Eagles can secure top seed with win

Philly coach will let players have family time on Christmas

PHILADELPHIA — All the Philadelphia Eagles need to ensure they stay home in January is one more win.

A victory over the Raiders (6-8) on Monday night secures the NFC’S No. 1 seed for the Eagles (12-2) and gives coach Doug Pederson an opportunity to rest his starters in Week 17. First, they have to beat the Raiders. “If we’re in that position, if we’re fortunate enough to be in that position, to rest, I’ll make a decision at that time,” Pederson said.

“But I think it’s important here in these next couple of games that we continue to play. I think it’s important to maintain the edge, maintain the aggressiveness. If it’s one play, one series, one quarter, I’ll make that decision at that time.”

Players and coaches will have an unusual game day because it’s Christmas. Pederson is allowing the guys a bit of family time.

“I think it’s important that they spend time with their families Christmas morning, so I’m giving them an opportunity,” Pederson said. “I pushed the schedule back just a little bit. We don’t play obviously till 8.

“Listen, you don’t get these times back. You don’t get them back. It’s too important to me, my family. I want to make sure these players with young kids, coaches with young kids, they get a chance to spend Christmas morning together.”

Pederson, a former backup quarterback, is a players’ coach. He gets it. So after the Eagles returned to practice after three consecutive road games, including a long trip to the West Coast, he cut back on their workload.

The extra day to prepare for the Raiders gave Pederson a chance to rest some banged-up players earlier in the week.

“I just make sure I communicate with the players and see how they feel, see where they’re at, and then just monitor some of the GPS stuff that we’re doing (with sports science), tracking data that’s out there that we have and then just overall injuries, too,” Pederson said.

“The health of the football team overall. Listening to players and things of that nature, giving them that extra rest, staying off their feet, more up-tempo walkthrough practices this week. It’s been good. Guys are feeling good. We’ve just got to keep guys fresh and healthy.”

Resting players is a priority because the Eagles have suffered a slew of injuries to key players. Carson Wentz was having an Mvp-caliber season when he tore his ACL in

Week 14.

Nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, middle linebacker Jordan Hicks, return specialist Darren Sproles and special teams ace Chris Maragos also have sustained season-ending injuries.

Nick Foles makes his second start filling in for Wentz. He tossed four touchdown passes in a 34-29 win at the New York Giants last week and had an historic performance against the Raiders four years ago.

Foles tied an NFL record with seven TD passes in Philadelphia’s 49-20 win at Oakland on Nov. 3, 2013. His performance sparked an impressive turnaround and the Eagles went 7-1 in the second half after a 3-5 start to win the NFC East title in Chip Kelly’s first season.

The Raiders face the Eagles in Philadelphia on Christmas night for a “Monday Night Football” matchup. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown: