Back to winning, Eagles in control of playoff hopes

PHILADELPHIA — It took the Philadelphia Eagles 13 weeks to win consecutive games and they have to keep doing it to reach the playoffs.

At least the defending Super Bowl champions control their fate.

If they win out, they’ll secure the NFC East. But Philadelphia has the league’s toughest schedule in the final quarter of the season.

A first-place showdown at Dallas (7-5) is up next followed by a trip west to face the Los Angeles Rams (11-1). The Houston Texans (9-3) visit Philadelphia on Dec. 23, and the Eagles finish the season at Washington (6-6).

“We have our work cut out for us for sure,” quarterback Carson Wentz said following Monday night’s 28-13 win over the Redskins.

After an embarrassing 48-7 loss at New Orleans two weeks ago — the most lopsided defeat by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history — the Eagles seemed to be in trouble. They had a slew of injuries and easily could’ve used excuses to pack it in for this season.

Instead, they rebounded with back-to-back wins for the first time since Nick Foles led them in the playoffs last season.

“Obviously, we didn’t start the way we thought we were going to, but I think this one really speaks to the overall resiliency of this football team, the character of the guys in the locker room,” tight end Zach Ertz said.