NFC East standings: Eagles, Commanders set to play pivotal division clash
Consistency has no place in the NFC East.
The division has taken the league on a wild ride since 2004, refusing to let the same team repeat as champions. That has produced plenty to celebrate for fans of the four teams, who almost always head into the season with a real chance to claim the division title.
After the first 10 weeks of the 2024 NFL season, it's clear that trend will continue as the Cowboys look primed for a top-10 pick in April's NFL Draft. Thanks to the Giants' dedication to mediocrity, there are just two teams left to battle for the chance to hang a banner and secure the coveted home playoff game.
Here's a look at the NFC East standings as the playoff race heats up.
NFC East standings
Before the season started, it was commonly believed that the NFC East would be a two team race. After 10 weeks, it's safe to say that many didn't expect the Commanders to be one of them. Here's a look at the NFC East standings through 10 weeks:
Philadelphia Eagles
Despite their struggles, the Eagles are still sitting atop the division. Injuries hampered Philly in the early part of the season and a decimated receiving core is largely to blame for that. Regardless, these Eagles have found ways to win, keeping Nick Sirianni off the hot seat. The coach hasn't done himself many favors, with funky game management and an abrasive personality nearly being enough to give him the axe.
The Eagles have managed to keep pace in a competitive NFC playoff race thanks in large part to their defensive turnaround and Saquon Barkley carrying the load on offense. A win over the Commanders in Week 11 won't wrap up the division, but Washington's chances of capturing the coveted NFC East crown take a big hit with a loss.
Washington Commanders
As for the Commanders, they weren't supposed to be here. It's as simple as that. Kliff Kingsbury was out of the NFL and now he's coaching one of the league's best offenses. The new head coach, Dan Quinn, wasn't able to bring his stars from the Dallas defense, but made it work anyway. Jayden Daniels is playing like he's been in the NFL forever. In the grand scheme of things, this Washington team isn't that far off from those previously inept groups. They didn't add any big-name receivers behind Terry McLaurin. They are relying on a 34-year-old Zach Ertz at tight end.
The offensive line isn't littered with high draft picks. It just doesn't matter. They continue to find ways to win when all signs pointed towards a rebuild. No one should count them out going forward. This is a well-coached team that fits together beautifully. With an easier schedule down the stretch, they have a good chance of winning the NFC East for the first time since 2020. A win over the Eagles on Thursday night would go a long way in making that a likely possibility, while a loss would put them two games back in the loss column and without the coveted tiebreaker.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys won't publicly, or maybe even privately, admit it but the season is all but for Dallas. Dak Prescott is done for the year and even he isn't enough to fix Dallas' mess. Jerry Jones will have his work cut out for him in the offseason, tasked with finding a running back, fixing the offensive line and adding depth to the defense. While they'll try to compete the rest of the way, it's in the Cowboys' best interest to punt the season.
New York Giants
The Giants are in a familiar spot down in the NFC East's basement. Sitting at 2-8 heading into the bye week, Big Blue's season ended before the Yankees were eliminated in the World Series. Now it's just about making sure that they get the best draft pick possible.