While the Cowboys are looking for answers, the Commanders and Eagles are looking toward the playoffs.
Last week helped draw a clearer line between the haves and the have-nots in the NFC East. Unfortunately, your Cowboys find themselves on the wrong side of that demarcation. As Dallas is trying to turn things around, the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles are gaining steam in what’s becoming a two-horse division race.
Washington’s season is officially special. QB Jayden Daniels, who was questionable during the week with a rib injury, outshined top-overall pick Caleb Williams as the Commanders beat the Chicago Bears on a Hail Mary pass to none other than former Cowboys receiver Noah Brown.
The Eagles didn’t wait until the last minute to put their last opponent away. Tied 10-10 with the Bengals at halftime, Philly turned it on in the second half and came away with an impressive 37-17 road win. It was the most balanced and proficient that the Eagles have looked all year; a good point to build from as they enter the back half of the season.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ loss to San Francisco has them hovering just above the Giants in the division’s basement. Whatever issues Dak Prescott is having right now, Daniel Jones has more. But while New York is clearly the worst team in the NFC East, the Cowboys are far closer to their end of the spectrum right now than Philadelphia or Washington
Current NFC East Standings
- Washington Commanders 6-2 (1-0 in division, 4-1 vs NFC)
- Philadelphia Eagles 5-2 (1-0, 3-2)
- Dallas Cowboys 3-4 (1-0, 1-3)
- New York Giants 2-6 (0-3, 1-4)
The Commanders will likely be 7-2 after Week 9 thanks to a game against those lowly Giants. While divisional matchups can get fluky (see the Browns upsetting the Ravens last Sunday), the odds are strongly in Washington’s favor. With only the Steelers, Falcons, and two games against the Eagles looking like tough matchups on their remaining schedule, the Commanders could cruise to a division title with their current momentum.
Philadelphia should be able to keep pace this week by hosting their own cupcake in the Jaguars. This is a big week for the Eagles to show they are finding rhythm and not reverting to the consistency that’s been seen over their first seven games. If they handle Jacksonville like a contender should, it will make next week’s game in Dallas very scary for Cowboys Nation.
This week, Dallas will be the underdog in a road game against Atlanta. While the Falcons’ three losses in 2024 have all come at home, they were against the Steelers, Chiefs, and Seahawks. The Cowboys are at least one cut below those teams and will have a hard time slowing down Kirk Cousins and Bijan Robinson with their defensive issues. It could easily be another separation Sunday in the NFC East between Dallas and its rivals.