The Philadelphia Eagles are poised to have the best week of any NFC East team not named the Washington Commanders.
That’s because the birds are goodbye.
Chaos reigns right now in this famously inflamed division where power dynamics are constantly shifting.
And it’s not just because rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has traditional last-place finisher Washington (3-1) in first place, scoring 30.3 points per game, one win short of the total by four Commanders wins for the entirety of last season.
It’s also because, while the Giants (1-3) alone occupy last place, the Eagles (2-2) and Dallas Cowboys (2-2) both appear capable of scrambling and joining them without any relevance.
The ground is just as shaky under the feet of head coaches Brian Daboll, Nick Sirianni and Mike McCarthy, respectively, as it seemed heading into this pivotal season for all three programs.
The question now is whether Dallas and Philly are able to catch up, or if the carnage will only engulf them as well, as the schedule continues into October.
The Giants’ outlook is bleak.
They haven’t won the division since their last Super Bowl season in 2011, while the Cowboys have won five NFC East titles in those 12 seasons, the Eagles have won four and Washington has won three.
The Giants are in last place in the entire NFC conference, not just in division.
Joe Schoen’s roster is weak. Star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) appears likely to miss Sunday’s game at Seattle. The players’ discontent is palpable.
And an upcoming stretch against the Seahawks, Bengals, Eagles and Steelers could realistically bring the Giants back to 1-7 before a rematch in Washington and a Week 10 trip to Germany to potentially face the Panthers of Carolina for the No. 1 pick next April.
There is, however, a resigned acceptance of the Giants’ place from their frustrated fan base, having finished third or fourth in the NFC East in six of the last seven seasons.
The Eagles, who have won 25 of their 34 regular season games over the past two years, are in a more constant state of drama because of the disparity between their expectations and reality.
Sirianni’s lack of solutions, quarterback Jalen Hurts’ regression and the worrying dynamic between coach and QB are getting most of the attention, rightly so in many ways.
Hurts’ dismissive remark after the game in Tampa that he and Sirianni “have our moments” was nothing short of undermining.
But general manager Howie Roseman shouldn’t skate for the defensive personnel he’s put on the field. The levels of talent and execution are mostly embarrassingly low and well below the standards set by Roseman and this organization in recent years.
They allow 365.8 yards (29th in the NFL) and 24 points (23rd) per game.
Meanwhile, we shouldn’t forget that Hurts said after the Eagles’ pathetic loss to the Bucs that he needs to do a better job of communicating what he sees on the field.
It seemed like an indictment of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s original plan against Todd Bowles’ defense and the Eagles’ inability to pivot and respond.
Injuries to top players AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith and Lane Johnson also played a significant role in the team’s Week 4 misfire. But there will be no excuses when Philly returns from the bye to host the Cleveland Browns, visit the Giants and Bengals, then welcome old friend Doug Pederson and the Jacksonville Jaguars to South Philly.
Not that the Cowboys have the better situation.
Dallas saved itself from 10 days of national ridicule with a close 20-15 victory over the Giants on Thursday night. But they haven’t beaten a good team yet. The list is very heavy.
They commit punishment like humans breathe oxygen. And a strong defensive night against the Giants’ pathetic running game doesn’t guarantee that the Cowboys’ rushing defense (145.8 yards allowed per game) will fare well against the Pittsburgh Steelers and at home against the Detroit Lions before Dallas leave.
Next, they have to travel to the San Francisco 49ers out of the break.
McCarthy’s Cowboys are 12-5 in three straight years, but this season’s version seems less consistent. Owner Jerry Jones did the coach and team no favors by sitting idly this offseason and not signing free agent running back Derrick Henry after the team’s home playoff embarrassment. last year against the Green Bay Packers.
And with a clearly deficient defense despite some talent, they will have to be more explosive in attack or risk losing their wheels.
McCarthy has elevated Dak Prescott’s Cowboys offense to first in the NFL in 2021 (31.2 points per game), fourth in 2022 (27.5 points per game) and first in the league again in 2023 (29 .9 points per game). Prescott was the MVP runner-up last year.
But right now, the Cowboys are scoring just 24.3 points per game, 11th in the NFL, which would be the lowest since their 24.7 per game finished 17th in the NFL in 2020 – when Prescott had played only five games and Andy Dalton led most of the others. .
Meanwhile, former Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s Commanders sit in first place despite a shaky defense (25.5 points, 257 yards allowed per game), with a favorable upcoming schedule against the Browns, at the Ravens, then welcoming the Panthers and the Bears.
Who would have thought the best in the NFC East would be in Washington? Better yet, who will join the Giants in the cellar?
The drama promises to build in week 5.
