NFC East Weekly Recap: 3 W's and a Baddd Week for a Bye

Week 9 of the NFL season was an overwhelming success for the fabulously mediocre NFC East. That is, unless you are a New York Giants fan. All three teams won their contests on Sunday and kept their hopes of an 8-8 or 9-7 division title record intact. Having a bye this week, the New York Giants only positive takeaway revolved around health and rest. Heading into Week 10, every team is seemingly still alive and fighting for what will likely be only one playoff spot, but where exactly does each team stand? Well, I’m glad you asked:

QB Christian Ponder and the Vikings game Tony Romo
and the Cowboys all they could handle, but Romo's
late 4th quarter magic saved the day for Dallas. 

1.) Dallas Cowboys (5-4, 3-0 NFC East): After giving their fans severe heartburn and a spike in blood pressure, Tony Romo and the Cowboys grasped victory from the jaws of defeat by beating the Minnesota Vikings 27-23. Considering the victories of the Eagles and Redskins, along with the fact that they play the Saints this coming weekend, the Cowboys potentially could look back on Week 9 as the one that afforded them the NFC East title. The team’s offensive continued to sputter, having not gone over 350 total yards of offense since the hectic Broncos game in Week 5, and the pass defense remains porous. Lucky for them they are in the NFC East, where poor pass defense is seemingly a requirement.

QB Nick Foles tied an NFL record on Sunday by tossing
7 touchdown passes in a rout of Oakland.

2.) Philadelphia Eagles (4-5, 2-2 NFC East): The Eagles had a record-setting day on Sunday, and one that promptly ended any discussion as to who would be behind center for the foreseeable future. Nick Foles tied an NFL record with 7 touchdown passes as the Eagles took down the Oakland Raiders 49-20. Many signs point to positive things in Philly, as Foles showed his ability to maneuver in the pocket, Chip Kelly’s offense was up-tempo, and the tight ends finally became a legitimate part of the scheme. It was a good time for that offense to click, as the 31^st ranked defense must deal with perennial MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers next week in Green Bay.

3.) Washington Redskins (3-5, 0-2 NFC East): 

The Washington Redskins 30-24 overtime victory

Danny Woodhead reaches for the pylon for an
apparent TD late in the 4th qtr. The call was overturned
and the Redskins defense held off three plays
 on the 1 yard line for San Diego, forcing a FG and OT.

Sunday against the formidable San Diego Chargers appeared to be a continuation of the development and downfalls of this team. The defending NFC East champions struggled again on special teams (2 FGs blocked), played pretty solid defense, and continued to pound the rock in the ground game. As the season has progressed, the offense appears to be taking shape and the defense has seemingly found some rhythm, however it feels like at any moment the special teams could blow the game in one of a dozen ways. Robert Griffin III has looked healthier first and foremost, but his passing accuracy is something that remains a question mark. The team will have a short week as they face off with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football. Considering how the teams ahead of them in the division have to face two Super Bowl candidate teams on Sunday, things are likely pretty upbeat at Redskins Park.

NYG Head Coach Tom Coughlin's likely
reaction after watching all 3 NFC East
opponents win on Sunday.

4.) New York Giants (2-6, 1-2 NFC East): Normally, a bye week is a time to heal your wounds and hopefully watch your divisional opponents take a beating and come back to you in the standings. Well, no such luck for the New York football Giants as they lost a half game in the standings to all 3 of their NFC East rivals on Sunday. Luckily, this bunch faces off against a poor Oakland team that must fly cross country for a 1 o’ clock game, possibly without star Darren McFadden. Running back David Wilson is still having neck issues and will be getting another MRI this week, leaving Eli Manning with Peyton Hillis, Brandon Jacobs, and Michael Cox behind him in the backfield. Having said that, the team is healthier than at any other point in the season, and knows that likely one or both of the top teams in the division will go down in Week 10. What little hope the Giants had to get back into this race may have slipped away on Sunday, but never count out a team like New York. 

Scott Eastment is a NFL/MLB/Sport Business writer with a Sport Business & Marketing MBA. He is a former college baseball player, avid extreme skier, and die-hard DC sports fan. Follow him on Twitter @SportsGeek02