Only three of the NFC East teams saw the field in Week 7, but that did not stop the division from creeping up the NFL Power Rankings. Three of the four teams are now in the top 10, and even the lowest-ranked team moved up a few spots with a crucial victory on Sunday.
Week 8 will bring the league precariously close to the mid-way point of the season and the contenders are beginning to pull away from the pretenders.
The NFL trade deadline will come on Monday following the bulk of Week 8 action and already there are NFC East teams making moves to augment positions in an effort to improve on what is already proving to be a highly competitive division beyond many preseason predictions.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, 2-0 division)
NFL Rank per NFL.com: 2 (no change)
Week 7 Result: Bye
The Eagles did not win this week, but only because they did not play. With the bye week comes an opportunity for the NFL’s only unbeaten team to get some rest and get ready to take on the second half of the season.
So far, the Eagles have been one of the league’s most surprising teams, finding ways to win on offense, defense, and special teams. On the anniversary of the 1972 Dolphins’ undefeated season, it is starting to look more likely that this Philly team could be the first to threaten the record since the New England Patriots fell one game short of the NFL’s most elusive accomplishment.
The Eagles will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 30.
2. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, 2-1 division)
NFL.com Rank: 4 (+2)
Week 7 Result: 24-6 Win vs. Detroit Lions
Dak Prescott is back at QB for the Cowboys, a day that could not come soon enough for many fans. After watching Cooper Rush get the team four out of five victories but hardly any points, it is imperative that Dallas gets the offense moving in the right direction. Prescott got his first passing touchdown of the season late in the fourth quarter.
The Dallas defense continues to be the headliner for this team, recording five total turnovers, including three fumble recoveries and two picks. The defense lost one of its most promising corners in Jourdan Lewis on the second interception when the player broke a bone in his foot, but the Cowboys have excellent depth at cornerback and are not likely to miss a beat.
Dallas faces the Chicago Bears on Sunday, who are coming off a demolition of the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football.
3. New York Giants (6-1, 0-1 division)
NFL.com Rank: 6 (+1)
Week 7 Result: 23-17 Win at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Giants have won some very close games this year through a combination of excellent coaching decisions and sheer luck. Another close win on Sunday came courtesy of a goal-line stop that would have seen the Jaguars take a victory away from the Giants, but the defense came up big in the moment to secure the fourth straight win of the season for New York.
Sooner or later, this team is going to run into a roadblock they cannot get through. It took a fourth-quarter touchdown and a field goal to edge out Jacksonville, a margin that is too close for comfort.
Only two teams that the Giants have defeated have winning records, and the sole loss of the season came against division rival Dallas. Big Blue is going to need more than luck when they face some of the better teams still ahead on the schedule, including a rematch with the Cowboys.
4. Washington Commanders (3-4, 0-2 division)
NFL.com Rank: 28 (+2)
Week 7 Result: 23-21 Win vs. Green Bay Packers
When Carson Wentz was ruled out this week, it looked like there were few chances that the Commanders could stay relevant. With Wentz out, Taylor Heinicke was given the keys to the bus. He did just enough over the course of the game to secure a win, including two first-down passes in the fourth that prevented Aaron Rodgers and Co. from attempting yet another late-game comeback victory.
The Commanders are in a big year of restructuring, both as a team and as an organization.
At 3-4, the Commanders are still very much in the mix going forward, but will need to clean up their performances during Wentz’s absence in order to provide Heinicke the opportunity to win. Heinicke will need some support from the underperforming cast of offensive players if he hopes to cash in his win bonus for some blue and white Jordans next week.
The Commanders face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in the first full game since the team benched starting quarterback Matt Ryan.
