Sunday couldn’t have legitimately gone any worse for the Giants: they lost, their QB looked hobbled trying to return from a hamstring injury, and all three of their division rivals won.
Big Blue still holds the tiebreaker on Washington, but the Football Team is now in first place at 6-7 after beating San Fran, while 4-8-1 Philly is a half-game back and 4-9 Dallas is only one behind them – and they’ve already lost to the Cowboys and split with Philly.
A few weeks back, it looked like 4-11-1 could still win the NFC East; we now know it’s going to take at least six wins – still no 7-9 or 7-8-1, but not as bad as it could’ve been – but all four teams are alive with three weeks to play.
Thanks to some insight from all four of our digital leads in the four NFC East cities, we present the pros and cons: why each team will, or won’t, be the No. 4 seed in the NFC Playoffs.
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (6-7, 3-2 division)
Remaining schedule: Seattle, Carolina, at Philadelphia
Why they’ll win the division: Considering any division matchup as tough, they have the easiest remaining game left (Carolina at home), and have won four straight since making a QB shuffle. The Giants beat Seattle – who sports the league’s worst Pass D – with a backup quarterback at the helm, and two wins plus a Giants loss clinches it for them. And, even without Antonio Gibson, they beat the Niners and their stout front with the running game and defense, with J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber toting the rock 23 times for 105 yards. Even if they split the next two, they’ll head to Philly at worst needing a win and a Giants loss in Week 17.
Why they won’t: Alex Smith suffered what appears to be a right calf strain of some sort against San Francisco, and any injury to Smith’s right leg is immediately cause for concern. Dwayne Haskins was 1-3 as the starter and is not a Ron Rivera guy, and if Alex Smith can’t go, it’s Haskins and either rookie Steve Montez or Taylor Heinecke – who has 57 career attempts and none since 2018 – behind him next week against Russell Wilson, who got right against the Jets on Sunday. Gibson isn’t guaranteed to be back next week or at all with his turf toe, and that Week 17 game in Philly could also be a win and need a Giants loss for the Eagles, too.
NEW YORK GIANTS (5-8, 3-2 division)
Remaining schedule: Cleveland, at Baltimore, Dallas
Why they’ll win the division: Don’t look now, but the Giants have a pretty good defense, and somehow, Colt McCoy and Wayne Gallman did enough to beat Seattle. Cleveland will be coming off an emotional game against Baltimore on a short week, they already beat Dallas, and all they need is one up on Washington to control their own destiny heading into Week 17.
Why they won’t: Gallman gashed a pretty good run defense in Seattle, but how much of that was because the Seahawks’ pass D is awful? Regardless of Monday’s result, Cleveland has a clear path to the AFC North and Baltimore is fighting for their playoff lives, and both are better overall defenses than Seattle. Plus, Dallas would love to get Big Blue back for the Dak Prescott game in Big D. The ‘Boys could be playing spoiler at that point, and that could be a battle for last place. Of the myriad injuries in the NFC East this year, Danny Dimes’ hamstring might be both the least timely and the most crushing.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-8-1, 2-2 division)
Remaining schedule: at Arizona, at Dallas, Washington
Why they’ll win the division: Jalen Hurts absolutely has sparked the Eagles over the last five quarters, and their defense, even with three starters in the defensive backfield lost mid-game, just beat a Saints team that hadn’t lost since Week 3 against NFC leader Green Bay. Kyler Murray is a different kind of speed weapon than Taysom Hill, but Kenyan Drake is no Alvin Kamara, and that game now looks eminently winnable. They already beat Dallas at home, and squint and you (and they) can see them getting to Week 17 with a 6-8-1 record and having the Eagles-WFT game be for the division title. That tie with Cincy could be a blessing in disguise in becoming the ultimate tiebreaker.
Why they won’t: Their best corner had a likely concussion, and knee injuries aren’t what you want for your No. 2 corner and top safety. Back-to-back road games, one cross-country and one at a heated rival, is not ideal, and can Jalen Hurts keep this up? Even if he can, the move may have come a couple weeks too late, because they realistically need two wins, at least one Washington loss, and at least one New York loss to have a realistic chance entering Week 17. And that tie? It could also be the ultimate curse, because 5-8 leaves a smidge more room for error than 4-8-1.
DALLAS COWBOYS (4-9, 1-3 division)
Remaining schedule: San Francisco, Philadelphia, at NY Giants
Why they’ll win the division: Andy Dalton has settled in since returning from a concussion and the COVID list, and their remaining schedule is a Niners team that might be without Deebo Samuel and has had six tough games in a row, a Philly team that might have some serious secondary issues, and a revenge game at the Giants that could spoil Big Blue’s season. Yeah, they’re in last place now, but the fact we can even give them a path to the playoffs means don’t count out Jerry Jones.
Why they won’t: To win the division, they have to go 7-9 (aka win out) and have Washington lose out (or goes 0-2-1) and the Giants lose one of their next two as well. Is it possible? Mathematically. Is it probable? It’s still better odds than hitting Powerball, but not great.
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
