Most divisions in the National Football League (NFL) have clear contenders for first place. Not the NFC East. Nobody seems to want it. Here is a recap of the three-team race in the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
The Cowboys struggled out of the gate at 3-4. Then a four-game winning streak turned their season around. Entering Week 13, the Cowboys were the frontrunners. Then two straight losses, including a heartbreaking one at home to the New York Giants, brought them back to the pack. The Cowboys still find themselves one game in first place. But they may need to defeat the Giants at MetLife Stadium in the final week to win the division.
New York Giants (7-7)
The Giants got off to a fast start this season with a 6-2 record. That included a very impressive win in Foxborough, Massachusetts against the New England Patriots. Then the wheels came off. The Giants proceeded to lose four games in a row. A win against the Cowboys in Week 14 gave them life again. But a letdown against the Washington Redskins last week has put them on the brink of elimination. The Giants must win their final two games (at New York Jets, Cowboys) to win the NFC East and make the playoffs. The Giants cannot earn a wild card spot.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)
At 4-8, the Eagles were left for dead. However, after two wins in a row the Eagles are somehow still in the playoff hunt. The Eagles must win their final two games (at Cowboys, Washington Redskins). They also need the Giants to lose to the Jets and defeat the Cowboys. That would create a three-way tie in the division. But the Eagles would have the best division record, giving them the NFC East. The self-proclaimed dream team would amazingly make the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
No team seems to want the NFC East. As crazy as it sounds, the Eagles can still win the division with an 8-8 record. This is a team that many picked to win the Super Bowl this year. But they struggled throughout the season. Fortunately for the Eagles, they are back in the race. They have the seemingly indifferent Cowboys and Giants to thank for that.
More from Edwin Torres:
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Edwin Torres has been a fan of the Dallas Cowboys since the days of Tony Dorsett and Roger Staubach. He enjoyed watching the Dallas teams of the 90s dominate opponents on both sides of the ball. For more articles, follow him on Twitter @FlipPoker.
