Week 5 was comically bad for the NFC East: not a single team in the division won, and two of them were playing against each other.
It’s been a really bad year for the division overall to this point — massive injuries, bad losses, mediocre records. Not a single team has escaped the bad start to take a commanding lead in the division.
This week, we’ll see all four teams once again, with two of them playing in primetime. I’ll go over each squad and their matchup here so you have a clear overview of the NFC East today.
1. Philadelphia Eagles: Things Have Gone Completely Off the Rails
- Matchup: At Home vs. Panthers (+3.0 Point Underdog), 12:00 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: QB Jalen Hurts (OUT/IR), RB Saquon Barkley (OUT)
- Biggest Storyline: Can Philadelphia stop its three-game losing streak without Jalen Hurts or Saquon Barkley?
Remember when the Eagles were 2-0? It felt like they had a commanding lead over the division, but Philadelphia has now lost three straight games.
Most recently, a 19-17 heartbreaker against Jacksonville in London. The Eagles actually took the lead with eight seconds left, then allowed a massive kickoff return and somehow lost on a 57-yard field goal as time expired.
Unfortunately for them, things somehow got worse this week, as Jalen Hurts was placed on IR with a blood clot in his leg, meaning their backup QB’s will lead them the next few weeks.
Saquon Barkley is also still out, so while the Carolina Panthers are only 2-2, I cannot trust the Eagles offense without their two big dogs. Give me Bryce Young’s squad to send Philly to a pretty shocking 2-4 start in 2026.
2. New York Giants: What a Wonky Start to 2026
- Matchup: At Home vs. Saints (+1.5 Point Underdog), 12:00 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: TE Theo Johnson (OUT), S Tyler Nubin (OUT), CB Colton Hood (OUT), OLB Abdul Carter (QUESTIONABLE), + Jaxson Dart & EDGE Brian Burns on IR.
- Biggest Storyline: How long can the Giants keep competing, despite everything?
New York sits at 3-1-1 and alone atop the NFC East after last week’s ridiculous tie with Washington, proving once again that despite the losses of Jaxson Dart, Brian Burns, and more, they’ll continue to compete.
The Giants were down 14 points in the fourth quarter, somehow fought all the way back, then nearly lost in overtime after Cam Skattebo fumbled in field goal range. Washington returned the favor by completely botching the final 12 seconds of the game and never getting its own field goal attempt off.
So, yes, the Giants are somehow still in first place, but they are also underdogs at home against a 1-4 Saints team.
New Orleans is desperate, though, after three straight losses and some speculation about their future by ownership. I haven’t done well picking against NYG, but I’ll do it again today; give me the Saints to take the Giants down today.
3. Dallas Cowboys: Season is Teetering with Green Bay Today
- Matchup: On Road vs. Packers (+1.5 Point Underdog), 7:20 PM CST Kickoff.
- Expected Major Injuries: LB DeMarvion Overshown (OUT), CB Cobie Durant (OUT), CB Joey Porter Jr. (QUESTIONABLE).
- Biggest Storyline: Is Dallas capable of righting the ship in Week 6, despite their horrid record against Green Bay?
I have been trying to forget about that disaster on Thursday Night Football in Week 5 since the game ended. As a massive favorite at home against a 0-4 Buccaneers team starting an UDFA rookie QB, they somehow suffered a 24-16 loss.
The Cowboys turned the ball over three times, gave up 241 rushing yards, and allowed Tampa Bay to control the ball for nearly 40 minutes; it was a disaster.
Now, they head up north to play a team they haven’t beaten in a decade. Green Bay is 3-2 and coming off a big win against the Bears, but their injury list is unbelievably long, and Micah Parsons will not return for another shot at revenge.
I just cannot reasonably predict a Cowboys win over the Packers, so give me GB to send Dallas into Week 7 at a poor 2-4, which will surely cause chaos within the fanbase, and perhaps the organization.
4. Washington Commanders: How Can They Respond to Such a Poor Tie
- Matchup: On Road vs. 49ers (+7.5 Point Underdog), 7:15 PM CST Kickoff on Monday Night Football.
- Expected Major Injuries: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (OUT), WR Stefon Diggs (QUESTIONABLE).
- Biggest Storyline: Is Dan Quinn on the chopping block if they don’t pull off a gigantic upset?
I still cannot believe Washington did not win that game last week; they literally let the clock expire before they could attempt the game-winning kick. Dan Quinn admitted afterward that they completely botched the situation.
If there’s any positive for Washington, it’s that Jayden Daniels looked like himself again.
In his return from the elbow injury, Daniels accounted for 302 total yards and two touchdowns, and he is not even carrying an injury designation heading into Monday night.
San Francisco, on the other hand, is the NFL’s final undefeated team at 5-0, although the 49ers are dealing with some significant injuries of their own. Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa are both out, while Mike Evans and Christian Kirk are questionable.
Still, I’m not picking a 1-3-1 Washington team to go into San Francisco and beat an undefeated 49ers team. Give me the 49ers, dropping the Commanders to 1-4-1.
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