"Unlike millions of boys and girls who opened their presents Saturday morning, the Eagles will have to wait until Jan. 2 to find out whether Santa brought them what they wanted most for Christmas.

Aside from something silver, shiny, and shaped like a football on a pedestal, what they want most is the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

"I want that two seed. I want that bye week. I want home field," Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said last week. "That's important, especially the home field. If you get home field this time of year, it's big."

Several things have to happen for the Eagles to secure the NFC's No. 2 seed, first of which is beating the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. The next step would be topping Dallas the following week. Finally, Chicago would have to lose one of its final two games.

If all of that happens, and it could - the Eagles are and will be heavily favored in their next two games, and the Bears have tough contests against the New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m.) and Green Bay - then the Eagles' 12-4 record would trump Chicago's 11-5 mark.

If both teams finish 12-4, though, the Bears own the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Eagles then would finish as the No. 3 seed and host a first-round playoff game against a wild-card opponent.

But looking ahead can be dangerous. For evidence, see 2008 and 2009. But first things first: If the Eagles win Sunday, they clinch the NFC East and coach Andy Reid's ninth playoff appearance in 12 seasons. Of course, the Eagles could clinch by kickoff if the New York Giants lose a 4:15 p.m. start at Green Bay."