The NFC East is the most effective division in soccer. Take on a regular basis it is advisable to digest that sentence.
It has been lean occasions for the storied division of late, having produced only one crew with a double-digit win column — the 12-5 Dallas Cowboys in 2021 — over the previous three seasons. Yikes.
However this season is totally different. The Philadelphia Eagles (10-1) have already cleared that hurdle and personal the most effective document in soccer. The Cowboys (8-3) aren’t far behind, whereas the New York Giants (7-4) and Washington Commanders (7-5) are having fun with stunning success.
All 4 groups would qualify for the postseason based mostly on the present standings. That has by no means occurred in any division, relationship again to the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data. And no division in historical past has produced a season wherein each crew completed with a successful document, which occurs to be the present state of affairs within the NFC East.
For the reason that schedule is backloaded with division video games, this guarantees to be a memorable near the season. ESPN NFL Nation reporters Tim McManus, Todd Archer, Jordan Raanan and John Keim check out the strengths and weaknesses of every crew and sort out the important thing questions they will face as they hit the house stretch.
Philadelphia Eagles
Why the Eagles may be the highest seed within the NFC
The Eagles have the most effective document in soccer at 10-1. They personal a one-game lead plus the head-to-head tiebreaker over the next-closest NFC opponent, the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings. And their closing schedule is the third best within the NFL, in keeping with ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is a bona fide MVP candidate working behind a dominant offensive entrance. He leads a flexible offense that may alter to any type of struggle and is backed by a protection that’s tops within the league in takeaways (23). They’re as well-positioned and well-equipped as any crew within the convention to safe home-field benefit.
Why the Eagles are susceptible
Their run protection has been shaky at occasions, notably since rookie defensive sort out Jordan Davis went down with a excessive ankle sprain in Week 8 towards the Pittsburgh Steelers. Within the 4 video games since, they’ve allowed 525 dashing yards (131.5 per recreation), which ranks twenty third over that span. The Eagles’ particular groups unit, in the meantime, is twenty third in effectivity per ESPN’s metrics, standing in stark distinction to their offensive (second) and defensive (second) ranks. There was not less than one particular groups miscue in nearly each recreation they’ve performed. It seems like only a matter of time earlier than it bites them.
The Eagles have sustained loads of accidents not too long ago. Who can we anticipate again for the playoffs?
Davis is eligible to return from injured reserve this week towards the Tennessee Titans. Tight finish Dallas Goedert (shoulder) is predicted to return in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the common season, in keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That is an enormous one: He was enjoying like a top-three tight finish earlier than injuring a shoulder of their Week 10 loss to the Commanders. Hurts’ dashing makes an attempt (33 up to now two weeks) have jumped up in Goedert’s absence, because the offense adapts to life with out him. Goedert is eligible to return off IR after Week 14.
Security C.J. Gardner-Johnson sustained a lacerated kidney, in keeping with a supply, on Sunday night time towards the Packers. There is no such thing as a timetable but for his return. The lack of Gardner-Johnson, the league chief in interceptions (6), could be important for this protection if it is for an prolonged time. Thankfully, slot nook Avonte Maddox (hamstring) is eligible to return off IR subsequent week. — Tim McManus
Dallas Cowboys
Why the Cowboys may be the highest seed within the NFC
They are going to want some assist from the Eagles and Vikings, who sit atop the NFC standings, they usually’ll have to proceed on the trail they’re on. The offense, regardless of penalty points, is enjoying its greatest soccer of the season, and the protection has been dominant for an excellent portion of the season. With their bodily type, the Cowboys might be a tricky out within the playoffs, even when they are not the highest seed.
Why the Cowboys are susceptible
Is it too simple to say “accidents”? No? OK. Accidents — particularly one other one to quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed 5 video games earlier this season with a fractured thumb. However penalties and run protection are the 2 worries. They cannot anticipate to win within the playoffs once they commit 13 penalties like they did of their 28-20 victory over the Giants on Thanksgiving. They cannot anticipate to win once they permit 200-plus dashing yards both, just like the did not too long ago versus the Packers and Bears. They’ve been higher versus the run the previous two video games, however the Eagles, Vikings and San Francisco 49ers will present challenges.
Is that this crew constructed to achieve the NFC Championship Sport for the primary time since their final Tremendous Bowl win, following the 1995 season?
Sure, however so had been the 2007 Cowboys that had home-field benefit within the NFC, the 2014 Cowboys that misplaced on a controversial overturn of a Dez Bryant catch and the 2016 Cowboys that additionally had home-field benefit.
