Carson Wentz’s injury could disrupt an already complicated NFC playoff race

No team had a more bittersweet Sunday than the Eagles. They were the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs, going from worst to first in the NFC East in just one year. But they also may have lost their quarterback for the rest of the season. Carson Wentz, in the midst of an MVP campaign, tore his ACL on Sunday. He will miss the rest of the season.

Right now, the Steelers are the only other team we know for sure will be playing in January, and they did it a way — a last-minute Chris Boswell field goal to rip the hearts out of their opponents — that’s officially a bigger Pittsburgh trend than coleslaw and fries on a sandwich.

Don’t forget about the Patriots, either (as if you could if you wanted to). They could lock up the AFC East for the gazillionth-and-one time if they beat the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.

Let’s see how things are shaping up elsewhere in the playoff race this week. But first, let’s answer the question on everyone’s mind: What does it mean for the Eagles that Wentz can’t play?

The Eagles are on top of the NFL with 31.1 points per game, and they just beat a definite playoff team in the Rams. But Wentz’s torn ACL leaves things in limbo.

Wentz’s season, and his MVP campaign, are over. The Eagles will be then have to turn to Nick Foles, who had that really good season that one year and has been mostly backup material ever since.

The Eagles still have one of the best defenses and rushing games in the season, though. They’re not necessarily done even without Wentz. But the NFC was going to be a tough road even with Wentz. Things just got a whole lot harder for the Eagles.

Teams that are ready to pounce: The Vikings fell this week, but it was on the road against an inspired effort from the Panthers. Minnesota, which held the No. 1 seed last week, is just one game back from Philly, and any Eagles misstep coupled with a Vikings win could put the Vikings right back on top next week. The Rams, Saints, and Panthers are all hovering just two games behind the Eagles.

All of them are contenders: complete teams with strong (and healthy) quarterback play. There’s not much room for error in the NFC.

** clinched division

No, but it’s gettin’ good. The Jaguars in particular are keeping things interesting — and not just with the way they get under the skin of their opponents.

Here’s where things stood after Week 13:

And here’s how it looks after Sunday’s Week 14 games wrapped up:

** clinched division

The Jaguars are now the leaders in the AFC South, thanks in part to the Titans crapping the bed against the Cardinals. The Jags’ chances to stay on top look pretty favorable, too. They have the Texans and the 49ers on the schedule over the next two weeks. This division may come right down to Jacksonville’s Week 17 matchup against the Titans.

If we’ve learned anything from this NFL season, it’s that the whole “any given Sunday” thing is pretty accurate.

The Panthers beat the Vikings, 31-24, Sunday, just a week removed from a 31-21 loss to the Saints. And the Falcons pulled off a 20-17 win over the Saints seven days after failing to even score a single touchdown against the Vikings.

It looked like the Packers were going to hand the Browns Cleveland’s first win of the season and fall to 6-7. Instead, Green Bay came back for a 27-21 overtime win and improved to 7-6. It’s the perfect scenario for Aaron Rodgers to return this week from his broken collarbone and do that thing Aaron Rodgers always does: carry this team that was on the brink of death all the way to the playoffs.

The Cowboys and Lions also needed wins this week to keep playoff hopes alive. Dallas has the Raiders up next, but a tougher end to the season against the Seahawks and the Eagles. The Lions have winnable games against the Bears and Bengals, but a matchup against the Packers with a healthy Rodgers in Week 17 may kill their playoff chances.

The Titans and Ravens are penciled in there now, but the Bills and Chargers are tied, record-wise, with Baltimore. If you want to get excited about an AFC team, you really only have one choice out of that bunch: the Chargers. They haven’t lost since Week 10, and they’ve outscored opponents 131-53 since then.

Almost all of them? Let’s dive in ...

If Chargers win: First place in the AFC West!

If Chiefs win: They stay in first place in the division and can mostly forget about whatever disease they got in November.

If Packers win: They’ll improve to 8-6. If the Seahawks, Lions, and Falcons all happen to lose, the Packers have a much better chance of sneaking into the playoff picture.

If Panthers win: They’ll strengthen their hold on a wild card spot, at least. And if the Saints lose, they’ll take over first place in the division.

If Eagles win: They’ll hold on to the top spot in the NFC and remain the team to beat, even with Nick Foles behind center. If the Vikings also lose, then the Eagles will clinch home-field advantage.

If Giants win: The Eagles could slip back to No. 2 with a Vikings win. But they’re getting to the postseason no matter what.

If Jets win: The Jets are still alive in the AFC, but just barely. A Jets win would level the playing field in the NFC South and give the Panthers a chance to take the division from the Saints with a win.

If Saints win: They clinch a spot in the postseason and hold on to the top spot in the NFC South.

If Rams win: They’d get revenge from their earlier loss to the Seahawks and stay on top of the NFC West for another week.

If Seahawks win: It would be their second win over the Rams this season, and Seattle would go from outside the playoff picture to first place in the NFC West.

If Steelers win: Maybe it means they solved their Patriots problem? And, oh yeah, they’re probably getting the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

If Patriots win: Another No. 1 seed for New England. That’s boring, we know.

If Falcons win: They’re in a must-win situation for the rest of the season with the Panthers and Saints both ahead of them in the division. Their road to the playoffs goes through Tampa Bay.

If Buccaneers win: The Falcons’ playoff chances will be in jeopardy, especially if the Seahawks, Packers, or Lions win.

Well, we’ll try. For fans of the Browns, Giants, Colts, 49ers, Broncos, Bears, Bucs, and Washington, congrats on the top-10 pick in the 2018 draft.