It is time for another NFL Sunday, and through two weeks, the NFC East has already given us plenty to talk about; this past week, in particular, was pretty crazy for this division.
The Philadelphia Eagles sit alone atop the division at 2-0, which comes as no surprise, while the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys are both 1-1, and Washington is already in a major hole at 0-2.
Three of the four teams will play today, while the Eagles get the Monday Night Football spotlight in Chicago against either Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum (yes, he’s still in the NFL).
With major quarterback injuries, a game in Brazil, and multiple teams facing the difference between 2-1 and 1-2, there is plenty at stake. Let’s jump into everything you need to know for each NFC East team in Week 3.
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 3-0 Start is Right There for the Taking
- Matchup: On Road vs. Bears (-4.5 Point Favorite), 7:15 PM CST Kickoff (Monday Night Football).
- Expected Major Injuries: WR Hollywood Brown (OUT), TE Dallas Goedert (OUT), OT Fred Johnson (OUT), EDGE Jonathan Greenard (QUESTIONABLE).
- Biggest Storyline: Can Philadelphia finally put together a convincing win against a Bears team without Caleb Williams?
The Eagles are 2-0, but they certainly have not looked unbeatable getting there. Philadelphia needed a late stop to beat Washington 24-22 in Week 1, then escaped Tennessee with another close 24-20 win last Sunday.
Those are two bad teams, but still, wins are wins, and the circumstances are setting up nicely for them in Chicago.
Caleb Williams has officially been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and Bagent, their QB2, is questionable with a concussion. That leaves either Bagent or the aforementioned Keenum to face one of the better defenses in football.
Philadelphia has its own injuries, particularly with Dallas Goedert out, but given the injuries on the other side, this is a game they should win. Give me the Eagles to improve to 3-0 on Monday night.
2. Washington Commanders: An 0-3 Start Could Bring Serious Trouble
- Matchup: At Home vs. Seahawks (+7.5 Point Underdog), 12:00 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: QB Jayden Daniels (OUT), LB Frankie Luvu (OUT), TE Chig Okonkwo (OUT), G Sam Cosmi (OUT).
- Biggest Storyline: Can Marcus Mariota keep Washington’s season alive against the defending Super Bowl champions?
Things could not have gone much worse for Washington through two weeks.
The Commanders lost a close opener to Philadelphia, got beaten 37-20 by Dallas in Week 2, and lost Jayden Daniels to a dislocated elbow on a fluke play in the process. He is now considered week-to-week, which means NFL veteran QB Marcus Mariota gets the start today.
Unfortunately for Washington, Seattle is just about the last opponent you want to see in this situation. The Seahawks are 2-0, Sam Darnold is returning after missing Week 2, and their defense has been among the NFL’s best through two games.
Maybe Mariota provides a spark, but with Daniels, Luvu, Okonkwo, and Cosmi all out, I don’t see an upset happening. Give me Seattle in a blowout, sending Washington to a brutal 0-3 start, and causing major questions around Dan Quinn’s future.
3. New York Giants: Life Without Jaxson Dart Starts Now
- Matchup: At Home vs. Titans (-2.5 Point Favorite), 12:00 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: QB Jaxson Dart (OUT), EDGE Brian Burns (QUESTIONABLE), CB Deonte Banks (QUESTIONABLE), S Tyler Nubin (QUESTIONABLE).
- Biggest Storyline: Can Jameis Winston keep the Giants competitive after losing Jaxson Dart?
What a difference one week can make.
After New York’s dominant Week 1 win over Dallas, there was insane excitement about what Jaxson Dart, John Harbaugh, and this Giants team could become. Then they lost 28-6 to the Rams, and Dart suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. Now, it is Jameis Winston’s offense.
Dart was injured in Monday night’s 28-6 loss to the Rams. Coach John Harbaugh said Dart will be out for the “regular season.”
The good news is that Tennessee provides about as manageable a first matchup as you could ask for. The Titans are 0-2, although they looked much better in a four-point loss to Philadelphia last week.
This suddenly feels much closer to a toss-up than it would have with Dart healthy, and after Winston’s poor performance last week, I’m actually going to bet on the Titans getting their first win today.
4. Dallas Cowboys: Can the Defense Survive Lamar Jackson in Brazil?
- Matchup: Neutral Site (Technically Home) vs. Ravens (+3.5 Point Underdog), 3:25 PM CST Kickoff in Rio de Janeiro.
- Expected Major Injuries: LB DeMarvion Overshown (OUT), CB Cobie Durant (OUT), S Malik Hooker (OUT), S P.J. Locke (OUT).
- Biggest Storyline: Can the Cowboys defense slow down Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore rushing attack enough for Dak Prescott to win a shootout?
Dallas did exactly what they needed to do in Week 2, bouncing back from that ugly Giants loss with a 37-20 win over Washington.
Dak Prescott and the offense looked much more like the group we expected to see this season, but questions remain defensively. Washington still ran for 182 yards last week, and now Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are waiting.
To make matters worse, the Cowboys will be without four defensive starters, including Cobie Durant and two safeties.
That puts a lot of pressure on Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and the rest of this offense to put points on the board.
I think this will be the toughest game of the week to predict in the NFC East, given the field conditions and travel, but ultimately I see Jackson’s rushing ability being too much for this bad Cowboys defense. Give me the Ravens to beat Dallas in Brazil today.
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