Around the NFC East week 7

Only two of the 4 NFC East teams were in action on Sunday since the other two, Eagles and Redskins, square off tonight on Monday Night Football.

We'll start with the good, or actually in an Eagles' fans view the bad... The Cowboys rebounded from their shaky early season form with a quality performance coming out of their bye beating the Falcons 37-21. Monmouth University product Miles Austin had his second standout game in a row and Tony Romo, who had been a turnover machine this year, also played well. It was a nice win for Dallas, but it's also fair to say that the percentage of teams who win when playing at home the week after their bye is very high.

The Giants, who two weeks ago were looking like the odds on favorite to win the NFC, suddenly find themselves in a free fall of sorts. Two weeks ago they were blown out by the Saints in a game that was billed as an early season contest for NFC supremacy. Yesterday, they lost at home 24-17 to the Arizona Cardinals. Eli Manning had a poor game throwing 3 picks and the Giants defense once again faltered surrendering a comeback win and 24 points to the Cardinals. The Giants also struggled to consistently run the ball, which when combined with their defensive ineptitude the past two weeks signals bad things for the G-men if they can't get it corrected. Undoubtedly the strength of the Giants is their run game and their defense. When neither of those work, they can't win games. The Giants travel to Philadelphia next week.

The standings in the NFC have suddenly tightened up, with the Giants, Cowboys, & Eagles all currently tied in the loss column. The Giants have yet to have their bye, so they hold a half game lead in the standings. The Eagles' true position in the division will obviously be determined after tonight's game. If the Eagles win tonight and beat the Giants next week, they will take the division lead by virtue of tiebreakers.