The Eagles' path toward clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs

The Eagles were the first team to clinch a playoff berth this year, per FOX Sports. Now, they can clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs if they play their cards right.

The Eagles-Cowboys Christmas Eve showdown is arguably the biggest game of the year for the Eagles. 

The Eagles will clinch the NFC East Division title and No. 1 seed with homefield advantage in the NFC playoffs with a win against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve, per NFL.com. After the fact, the Eagles can rest their starters for the last two weeks of the season. When you factor in the first-round bye, this'll give the Eagles' starters three full weeks of rest.

The Eagles' chances to clinch rest on the shoulders of backup quarterback Gardner Minshew after MVP candidate Jalen Hurts sprained his shoulder in last week's win over the Chicago Bears. Minshew started two games last season, racking up 439 passing yards and four touchdowns to go along with a 104.8 passer rating. The Eagles offensive personnel is loaded with talent. If Minshew can drop back and play the role of facilitator, it might be enough for the Eagles to come out victorious on Christmas Eve.

However, the Cowboys have one of the top-10 scoring defenses in the league heading into this grudge match, per Pro Football Reference. They're also fighting for a chance to dethrone the Eagles for the NFC East Division title. Make no mistake, this is a must-win game for both teams. 

In total, Hurts is expected to miss two games because of his injury, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Following the game against Dallas, the Eagles will play the New Orleans Saints (5-9) on New Year's Day and the New York Giants (8-5-1) for the season finale.