With the Patriots sitting tenuously atop the AFC with a 7-3 record, they know that they must finish the season strong in order to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are scratching and clawing just to get a sniff at the postseason. Teetering on the edge of elimination with a 4-6 record, they are two games behind both the Cowboys and Giants in the NFC East. With an impressive finish, and a bit of help, the Eagles could find themselves hosting a first-round playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field.
The importance of this game is not lost upon two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady. The 12-year veteran quarterback knows that "a lot is on the line."
"This is a very important game for us," he said. "We're putting everything we have into this week."
Brady, indeed, is not taking the Eagles lightly. Despite a 4-6 record, he and the Patriots coaching staff know that they are facing off against a very good team in Philadelphia.
"They're very talented," he said. "There's no question about that. You look at their defensive and offensive numbers and they're as good as any team in the league. They can play with anybody and they're a tough team in all phases."
In fact, in a radio interview with WEEI in Boston Tuesday, Brady explained how Patriots head coach Bill Belichick believes the Eagles may be the most talented team they've faced all season.
"They're skilled at every position," said Brady. "If we can go on the road and win a really tough game at the most important time of the year, that will say a lot about this Patriot team.
"Really, they have threats everywhere on defense. They rush the passer as well as anybody that we've faced this season and they have two of the best corners in the league, both of whom can intercept passes."
One of those corners is former Patriot Asante Samuel. Brady will be keeping an eye on the three-time All-Pro defensive back, who he knows, from experience, to be one of the premier playmakers in the league.
"He makes a lot of plays and he's been doing that since we originally drafted him in 2003," he said. "He's a great player and I loved playing against him because he brought out the best in our receivers every day in practice.
"He's always a threat to intercept the ball. As a quarterback, you always have to pay attention to those guys. He does it as well as anybody that I've ever played against."
In fact, Brady believes the entire Eagles defense has a big-play mentality that has trickled down from Samuel to the other 10 starters.
"They force you to get rid of the ball quickly and they pressure you immediately," he said. "It is a very athletic and fast group. They're really dangerous and I think we have to execute as well as we've executed all year in order to go out and try to win this game."
Whichever team loses this game will find itself in a tough spot. The Patriots would likely lose possession of the top spot in the AFC and could see their two-game lead over the Jets in the AFC East be cut in half. For the Eagles, a loss would be devastating. Dropping to 4-7 could put them three games back from both the Cowboys and Giants with only five games to play. With a win, the Eagles could find themselves just one game out of sole possession of the division.
As will be the case every week from here on out, this week's game is the biggest of the year for the Eagles.
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