The Philadelphia Eagles kept their NFC top-seed hopes alive with a dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys. The team is building up momentum at the right time, with their defense continuing to make big plays against the run and pass.
The New York Giants won their way out of the top draft pick by defeating the Indianapolis Colts. Their 45-point performance is the most they scored in a game this season. On Sunday Night Football, the Washington Commanders proved they deserve respect after being dismissed throughout the season.
The NFC East continues to produce surprises, with the Giants taking the icing on the cake. Heading into the final week of the regular season, here are the division power rankings.
4. New York Giants (Last week: 4th)
The New York Giants won their third game of the season and now sit in 29th place in the league. Quarterback Drew Lock impressed, making the most of what the Colts gave him. It was the best game of his career, completing 74 percent of his passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns.
Give the ball to your playmakers, and they'll make something happen. Lock finally did that with Wan'Dale Robinson and Malik Nabers. They combined for 12 catches for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Lock didn't make many difficult throws, but the Giants' playmakers consistently broke tackles.
The defense had its ups and downs. They could not contain running back Jonathan Taylor and were torn up by wideouts Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce. Still, giving up only 33 points is a win for the team. They forced three turnovers, with a pick and lost fumble ending the Colts' final two drives.
Indy quarterback, Joe Flacco had a difficult time with the Giants' pass rush. The 39-year-old quarterback, who is known for being a pocket-passer, was scrambling more than his comfort level allows. Dexter Lawrence rejoining Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns will be a deadly combination once again in 2025.
3. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 3rd)
Well, after five weeks of overachieving, the Dallas Cowboys have finally come back to earth. Backup Cooper Rush's lack of arm talent showed and cost the team. A pick-six, a pick preventing a field goal attempt, and countless off-target throws cost Dallas the win.
The Cowboys' offense started hot, totaling 105 yards and a touchdown on the first two drives (although the first was cut short due to a pick). That was preceded by one drive of 30+ yards, which ended with running back Rico Dowdle's fumble. Four turnovers and the inability to sustain drives left the defense out to dry.
Philly scored 41 points, but Dallas' defense allowed 34. It's still far too much, but the offensive failures put too much pressure on a unit that is still nursing a fair number of injuries. Like the offense, the two first defensive drives were solid, forcing consecutive three-and-outs.
Despite making some big plays against the run, Dallas' defense could not contain running back Saquon Barkley as they did in Week 10. His 167 yards on Sunday propelled him to being only 101 yards away from having the most rushing yards in a season.
2. Washington Commanders (Last week: 2nd)
It was a primetime nailbreaker watching the Washington Commanders in their overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The outcome could have thrust Atlanta into a playoff spot and ended up clinching one for Washington.
The Commanders and Falcons had opposite games. Washington struggled in the first half, and Atlanta struggled in the second. It came down to quarterback Jayden Daniels using his legs, and looking for other options with wideout Terry McLaurin locked up all game.
Rookie Olamide Zaccheaus and tight end Zack Ertz stepped up as McLaurin dragged A.J. Terrell away. When targeting anyone not named McLaurin, Daniels completed 79.3 percent of his passes for 222 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Unfortunately, most of the success came after halftime, with only seven points and seven first downs in the first half.
Overthrows by Michael Penix and forcing turnovers kept the Commanders' struggling offense in the game. Atlanta fumbled three times, losing two, and Penix threw one interception. Losing for most of the game put a strain on the defense early, but they rebounded strong, only allowing seven points after halftime.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 1st)
Despite the loss of quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Eagles showed they are a top team in the NFL. Backup Kenny Pickett started until early in the third quarter when he left after getting blown up by Micah Parsons. Third-string Tanner McKee stepped in and threw only four passes, but that's all he needed to do.
Saquon Barkley is within reach of breaking Erik Dickerson's NFL record for rushing yards in a season. It's a magical year for the former Giant to finally put his talent to good use. Even with the passing game locked down for a good portion of the game, Barkley consistently tore up the Cowboys' defense.
Philly's defense is championship-caliber. The defensive line is loaded with superstar and depth talent, the secondary can play safe and make plays on the ball, and the linebackers play smart and quick on the ball. All three levels played fantastic in this matchup.
Despite some big plays made against them, defensive backs Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell bounced back and played critical roles in keeping the Cowboys' offense to only seven points. They played clean football and never allowed Dallas to reignite their spark from the first two drives.
Two NFC East teams will play in the postseason, the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. The latter's inconsistencies hold them back, and the former's star power makes them lethal and versatile in every phase of the game. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants will look to scouting and team development early.
Week 18 look ahead
Washington hopes to keep their sixth seed spot with a win in Dallas against the Cowboys. Dallas, meanwhile, has already shut down star players nursing injuries. That doesn't mean the Cowboys will let the game pass by, as depth players will be fighting with hopes of earning more opportunities in 2025.
The Philadelphia Eagles finish the season at home against the New York Giants. It's not meaningful for either team regarding wins, except the Giants may want to lose for a higher draft position. The Eagles hope to stay healthy as they look ahead to a Wild Card matchup the following week against the Commanders or Green Bay Packers.