Just when it looked like we had some clarity around the NFC East…
The NFL’s most confounding division reached new heights in Week 13 as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Patriots, the Giants gave up a 10-point lead against the Jets and Dan Bailey kicked a monster 54-yard game winner to beat the Redskins.
Yep, this year’s answer to the NFC South is no closer to being decided.
And like last year’s most mediocre division, it is looking increasingly likely we’re going to have another sub .500 team in the playoffs.
And like the Panthers, whoever makes it in will host a Wild Card game against the fifth seed in the NFC (Vikings at time of writing).
The Redskins, Giants and Eagles are all equal on 5-7, while the Cowboys sit a win behind at 4-8.
The Cowboys’ final drive and Bailey’s kick threw the division into even more disarray, with the Cowboys still not out of it despite losing Tony Romo to injury again and having the worst record in the NFC.
You just want one of these teams to put it together, finish 9-7 or 8-8 and win the division outright. But you know it’s going to come down to the last week of the regular season when the four division foes face-off.
It’ll make for interesting watching, even if we don’t get the best quality product.
So, let’s predict the unpredictable. Who is most likely to raise the NFC East banner in four weeks?
Unsurprisingly, it is tough to make a case for any of these teams.
“Can someone else win the division instead?” I hear you ask. I checked and no. It’s in the rules, one of these average franchises must make the playoffs. I know, it’s dumb, but that is another column for another time.
The Redskins, who lead the division based on a tie-breaker, face three of their final four games away, including matches in Philadelphia and Dallas to close the season.
It wouldn’t be that big a deal, except that Washington is 0-5 on the road this year.
I don’t like their chances of winning out. It is even clearer now that they really needed to beat the Cowboys this week to give themselves a chance. (D-Jax what were you thinking you mercurial bastard?)
The Cowboys, who have not yet placed Romo on injured reserve after he broke his collarbone against the Panthers on Thanksgiving, have a tough run home with games against the Packers, Jets and Bills before finishing at home against Washington.
Based on their offensive output on Monday Night Football this week I don’t like the Cowboys’ chance to match it with the Packers, Jets or Bills. I think they will really struggle to peg back a win on their division rivals.
The Giants were going along alright until they lost three close games in a row the last three weeks. And they might have the toughest run home in the division.
They play the Dolphins in Miami, host the undefeated Carolina Panthers, head to Minnesota to play the 8-4 Vikings and then host Philadelphia. Best case scenario they go 2-2 to finish the year, but I could also see them losing all four games.
The Eagles are perhaps the most intriguing contender for the division.
After two of the worst weeks in franchise history, the Eagles somehow put the Patriots to the sword in Week 13 on the back of some stellar defence and special teams play.
They have got three home games over the final stretch, albeit tough games against the Cardinals and Bills before their match against the Redskins.
But consistency has been hard to come by this season for Chip Kelly’s men. They have been all over the place this year and gave up 45 points in two straight weeks against the Buccaneers and Lions before the win over the Patriots.
Head-to-head play and division records could no doubt decide this thing, meaning it will come down to Week 17 again.
If the Eagles beat Washington at home in Week 16 then they will match the Cowboys at 3-2 for the best division record. Then it is just a matter of beating the Giants at MetLife Stadium on the final day of the regular season.
The Eagles routed the Giants 27-7 in Week 6 and if things go to schedule (which they never do) then New York might already be out of contention.
Hey, I’m not confident about this call, but I’ve gotta pick someone. Maybe Chip Kelly totally redeems himself after the season from hell?
Or one of the other teams could win. Who knows. Do you?
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