Last year, through 11 weeks of the NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles looked poised to cruise to the NFC East title.
They were 9-1 and would win in Week 12 to go to 10-1. In short, the Eagles looked unstoppable.
Then they lost five of their next six games to finish 11-6 and a game behind the Cowboys in the division.
Fast-forward to this year. The Eagles looked shaky at the start and suffered through key injuries.
Despite that Philadelphia is now 8-2, hold a 1.5 game lead over the Washington Commanders, and only have two tough games left over the remaining seven games.
Unless they repeat last year’s epic collapse, Philadelphia is on their way to the division title and the playoffs.
The difference between this year and last is the man upstairs for the Eagles. Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has his unit playing well.
They’ve only allowed over 25 points in a game twice so far.
Defense wins championships. Defense is why the Eagles are likely going to win the East and make a deep run into the playoffs.
The Commanders will likely have to settle for a wild card spot. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are already looking ahead to 2025.
Here’s how the NFC East fared this week:
Dallas Cowboys (3-7)
The Cowboys aren’t even the best professional football team in Texas.
To be honest, I’m not sure if they’re even the second-best football team if you throw in the state’s college teams.
I wrote the previous two sentences prior to Monday night’s loss to Houston. Given how banged up the Cowboys were coming out of that game they might not even be in the Top five now.
A five-game losing streak has all but ended the season for the Cowboys, who are now only a game out of last place in the division.
The only NFC team with a worse record are the Giants.
Dallas currently sits four games out for the last wildcard spot in the NFC.
With only seven games remaining, while still not mathematically eliminated, that is an almost impossible mountain to climb. Especially with the injuries piling up.
Next game: at Washington Commanders, Sunday, Noon.
New York Giants (2-8)
Good news Giants fans!
You didn’t lose again this week. Well, your team didn’t play but hey, they didn’t lose and that’s about as good as it gets for Big Blue.
But just because the Giants had the week off, it doesn’t mean they didn’t make the news.
Starting quarterback Daniel Jones has been demoted. All the way back to QB3 at that.
Tommy DeVito will start for New York with Drew Lock serving as backup.
It seems all but certain that Jones’ days in New York are numbered.
Next game: hosting Tampa Bay, Sunday, Noon.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
The happiest person on the planet that the Eagles came back and beat the Commanders on Thursday night football? Eagles kicker Jake Elliott.
Elliott couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from three feet away on Thursday.
He would have been given the “Boo Santa Claus” treatment in the City of Brotherly Love if Philadelphia had lost.
Saquon Barkey, that washed up running back Dallas couldn’t be bothered to check into, torched Washington for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
He scored those touchdowns just 20 seconds apart at that.
Barkley and Baltimore Derrick Henry, another guy Jerry Jones couldn’t bother to call in the spring, are dueling for the rushing title. Dallas has Rico Dowdle.
How about them Cowboys.
Next game: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 7:20 p.m.
Washington Commanders (7-4)
Washington probably lost the division on Thursday night. But they are alive and well for the playoffs and will need to rebound.
They get the Cowboys at home for their next game and then the struggling Titans before finally getting a much-needed bye.
The Commanders looked sluggish on offense against the Eagles on short rest. Look for the team to be a little more fired up for Dan Quinn Bowl I against Dallas.
Next game: hosting Dallas, Sunday, Noon.