Consider it an unwritten rule: Never trade one of your players to a division rival. Section (b) reads: And do whatever it takes to keep him from signing with them as well.
The New York Giants found this out the hard way on Sunday.
The Philadelphia Eagles cruised to a 28-3 win over the Giants thanks to a former Giants’ player.
Saquon Barkley steamrolled New York’s defense for 176 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries. Barkley had played his first six seasons for the Giants before signing with the Eagles as a free agent this offseason.
The Giants probably aren’t the only NFC East team ruing letting Barkley go to Philadelphia.
The Dallas Cowboys, who did not play this week, also declined to pursue Barkley along with Derrick Henry. The two are both in the top five in the NFL in rushing.
Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders crushed the Carolina Panthers to remain in first place in the division.
Despite losing their starting quarterback early in the game.
Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
The Cowboys were on their bye week this week, still licking their wounds from the 38-point blowout loss to the Lions.
While 3-3 is far from doomsday, the Cowboys are sitting in third place in their own division. If the playoffs were to start this week, Dallas would be at home watching the entire tournament.
That isn’t good.
Of concern is a brutal stretch of games ahead. Of the Cowboys’ remaining 11 games, only two could be considered certain wins.
The Thanksgiving Day game against the Giants at home and a Week 15 game at Carolina.
Dallas still has two games each against the Eagles and Commanders. Both of those teams appear to be in better shape than the Cowboys.
The next four games are at San Francisco and Atlanta followed by home games against the Eagles and Texans.
Dallas is 0-3 at home so far this year.
Clearly, the Cowboys have a lot of work ahead if they want to make the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
They are now 1.5 behind Washington and a full game behind Philadelphia.
Next game: at San Francisco, Sunday, 7:20 p.m.
New York Giants (2-5)
Joe Schoen is probably thinking he’s in one of those Southwest Airlines commercials that go like this:
This is Schoen’s third season as the Giants General Manager. He’s already bucking to beat out Jerry Jones as the worst GM in the NFC East.
Maybe even the entire NFL.
Co-Owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have probably been giving Schoen the stinkeye since Sunday’s blowout loss to the Eagles.
Philadelphia steamrolled the Giants on Sunday, thanks mostly to the efforts of Barkley. Letting Barkley get away and then not replacing him?
Yeah, that just might be a job killer right there.
Neither Schoen nor Head Coach Brial Saboll should make long term employment plans that involve remaining in the NFL in the New York area by the end of this year.
Saboll was the man Schoen hired and the duo in just under 2.5 seasons are a combined 17-22-1. Those numbers get people fired.
Next game: at Pittsburgh, Monday, 7:15 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
The Eagles looked wobbly earlier in the year.
To be fair, missing their top two receivers exposed quarterback Jalen Hurts as a player incapable of carrying a team.
But now both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are back. Unfortunately for Cowboys’ fans, so are the Eagles. Having a strong, reliable running game really takes the heat off the quarterback, doesn’t it?
Are you reading this, Jerry and Stephen Jones?
Granted, Philadelphia was playing the Giants. But the Cowboys barely beat the Giants in New York earlier this year.
The Eagles had no such struggle.
The Cowboys are almost certainly going to have to sweep the Eagles and get some help elsewhere if they want to get past Philadelphia in the standings.
Next game: at Cincinnati, Sunday, Noon.
Washington Commanders (5-2)
The Commanders likely saw their entire season flash before their eyes on Sunday when Jaylen Daniels left the game with a rib injury.
Only up 10-0 on the Panthers, Washington turned to Marcus Mariota to replace Daniels. The Commanders didn’t miss a beat.
By the time the game ended, Washington walked off the field with a dominating 40-7 win over Carolina and retained possession of first place in the division.
Daniels will likely be ready to go for Sunday’s game against the Bears in a showdown of rookie quarterbacks. However, the Commanders have to be feeling good knowing Mariota can step in like he did against the Panthers.
Next game: hosting Chicago, Sunday, 3:25 p.m.