Posted December 25, 2017 at 11:55 PM | Updated December 26, 2017 at 12:24 AM
By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles have faced plenty of adversity over the past month, and Monday's mistake-riddled victory over the Oakland Raiders, 19-10, to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs was no different.
After losing to the Seahawks, losing Carson Wentz for the season with a torn ACL the following week against the Rams, surviving against the Giants and barely getting by a Raiders team that was eliminated from the playoffs, the Eagles needed some luck to secure home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Here's a look at five key takeaways from Monday night's victory.
NFL: Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles
Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports
What the win means:
While Monday night’s game is not destined to be remembered as a classic, the Eagles’ victory clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
This season marks the Eagles’ first entrance into the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 1 seed since the 2004 season, when they reached the Super Bowl before falling to the New England Patriots.
The dilemma facing head coach Doug Pederson: Play his starters and risk injury in the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, or rest them and risk piling rust on top of a misfiring offense that looked badly out of synch on Monday night.
Secondary redeems itself (kind of)
With 54 seconds remaining in regulation, DB Ronald Darby intercepted Derek Carr, handing the offense the ball at the Eagles' 48-yard line with a chance to win the game.
The saving turnover came a week after allowing 435 passing yards to Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
The Eagles held Carr to 150 passing yards, but it wasn't all good for the secondary. Amari Cooper got cornerback Jalen Mills to bite on a double move that led to a humiliating 63-yard touchdown with 12:46 remaining in the second quarter.
Carr's long touchdown pass could be worrisome ahead of potential playoff matchups against the likes of Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Jared Goff or Matt Ryan. But holding the Raiders to 87 passing yards other than Mills' blunder is an improvement over recent weeks.
Limitations of offense with Nick Foles come to the forefront.
With :21 remaining in the third quarter and the Eagles facing a 3rd down and 4 from the 15-yard line, Foles scrambled to his right briefly before throwing it away. Foles and the Eagles' offense's inability to convert the third down opportunity led to Jake Elliott missing a 33-yard field goal try.
The play exemplified Carson Wentz's value to the offense, as he made countless scrambles for first downs prior to tearing his ACL in his left knee two weeks ago against the Rams, and the Eagles' offense was the most efficient on 3rd down with Wentz behind center this season.
In addition to the Eagles struggles on 3rd down (finishing the game 1-for-14), Foles was far from accurate throughout the game and only completed five passes for 40 yards to the wide receiver position.
Foles finished 19-of-38 passing for 163 yards with one touchdown and one interception.