Well, it’s official: the NFC East is the best division in Football. Sure, the AFC West has three teams at 7-2, but they’ve also got the 4-5 San Diego Chargers, so there’s no way we can put them above a division where the 5-4 Iggles are pulling up the rear. (Besides, one of those 7-2 teams is led by Andy Reid, so there’s no doubt the ceiling there is low enough to slam your head against).
As it stands the NFC East is the full gambit of Cheez-It flavors. We can argue till the sun comes up which is the most delicious, but there's no argument that they’re all pretty darn fantastic. Don’t even try bringing those Ritz crackers up in here. I won’t have it.
Here’s a look at what happened this weekend in the NFC East, with as much Philly silver lining added as possible.
Washington
What Happened: Washington got their first victory in nearly a month, coming from behind to beat the plummeting Minnesota Vikings at home 26-20.
The D.C. Defense gave up all 20 points in about a six minute span in the 2nd quarter, but shut the Vikings down after that. The star was 2nd-year linebacker Preston Smith (two sacks and an INT) who, if he played for Dallas, would likely be being heralded on ESPN right now as THE NEXT BIG THING.
Philadelphia Eagles
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Bradford, meanwhile, ended the day 31 of 40 for 307 yards, including two touchdowns and an interception you could argue maybe wasn’t his fault. And that’s just Classic Bradford, isn’t it? Like something shiny on the beach, it’s enough to get you optimistic… but is likely a dangerous piece of glass that will leave you cut and bleeding and miserably unhappy.
What It Means: This was really a no-lose scenario for the Iggles (or, if you prefer your glass half-empty, a no-win scenario… you jerk). While Washington getting a victory is never a good thing, the fact that they defeated Bradford’s Vikings is fantastic, since the Eagles will receive their first round pick in next year’s NFL draft. #TrustTheProcess
Besides, every win Washington comes away with this season increases the chances Kirk Cousins is the signal caller come 2017. And while this blogger is done calling him the worst quarterback in the history of the NFL (at least until the next time he throws a game-swinging interception), he’s not turning into Peyton Manning anytime soon. Or Dak Prescott.
What’s Next: A home game against a suddenly desperate Green Bay Packers squad. This may be the first time Washington is favored against Green Bay since Don Majkowski started at QB for the Pack.
New York Giants
What Happened: Like our Eagles, the New York Giants came back from a fourth quarter deficit to get the win at home, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 21-20 on Monday Night.
All three of the Giants scores were off Eli Manning passes (which means we don’t have to talk about his interception from his own 13-yard line… or the potentially game-changing interception he threw with the lead late in the 4th quarter). The expensive Giants defense stepped up when it needed to as well, keeping the Bengals out of field goal range through the entirety of the 4th quarter and helping New York hold onto a precious one-point lead.
Meanwhile, the Bengals ended their 2016 run against Eagles-rivals with an 0-2-1 record, so… thanks for nothing Cincinnati. This is exactly why Ken Griffey wanted a Seattle hat for his Hall of Fame plaque.
What It Means: The Giants are now the second hottest team in the NFC East, winners of four in a row. Wait, seriously?
Yep, the New York Giants are feeling warm and fuzzy --- so much so, that the lovable Odell Beckham Jr. is already talking about a Super Bowl. Beckham has called his defense a “Super Bowl defense,” though what rating system he is going by, I haven’t the faintest. The Giants defense is 16th in yards per game (behind contenders like Jacksonville, Houston, and Los Angeles). They’re also 11th in points allowed per game (behind contenders such as Baltimore, Arizona, and Kansas City). And they’ve spent more time on the field than EVERY OTHER TEAM, except for Chip Kelly’s Niners and the 0-10 Browns. In other words, they are a mediocre defense at best and a crummy one at worst.
But sure, yeah, definitely -- this is a Super Bowl defense.
What’s Next: Almost certainly another stupid antic or comment from OBJ that gives me a splintering migraine. Also, games against the Bears and the Browns, which will almost certainly run the Giants win streak up six.
Dallas Cowboys
What Happened: Like the TV show LOST, the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon was absolutely thrilling, but the ending WAS THE STUPIDEST THING EVER and proved the entire thing was a waste of time.
Dallas defeated Pittsburgh 35-30 in what was legitimately the most exciting game of the NFL season. Prescott fumbled in the first two minutes. The Steelers missed a pair of two point conversions (to quote Andy Reid, we all can count). Ezekiel Elliott had an 83-yard screen pass reception for a touchdown. Big Ben had a fake spike. Sayid blew up in a submarine. The whole thing was madness!
And it ended on an Elliott 32-yard touchdown run up the middle that left all of Pennsylvania red with fury.
What It Means: The Cowboys control their fate, not just in the Division, but in the Conference as well. As wonderful as the Iggles whupping of the Falcons was, it actually benefitted ‘dem Boys, giving them a clearer path towards home field advantage.
But here’s the good news: The Tony Romo Era appears to be over. And he’s handling it well! Good for him… that’s like Sean Bean saying he’s happy with the way he’s been typecasted.
Well, time will tell if that’s actually good news or not. Prescott appears to be the real deal (though he is benefitting tremendously from a supporting cast Donovan McNabb still dreams about), and the easiest argument against him (“He’s a 4th round pick, how good can he really be?”) is countered by recent history (Russell Wilson, taken just a round earlier) and less-recent (Romo himself went undrafted).
Irregardless, the Cowboys have their eyes set not on an NFC East crown, but on the crown OBJ is already measuring for himself. And the Eagles can actually help them out by beating Seattle next week -- the kind of reality that feels like a C-Clamp to the small intestine.
What’s Next: A chance for John Harbaugh to show he still loves us. The Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens at home next Sunday.
