clinch the NFC East with a win against the Giants in Week 17. The Eagles have a superior record among divisional opponents over Dallas so if both teams finish at 11-5, Eagles get in via tiebreaker.

Here are more details for a wild-card playoff birth:

*Eagles win out and Seattle, Green Bay OR Detroit lose out.

*Eagles lose tie breakers over Seattle and Green Bay via a head-to-head loss.

*Lions have a better NFC record over Eagles.

*Seattle faces Arizona and St. Louis.

*Green Bay plays Tampa Bay and Detroit.

*The Lions play both remaining games on the road, at Chicago and then at Green Bay.

*Both Green Bay and Detroit cannot lose out because they play one another in Week 17.

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