Cowboys keep the heat on Commanders in NFC East power rankings

Week 5 showed that the NFC East has a lot of talent and depth. The New York Giants impressed in their win over the Seattle Seahawks despite missing their top wideout and running back, and the Dallas Cowboys emerged victorious despite countless injuries to their defense.

The Washington Commanders are one of the most entertaining teams to watch, led by a dynamic quarterback and underrated defense. The division lost a lot of talent in free agency and to injuries, but that didn't stop them from all winning.

4. New York Giants (Last Week: 4th)

Others stepped up in a game where their top two offensive weapons were out. Rookie sensation Malik Nabers and their versatile running back Devin Singletary missed the game with injuries. That led to quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Tyrone Tracey, and wideout Darius Slayton having a great performance.

Jones showed the potential the front office saw in him, making quick decisions and finding open receivers. That was especially true against the blitz, completing 13 of 17 passes for 130 yards and two scores. Singletary finished with 130 total yards and 7.2 yards per carry. Slayton had his best game since 2020, finishing with 122 yards and a touchdown.

The defensive line showed up yet again, forcing Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith to move around in the pocket, although that resulted in some big scrambles. Still, seven sacks and 10 quarterback hits mean a successful pass rush game. Seattle could not run the ball, but their receivers found some open space.

This Giants team is pulling it together on both sides of the ball. Their playmakers are coming up big when they are called upon, and Daniel Jones is being more precise with his throws. How long that will last is something to monitor. That with a late blocked field goal returned for a touchdown was enough for the Giants to beat the Seahawks 29-20.

3. Dallas Cowboys (Last Week: 3rd)

The Dallas Cowboys are very concerning right now. They snuck away with a 20-17 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it was not one they deserved.

First, another string of injuries has come up. Edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland and left tackle Tyler Guyton went down, leaving more questions as to who will suit up at defensive end. The defense played very well, holding the Steelers to only three points in the first half, and only 226 total yards in the game.

The offense left the defense out to dry yet again. Dak Prescott threw two picks and fumbled the ball away once, with two of those turnovers being in the red zone. Dallas' mishaps kept Pittsburgh in the game much longer than they should have, turning to a late great throw to win the game.

Per the 33rd Team, the Dak-CeeDee Lamb connection resulted in -0.13 EPA per play, compared to 0.85 for KaVonte Turpin and 0.66 for Jake Ferguson. Lamb and Prescott must work on their chemistry, the team must somehow remain healthy, and Dallas can't continue giving up poor penalties. It's their third game with 11+ penalties this season.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week: 2nd)

This was a bye week for the Eagles, and the Cowboys didn't do enough to take the second-place spot in the division. That leaves the Eagles in the same spot as last week despite not playing a game.

They took the time to have their offensive weapons A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith among other starters heal as they prepare for their Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. With a 2-2 record, they can still compete for a playoff spot with more consistent play.

1. Washington Commanders (Last Week 1st)

The Washington franchise, formerly Redskins and now Commanders, has long missed a reliable starting quarterback. With Jayden Daniels finding a perfect balance between looking for open wideouts and darting off on a run, NFC Defenses now have their version of Lamar Jackson to worry about.

The Cleveland Browns played aggressively on defense, which did throw Daniels off resulting in more incompletions than usual. It's safe to say he generally got the better end of the Browns, converting all four plays where he faced unblocked pressure into first downs with his legs or arm.

After being regarded as one of the worst defenses in the NFL, the Commanders have turned it around. Their defense played their best game of the season, sacking Deshaun Watson seven times, making seven tackles for a loss of yards, and locking down the Browns' pass-catchers.

Other than star wideout Amari Cooper (60), no Browns player eclipsed 25 receiving yards. The run defense was questionable at times, giving up big plays to Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman, but their stout pass defense prevented the Browns from mounting a comeback.

With the Giants looking better and the Commanders looking like one of the best teams in the NFC, the Cowboys must watch out before they are sitting at the bottom of the rankings. The Eagles are slipping as well, but the return of key players after their Week 5 bye week gives them an advantage.

Week 6 look ahead

The Eagles are the final NFC East team in line to play the Cleveland Browns. Considering how Cleveland fared against the other three teams, this is like an extended bye week. The Commanders are coming off their win against the Browns to play the Ravens in Baltimore. It's a battle between arguably the two best dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL.

After narrowly sneaking by the Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys return to AT&T Stadium looking to extend their five-game win streak against the Detroit Lions. The Giants will be in New York playing the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that scored 30+ points in three consecutive weeks, on Sunday Night Football.

More Cowboys news and analysis