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Top 5 players who will decide the NFL playoff race

By Patrick Morgan

Oct 4, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) is sacked by Washington Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (91) and Redskins outside linebacker Trent Murphy (93) in the final seconds of the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) is sacked by Washington Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (91) and Redskins outside linebacker Trent Murphy (93) in the final seconds of the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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5. Sam Bradford

Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s hard to imagine, but Chip Kelly’s Eagles are still somehow very much alive in the race for the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoff race. If Philadelphia wins out over the last two weeks, they will capture the NFC East with an awe-inspiring 8-8 record. It starts with a win at home over the ‘Skins this Saturday night, and then a trip to the Meadowlands in Week 17 to tangle with Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.

The Eagles defense has been allowing an average of 35.6 points per game over the past five weeks, which doesn’t instill a lot of confidence in Philadelphia’s ability to contain Manning-to-OBJ or Washington’s suddenly red-hot Kirk Cousins and a rejuvenated power running game. If the Eagles want to best their division rivals, they’ll probably have to outscore them.

Enter Sam Bradford. The Sooner product has had an up-and-down season in his first foray as an Eagle, battling injuries and inconsistent play all season long. He hasn’t been helped at all by a receiving corps plagued with untimely drops and a largely ineffective DeMarco Murray, but Bradford still has almost as many interceptions (13) as he has touchdowns (16) on the season.

The Eagles were definitely the winner in the Bradford/Foles QB swap, but they’ll need him to be at his best if they hope to win their second NFC East title in the Kelly era.

Next: 4. C.J. Anderson

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