With both the Cowboys and Eagles playing their third game in 13 days, Week 13 couldn’t have played out any better for Dallas.
The Cowboys overcame an off-performance on defense to rally for a win over Seattle on Thursday.
The Eagles got steam-rolled by the 49ers. The loss set up a chance for Dallas to tie Philadelphia for first in the division this Sunday.
The Commanders continue to sink to the bottom of the division with another blowout loss.
The Giants won without even playing as they had a bye week and moved out of last place in the division.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys (9-3) might have been looking ahead to Sunday’s matchup against the Eagles at AT&T Stadium when they faced Seattle last Thursday.
It nearly cost them a victory and any hope for the NFC East title. Somehow they managed to escape with a 41-35 win over the Seahawks.
The game felt eerily similar to their 28-16 Week 3 loss to the Cardinals. The Cowboys defense came out flat and could not stop Arizona.
But, unlike that loss, this time the Cowboys’ offense kept them close.
For most of the game, the defense made Geno Smith look like a Hall of Fame quarterback. But when it counted they got stops on Seattle’s final three drives.
Dak Prescott was 29-for-41 for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He completed passes to eight different receivers.
If Prescott keeps playing at this level, and the Cowboys defense plays at its best, the NFC East division is Dallas’ to lose.
But first Dallas has to beat the Eagles at home this Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles’ fans: How you doin?
It seems we have the answer to how last year’s NFC Championship game might have played out if the 49ers had a healthy quarterback, no?
Philadelphia has been possibly the worst 10-1 team in NFL history. They’ve barely won half of their games this year.
Many victories have come on a slew of fortunate breaks **cough** favorable officiating **cough**.
The Eagles could just as easily be 5-7 as 10-2 following the 42-19 beatdown San Francisco laid on them on Sunday.
Speaking of beat downs, not long ago I mentioned there are too many non-essential personnel on the sidelines?
What is the Eagles’ chief of security doing on the sidelines and engaging in a confrontation with an opposing player?
That person should be fined by the league. He should also be banned from the sidelines for the rest of the season.
As for the on-field action that counted, the game had barely ended when the excuses began. Most notably from Howie Long on Fox.
“The Eagles played their third game in 13 days,” he whined.
Guess who else played their third game in 13 days during this week’s schedule, Howie?
The Dallas Cowboys, who went 3-0 during that stretch.
Philadelphia comes into AT&T Stadium on Sunday. With a win, Dallas would be tied for first in the NFC East.
New York Giants
The Giants had a great week and they didn’t even see the field of play this week.
With New York on a bye week they were guaranteed not to lose this week. They also managed to move out of the basement of the division.
Thanks to the Commanders loss to Miami, the 4-8 Giants are a half-game ahead of Washington.
The Giants host the Packers on Monday night with a chance to take a full-game lead on the Commanders who have a bye next week.
Washington Commanders
Maybe they fired the wrong coach in D.C.?
After the Turkey Day massacre at AT&T Stadium the Commanders (4-9) fired two defensive coaches.
Former Cowboys linebacker (1989-91) Jack Del Rio was dismissed as the team’s defensive coordinator. Ron Rivera took over those duties.
It did not help. The Miami Dolphins torched Washington 45-15 on Sunday.
It was surprising that the Commanders did not dismiss their head coach instead following the 45-10 loss to the Cowboys.
But with a losing season now assured Rivera can’t possibly survive to be the head coach in D.C. in 2024.
The Commanders (4-9) have a bye week then head west to play the Rams in Los Angeles on Dec. 17th.