Predicting the rest of the Eagles season based on the whereabouts of Joel Embiid

The Philadelphia Eagles always win with Sixers star Joel Embiid in attendance.

As multiple Twitter folks have made note, the Eagles are 3-0 when beloved Philadelphia 76ers center and noted advocate of The Process Joel Embiid is in the crowd. Now, the Eagles are, of course, 8-1 overall this season and that means the team has obviously won games that Embiid did not attend. Because that’s how math works.

Still, they have never lost *with* Embiid in the stands and so the potential attendance of the NBA star is just one more factor you are encouraged to consider in your personal quest to talk yourself into/out of the Eagles. We’ve made that slightly easier for you and identified the likely whereabouts of Embiid for the rest of the season.

Week 10: Nov. 11 / Bye Week

The Eagles have a bye week, which is actually a bit of good luck because the Sixers, Embiid included, will be out of town this weekend, playing the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in Oakland and the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in Los Angeles.

Weel 11: Nov. 19 @ Dallas

Philadelphia the basketball team then enjoys a run at home, facing Golden State again on Saturday and Utah Jazz on Monday. Unfortunately, the Eagles are decidedly not in town, finding themselves instead in Dallas facing the Cowboys.

We’ll get into the pros and cons of Embiid sneaking in an Eagles game between Saturday and Monday Sixers games in a moment, but it’s certainly more achievable than getting Embiid to an Eagles away game. Which is to say, prepare for a loss since it’s unlikely Embiid will be able to squeeze in a day trip to Dallas on Sunday.

Week 12: Nov. 26 vs. Chicago

The 76ers play the Orlando Magic on Saturday, Nov. 25 and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Nov. 27 and both games are in Philly. The Eagles play the Chicago Bears, also in Philly. Which meaaaans: Technically, Embiid could make the Bears game and provided a much coveted Embiid Boost.

Dare to dream that Embiid makes the game. Spoilers: Looking at the rest of his schedule, this may be his last shot.

Week 13: Dec. 3. @ Seattle

Joel finds himself with another weekend at home in Philly, this time playing the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, Dec. 2 and the Phoenix Suns on Monday, Dec. 4.

The Eagles, on the other hand, are far, far away in Seattle, playing the Seahawks in an evening game.

Week 14: Dec. 10 @ L.A.

Bad luck for the Eagles. The afternoon Philadelphia is set to play the also-buzzy Los Angeles Rams, in L.A., Embiid will be playing the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans. The Eagles play at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Sixers play at 7 p.m. ET. The flight from L.A. to NOLA is three and a half hours, closer to four if you count time taxi-ing on the runway.

Unfortunately, there’s just no way for the Eagles to get even a sliver of Embiid luck against the Rams.

Week 15: Dec. 17 @ New York

Circle the date! Embiid can make this one! If he gets creative! He plays on Friday in Philadelphia against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Monday, the Sixers travel to Chicago to play the Bulls. We’re not saying it’s the most responsible decision in the whole world, but technically, Embiid could squeeze in an early afternoon Eagles game in New York before meeting up with his team in the Windy City.

Subsequent Eagles record pending, he just may need to.

Week 16: Dec. 25 vs. Oakland

The Eagles are not getting an Embiid Boost for Christmas, unfortunately. Joel will be occupied playing the New York Knicks during the noontime game of the NBA’s mildly misguided but usually exceptional Christmas day slate.

Elsewhere, in the NFL, Monday Night Football apparently continues undaunted by the holidays, in fact, encouraged by the holidays, adding a second game. Said second Monday night / Christmas game is Philadelphia hosting the Oakland Raiders at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Philly football begins at 8:30 p.m. ET, which actually gives Embiid plenty of time to make it back, but really, at what cost? Let the man spend his holiday as he chooses.

Week 17: December 31 vs. Dallas

Another holiday, another conflict of schedule. Embiid will be with his teammates in Phoenix Suns on New Year’s Eve, as part of a five-game road trip that begins way back on Dec. 23. And who among us would ask someone we care about to leave sunny, hot Arizona to spend three-to-four hours outside in Philadelphia in the throes of winter?

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Not great, Eagles fans! There’s nothing to say that the Eagles can’t still keep winning as they have been — besides, perhaps, actual football analysis — but unfortunately it does not appear that Joel will be free all that frequently to bring his good mojo to game day.

That said, Embiid *is* free Feb. 4, 2018.