Since coming up short in Philadelphia in the first game of the month, the Dallas Cowboys have taken care of business.
Dallas has won three in a row since that loss by a combined score of 127-37.
The wins were against teams they should have beaten soundly. Unfortunately, the Eagles have matched the Cowboys win-for-win.
The Cowboys remain two games back of the Eagles for the division lead and for the No. 1 seed in the NFC with six games to play.
The Giants and Commanders are fading into the sunset at 4-8.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys avenged a 41-16 loss to Washington on Thanksgiving Day in 2020 — the last time they met on the holiday — with a brutal beat down.
The game was close in the first half, with Dallas holding a 20-10 lead before Dolly Parton stole the show at halftime.
Dallas put up 25 points in the second half. DaRon Bland’s 63-yard interception return was that extra dallop of whip cream on the pie.
About the only thing that went wrong was Brandon Aubrey missing his third extra-point attempt of the year.
It’s puzzling because he’s 22-for-22 on field goals. Aubrey has hit on all six field goal attempts of 40 yards or more.
Aubrey thinks he knows why he’s missed those three point after tries.
He attributes it to rushing a little, which would account for tugging them to the left as he has.
Still, if that’s the only concern for Dallas right now, it’s not a major issue. Their upcoming schedule is however.
The Cowboys (8-3) have home games against the Seahawks and the Eagles.
Then they hit the road to play the Bills and Dolphins. Dallas gets a young, hungry Lions team at home before closing the season out at Washington.
That loss to the Cardinals when Dallas was sleepwalking in the first half may yet haunt this team.
Philadelphia Eagles
There can be only one explanation. Someone in the Eagles’ organization sold their soul to this guy.
It’s the only theory that makes any sense to explain how the Eagles (10-1) keep winning the games they’ve won this year.
In addition to making plays – and getting 59-yard field goals in the rain – they appear to be getting the calls. And the non-calls just when they need them.
I know the adage is that good teams make their own breaks. But how they are managing to strike the officials blind eludes most of us.
A missed horse collar tackle and two missed pass interference violations by Darius Slay on Sunday are added to an ever-growing list of good breaks.
The irony of the Eagles’ 37-34 overtime win over the Bills is that if not for Buffalo, the Eagles would have lost 34-31 instead.
Following Buffalo’s 42-36 loss to the Chiefs in the 2021 Divisional playoffs, the NFL changed the rules for overtime.
Instead of the first team to score wins, the rule allowed for a team to get a possession if their opponent only scored a field goal on their first possession.
Buffalo kicked a field goal in overtime. Prior to the 2022 season, that would have won the game.
But now, the Eagles had a chance to tie the game or win with a touchdown.
They got the touchdown and the win.
New York Giants
The Giants have won two in a row!
Calm down everyone. They beat the Commanders and the Patriots.
At 4-8 New York has likely won its last game of 2023.
The Giants have the Packers, Saints, Eagles, Rams, and Eagles left to play. They won’t lose this Sunday as they are on a bye.
The only mystery hanging over this team is whether or not Brian Daboll will see a third season as head coach.
After Sunday’s 10-7 snoozefest victory over New England, Daboll is 13-15-1 as the Giants’ headman.
He might get one more year. But he’ll start 2024 sitting on a very warm seat.
Washington Commanders
The Ron Rivera watch is officially underway in D.C.
The Commanders head coach responded to Thursday’s 45-10 loss to Dallas by jettisoning two of his defensive coaches.
Former Cowboys’ linebacker Jack Del Rio was one of the sacrificial lambs as he was ousted as Washington’s defensive coordinator.
At 4-8, the Commanders host Miami on Sunday and then get their bye week. After that it’s the Rams, Jets, 49ers, and Cowboys.
Maybe they beat the Jets.
But 5-12 and four straight non-winning years – Rivera’s best season was 8-8-1 last year – may spell the end for Riverboat Ron.