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The Philadelphia Eagles are 1-4-1. They’re a bad and very injured football team.
And yet they’re totally going win the NFC East.
Right?
It sure feels that way after watching the Dallas Cowboys get blown out by the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. A look at the updated division standings:
1) Dallas Cowboys: 2-4
2) Philadelphia Eagles: 1-4-1
3) New York Giants: 1-5
4) Washington Football Team: 1-5
Talk about a dumpster fire.
DALLAS COWBOYS
The Cowboys still rank first but it’s hard to imagine them retaining that position.
That Dallas defense is absolutely dreadful. They’re allowing 36.3 points per game. That’s 4.3 more than the next worst defense. They can’t stop anybody.
The Dallas offense is looking screwed without Dak Prescott. Andy Dalton has a 72.6 passer rating so far. Ezekiel Elliott, who has the sixth most CAREER touches of running back in the NFL, clearly isn’t the same player he once was. The Cowboys have talented wide receivers to work with but that doesn’t matter much with their offensive line in shambles due to injury.
The Eagles’ defensive line is one of the few good things Philly has going for them. Philly should be able to wreak havoc on Dalton. We’ll see soon enough when the Eagles host the Cowboys in Week 8.
New episode of The ODDcast on The @SBNationNFL Show
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) October 20, 2020
Cowboys expert @rjochoa tells us why he doesn’t want Dallas to win the NFC East
Eagles making progress?
Respect the Steelers
@StatsOnFire still doesn’t believe in Nick Foleshttps://t.co/uyLGPLxcQ1
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles have no shortage of issues. They’re incredibly injured, they turn the ball over too much, the defense can be too leaky ... they’re just not a good team.
To their credit, though, they’ve hung with two of the NFL’s best teams over the past two weeks. Carson Wentz is looking better after his truly terrible start to the season.
We’ve seen enough from the Eagles to reasonably feel like they can be the least worst team in this division. Which really isn’t saying much.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Had Washington converted on their two-point conversion at the end of Sunday’s game, the Giants would likely be 0-6 right now. This team is terrible.
Daniel Jones has thrown just three touchdowns to six interceptions this season. His 71.0 passer rating ranks second worst in the league, only ahead of Sam Darnold on the 0-6 New York Jets. Jones has also fumbled four times, bringing his career count to 22 in 19 games played.
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
They’ve lost five straight since beating the Eagles in Week 1, including their most recent defeat to an awful Giants team. They’re the worst team in the NFL’s worst division.
Kyle Allen, who owns a career 83.1 passer rating, is their starting quarterback. They’re going nowhere fast with him leading the way.
The Football Team has some nice players on their defensive line, as the Eagles experienced, but Washington has still allowed the 10th most points in the league.
WHO’S GOING TO WIN?
Let’s compare the schedules.
2020 NFC East Remaining Schedules
Eagles | Cowboys | Giants | Football Team |
---|---|---|---|
Eagles | Cowboys | Giants | Football Team |
vs. Giants | at Football Team | at Eagles | vs. Cowboys |
vs. Cowboys | at Eagles | vs. Buccaneers | BYE |
BYE | vs. Steelers | at Football Team | vs. Giants |
at Giants | BYE | vs. Eagles | at Lions |
at Browns | at Vikings | BYE | vs. Bengals |
vs. Seahawks | vs. Football Team | at Bengals | at Cowboys |
at Packers | at Ravens | at Seahawks | at Steelers |
vs. Saints | at Bengals | vs. Cardinals | vs. 49ers |
at Cardinals | vs. 49ers | vs. Browns | at Seahawks |
at Cowboys | vs. Eagles | at Ravens | vs. Panthers |
vs. Football Team | at Giants | vs. Cowboys | at Eagles |
Eagles projected record: 6-9-1
Giants projected record: 5-11
Cowboys projected record: 4-12
Football Team projected record: 3-13
WHAT’S THE POINT?
On one hand, I worry that the Eagles winning the NFC East is a false positive. The team will take pride in being the first team to repeat as division winners since 2004. They’ll take pride in making the playoffs for the fourth straight year in a row. Winning the division won’t inspire necessary and meaningful change that’ll help the team be better off in the long run. There will be more frustrations in 2021.
On the other hand, it would be nice for the Eagles to get the playoffs if Carson Wentz and young players get them there. They’re obviously not going to be able to make much noise in the postseason but it could be good experience nonetheless.
Assuming the Eagles do find a way to make the playoffs, it’s entirely possible they could face a familiar face in the first round. Can’t you just imagine Wentz versus Nick Foles taking place at Lincoln Financial Field in early 2021?
Poll
Which team will win the NFC East?
This poll is closed
-
78%
Eagles
-
14%
Cowboys
-
3%
Giants
-
3%
Football Team