The current state of the NFC East is a worrying one. I’m officially declaring a STATE OF EMERGENCY! Why?! Well here’s why: The Eagles, even at 6-7, are still in the race for the NFC East title. How? Well, the Cowboys have actually fallen to 6-7 after back-to-back losses and now they face the Rams next week, while the Eagles take on the Redskins. Neither game will be easy at all as both teams are still struggling in their own ways.
Here are the current standings:
1. Cowboys 6-7
2. Eagles 6-7
3. Redskins 3-10
4. Giants 2-11
So as it stands, the Eagles and Cowboys are tied for the NFC East lead but Dallas currently owns the tiebreaker. This makes the week 16 matchup a monumental one if both teams can muster a win this weekend.
The Cowboys will have a tough stretch to end the season as they face the Rams, Eagles, and Redskins.
The Eagles have an easier setup but let’s be honest, nothing has been easy for this team all year. They have the Redskins, Cowboys, and Giants left to end the season.
If the Eagles win out and end at 9-7, the division is theirs. No doubt about it, BUT if the Eagles lose ONE and still beat the Cowboys, then they still win the division. In this scenario, the Eagles would preferably need the Cowboys to lose either two games or lose to the Redskins in addition to losing to the Eagles.
The final scenario would be a big “IF”. IF the Eagles lose to the Cowboys, they would need the Cowboys to lose to the Rams and the Redskins. Actually, wait. That wouldn’t work because that would leave both teams at 7-9, with the Cowboys having more division wins than the Eagles.
Long story short, the Eagles need to handle their business for the next three weeks. It’s going to be tough, especially with the unknown availability of the Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. They may need to bring the Marken Michel up from the practice squad while possibly looking to add a veteran free agent.
As for the Cowboys, the matchup against the Rams may be more telling than any other game. The team is falling apart, especially with the black cloud hanging over Jason Garrett’s head. While Dak Prescott is leading the league in passing yards, he still hasn’t been able to elevate his team out of the slump. The defense also has seemingly lost its edge in recent weeks.
Both teams scream inconsistency but they’re both still in the race to host a playoff game. It’s going to be a wild ride for the next few weeks so make sure you’re prepared for it all. Stack up on all the needed supplies! The NFC East is going to be on full lockdown until week 17.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