The 2022 Cowboys have proven a resolve that began with final season’s playoff loss to San Francisco. They gained with out Prescott this season, going 4-1 with backup Cooper Rush because the starter. They gained with key starters lacking a number of video games. They’ve a protection that can provide any offense bother, led by Micah Parsons. They’ve a coach in Mike McCarthy who has had playoff success.
The margin for error, nevertheless, is skinny. They have to be at their greatest to beat the most effective within the NFC. They don’t seem to be as gifted because the Cowboys of the Nineteen Nineties — few groups have been — however the opposition is not nearly as good because the opposition was then, both. The Cowboys don’t have to worry any opponent, however no opponent will worry them, both. — Todd Archer
New York Giants
Why the Giants could make the playoffs
Let’s begin with the truth that they’re presently the sixth seed within the NFC, forward of Washington (7-5) and the Seattle Seahawks (6-5). So that they have a head begin. It is also fully doable the Giants get as many as six starters again from harm for this week’s recreation towards the Commanders. Regardless, reinforcements are on the way in which to complement a flawed roster.
Why the Giants are susceptible
They’ve misplaced three of 4 and the protection has proven cracks towards higher competitors. That is particularly notable down the stretch, when 5 of the Giants’ six video games are towards groups presently with successful information. They’ve two video games towards Washington, two towards the Eagles and one towards Minnesota. It is not going to be simple.
Can the Giants depend on operating again Saquon Barkley to hold them down the stretch?
Barkley has been dealing with a heavy workload this season. He has performed 82.1% of the crew’s offensive snaps (no different operating again is even near 80%), and the numbers present he is slowing down. Barkley’s dashing yards over expectation per carry was at plus-1.7 over the primary seven weeks, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. It has been at minus-0.7 over the previous 4 video games. Absolutely a few of Barkley’s struggles must do with the fixed shuffling in current weeks on the offensive line.
Coach Brian Daboll insists Barkley hasn’t slowed down and it is extra of a crew drawback. “No, Saquon’s on the market operating onerous, attempting to do all the things he can do,” Daboll stated. “We have got to do a greater job collectively.”
The Giants had been with out three-fifths of their starters on the road for the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cowboys. All three (proper sort out Evan Neal, middle Jon Feliciano and left guard Ben Bredeson) might be again this week versus the Commanders. That ought to assist Barkley and the Giants shifting ahead. — Jordan Raanan
Washington Commanders
Why the Commanders could make the playoffs
Due to their run recreation and protection. Previously seven weeks, the protection ranks third in factors and yards allowed, and the crew ranks first in turnover margin. Their line of defense has been terrific, particularly tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, and the secondary is far improved. Their run recreation, too, is a large cause, as rookie Brian Robinson Jr. continues to enhance. On this 6-1 stretch, Washington’s run recreation ranks second in rush makes an attempt and fourth in yards. The Commanders have discovered their id.
Why the Commanders are susceptible
Whereas Taylor Heinicke has been a terrific story, it must be quarterback play. He has made some massive performs and well timed throws, however he additionally flirts with hazard each recreation, and in some unspecified time in the future it might price them, contemplating they’re all the time in shut video games. But it surely’s not simply him. Carson Wentz was inconsistent — enjoying in a brand new offense, with out the advantage of a powerful run recreation — earlier than breaking his proper ring finger. A type of two should present extra consistency within the passing recreation.
What would defensive finish Chase Younger‘s return imply for Washington’s playoff hopes and a run within the postseason?
First, let’s deal with the truth that the road has performed effectively with out the No. 2 general choose from the 2020 draft, who’s recovering from a torn proper ACL sustained Nov. 14, 2021. Allen and Payne are the most effective inside duo within the NFL; they each have 6.5 sacks and have mixed for 27 tackles for a loss. In the meantime, finish Montez Sweat has seven sacks, together with 4 up to now three video games. He is enjoying effectively. However they’ve additionally proven terrific depth, each at finish and inside. And for probably the most half, they’ve performed effectively as a gaggle — one thing they didn’t do final season.
To allow them to make the postseason even when Younger would not return. However when he does, Younger can add extra sizzle in pass-rush conditions. He is extra harmful than his alternative, James Smith-Williams, who’s extra of a run-stopper. So groups should account for him even when he performs solely 12-15 snaps a recreation in the interim.
In fact, we do not understand how efficient he’ll be, however his presence will add power to the protection. That issues. And it merely offers them extra depth and the power to maintain gamers brisker. And his athleticism will assist when going through cellular quarterbacks akin to New York’s Daniel Jones and Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, amongst others, down the stretch. Given how a lot time Younger has missed, the ultimate 5 weeks might put him in a greater place to make massive performs within the postseason. That might be the place he makes his greatest impression. — John Keim
