It’s anybody’s NFC East game heading into Week 14 of the regular season. (Getty)
The NFC East is a disaster.
It’s ugly. It’s messy. It’s absolutely anyone’s game. That makes it all a bit exciting and we can’t really look away.
We’re also a bit confused and there are plenty of ways for any of these four consistently inconsistent teams to notch a postseason berth before the regular season wraps up. So, as we head into Week 14 of the NFL season, let’s all clear our heads and break down what it will take for each squad to get into the playoffs.
Here we go:
Washington Redskins
Record: 5-7
Week 14 Matchup: at the Chicago Bears
The Redskins are still atop the NFC East standings, despite last week’s vaguely disastrous loss to the Dallas Cowboys, thanks to the head-to-head advantage over both the Eagles and the Cowboys.
Washington has been horrendous on the road this season, however, and three of the Redskins’ final four games of the year are away from FedEx field. That doesn’t exactly bode well for this team’s postseason chances. It also puts a heck of a lot of offensive pressure on the arm of Kirk Cousins who has been up-and-down in big-pressure moments throughout the season.
Still, there’s reason to be confident. The Redskins just signed veteran running back Pierre Thomas, looking to jumpstart a ground game that is averaging just 94.2 yards rushing a game.
New York Giants
Record: 5-7
Week 14 Matchup: at Miami Dolphins
Big Blue is in a tough spot right now with both the Redskins and Eagles owning the tiebreaker edge over them this season. New York’s schedule down the stretch doesn’t help much either. Although they wrap up the season with three home games, the Giants face off against the Panthers, Vikings and Eagles. Those are very difficult games. Exceptionally difficult. Particularly for a team that seemingly can’t hold a fourth quarter lead.
New York is still confident though and if Tom Coughlin’s press conference jumping jacks are any indication, the Giants are ready to battle it out.
Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 5-7
Week 14 Matchup: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Eagles might just be the favorite to win this division. Really. This up-and-down team that can’t seem to find its own footing still has games against the Redskins and Giants to wrap up the season and winning out could seal an NFC East title.
But before Philadelphia starts thinking about the playoffs, the Eagles need to get past a very angry LeSean McCoy this weekend. The all-time leading rusher in Eagles history returns home to his former team for the first time since being traded to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason and he’s more than a little bit anxious to run rampant.
Dallas Cowboys
Record: 4-8
Week 14 Matchup: at Green Bay Packers
Because it’s 2015 and nothing in the world makes sense anymore, the Dallas Cowboys won a game without Tony Romo and are still in the NFC East postseason hunt.
The squad is just one game out of first place, but it’s not an easy road ahead of them. Sure, the Packers haven’t been consistently dominant this year, but they’re still the Packers and if Aaron Rodgers is playing, anything is possible. Dallas also has home games against the Jets and Redskins as well as a tough road matchup against Buffalo to wrap up the season.
