It is time for another NFL Sunday, and somehow, we are already entering Week 4 of the season; through these first three weeks, the NFC East is about as wide open as it could be.
The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants both sit at 2-1, while the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders are both just one game behind at 1-2.
Last week was a weird one for the division. The Eagles got sliced, diced, and embarrassed by a 37-year-old Case Keenum on Monday Night Football, the Giants somehow won a game without scoring a touchdown, Washington pulled off a massive upset over Seattle, and Dallas lost on a 56-yard field goal as time expired in Brazil.
For the sake of my own sanity, let’s not delve too much deeper into that Cowboys loss — it was a brutal one.
Anyways, now all four teams are back in action today, including the Commanders kicking things off bright and early in London. Let’s jump into everything you need to know for each NFC East team in Week 4.
1. Philadelphia Eagles: How Do They Respond to That?
- Matchup: At Home vs. Rams (+3.0 Point Underdog), 12:00 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: WR DeVonta Smith (OUT), TE Dallas Goedert (OUT), OT Fred Johnson (OUT), LB Zack Baun (OUT).
- Biggest Storyline: Was last week just an ugly loss, or is there something seriously wrong with Philadelphia?
After starting 2-0 with two pretty unimpressive wins, Philadelphia went into Chicago on Monday night and got completely dominated 27-7 by a Bears team starting Keenum. It was probably the biggest shocker of Week 3.
10-10
140 yards
+1.18 EPA/dropback
90% success rate
0 sacks
Now, they have to bounce back on a short week against a Rams team that has plenty of problems of its own.
Los Angeles blew a 16-0 halftime lead against Denver last week to fall to 1-2, but Puka Nacua is expected back today, and the Eagles are absolutely wrecked by injuries. Sean McVay has struggled badly against Philadelphia in recent years, but this feels like a terrible spot for the Eagles.
Give me the Rams to send Philadelphia to 2-2, which should surely blow over well in Philly after last week’s loss, and the Phillies getting eliminated in the MLB postseason.
2. New York Giants: Somehow, They Could Be 3-1
- Matchup: At Home vs. Cardinals (+2.5 Point Underdog), 12:00 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: QB Jaxson Dart (IR), EDGE Brian Burns (IR).
- Biggest Storyline: How long can the Giants keep getting by without Jaxson Dart?
The hater in me wants to continue predicting the Giants to lose, but they do just keep on scraping by.
New York beat Tennessee 12-7 last week without scoring a single touchdown, and now they are sitting at 2-1 with a chance to take sole possession of first place in the division depending on what happens in Philadelphia.
That win came at another massive cost, though, as Brian Burns tore his ACL against the Titans and is done for the season, just one week after Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the regular season.
Between that, plus the fact that I just can’t get myself to trust Jameis Winston and an offense that could not find the end zone against Tennessee, give me the Cardinals to knock New York back to .500.
3. Dallas Cowboys: The Joey Porter Jr. Era Begins
- Matchup: On Road vs. Texans (+3.0 Point Underdog), 12:00 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: LB DeMarvion Overshown (OUT), CB Cobie Durant (OUT).
- Biggest Storyline: Can Dallas’s new defensive addition provide enough of a boost to one of the league’s worst secondaries?
The Cowboys were literally one kick away from entering this week at 2-1, or at least seven seconds away from getting to overtime. Instead, Baltimore drilled a 56-yard field goal as time expired in Rio, thanks to some horrendous decision-making from HC Brian Schottenheimer.
Dallas is now 1-2 heading into a Battle for Texas matchup that is absolutely critical to their chances of making a playoff run in 2026.
The big story of the week was Dallas going out and trading for Steelers star cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and somehow, he is already expected to play today; that is a massive addition for a secondary that desperately needed one.
Houston is 0-3, but the Cowboys are still three-point underdogs. The Texans’ offense has scored just 23 combined points over the last two weeks, although Nico Collins is returning today.
I don’t love trusting this Dallas defense against anybody right now, but I trust Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense much more than what Houston has shown. Give me Dallas to get back to 2-2.
4. Washington Commanders: Marcus Mariota Has to Do It Again
- Matchup: Neutral Site vs. Colts (+3.5 Point Underdog), 8:30 PM CST Kickoff in London.
- Expected Major Injuries: QB Jayden Daniels (OUT), RB Rachaad White (OUT), WR Terry McLaurin (OUT), G Sam Cosmi (OUT).
- Biggest Storyline: Can Marcus Mariota pull off yet another upset, but this time without Terry McLaurin?
Washington might have saved its season last week, and Dan Quinn may have saved his job. After starting 0-2 and losing Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota stepped in and somehow led the Commanders to a 33-31 upset over the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
Mariota was fantastic, but things are not getting any easier today. Daniels is out for the second straight week, and now Terry McLaurin will join him after being ruled inactive this morning.
That leaves Washington pretty shorthanded against a Colts team that also sits at 1-2, but finally got a win against Houston last week.
The Commanders have shown me more than I expected with Mariota, but losing McLaurin on top of Daniels is a lot to overcome. I think this one stays close, but give me Indianapolis to win in London.
Was this helpful?
Comments