Heading into Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season, the NFC East has looked like the worst division in the league…again. So far, the NFC East is 2-9-1, and it is the only division without a team currently over .500. So, let’s take a look into the NFC East and the division’s struggles so far throughout the season.
Washington Football Team: 1-2
After a historic comeback over the Philadelphia Eagles to earn new HC Ron Rivera’s first win with the organization in Week 1, the Football Team has not looked like a good one. Back-to-back losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns have landed the young QB Dwyane Haskins in the hot seat. Haskins threw three interceptions in the loss to the Browns and has thrown just 625 yards with four TDs in the three games. The offense has failed to come up with key drives during important moments of the games, and it shows.
While injuries have sidelined key players such as the star rookie edge rusher, Chase Young, Washington has failed to keep their opponents off the scoreboard. The NFC East leaders will now host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4, another tough defense that Haskins will have to conquer. From what we have seen so far in the season, it is looking like the Washington Football Team will fall further away from .500. Whether they stay division leaders after Week 4 is still tough to tell.
Dallas Cowboys: 1-2
The Cowboys only win this season came off of an onside-kick that most likely still haunts the Atlanta Falcons today. While Dallas kept up with Seattle until the end in Week 3, fixing the defense seems like the biggest obstacle that this team must overcome. Injuries are starting to pile up on the defensive side with the secondary still thin and reports of DE Demarcus Lawercnce battling a neck injury. The defense has failed to make pivotal stops and force turnovers to help the other side of the ball.
Offensively, we know that Dak Prescott and his offense can score, but turnovers have been a huge setback for the team. Against the Seahawks, Prescott threw an interception for the first time since November 2019, and Ezekiel Elliot has had a couple of uncharacteristic fumbles early in the season so far. Mike McCarthy and his new coaching staff have been guilty of adding fuel to the flames with some head-scratching play calls during crucial moments of the first three games. Dallas has many questions to answer before they can consider calling themselves a contender, but it all starts with getting their feet back under them with a win at home against the Cleveland Browns this week.
Philadelphia Eagles: 0-2-1
Although the Philly defense has shown its struggles, all eyes are on the offense who have looked far from decent early in the season. In Week 3, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals kept the Eagles from earning their first win of the season by forcing a tie. Not to mention, injuries have haunted the wide-receiver core of the Eagles again. Desean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside still all remain sidelined for Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers. With TE Dallas Goedert now expected to miss a couple of weeks with a fractured ankle, QB Carson Wentz still has very limited passing targets. Wentz has thrown six interceptions already, and the once MVP candidate only has 737 yards completed. Whether it is still the lack of weapons or Wentz making poor decisions, rookie QB Jalen Hurts may soon get his chance as a starter if the Eagles remain winless.
New York Giants: 0-3
The last place Giants seem to be going through some major growing pains early in the 2020 season. With new HC Joe Judge and OC Jason Garrett, the Giants have yet to find their footing. 16 points is the most this offense has scored in the young season, and now they must figure out how to offensively produce without star RB Saquon Barkley after he tore his ACL in Week 2. Although Daniel Jones is only 23 years old and playing in his third season, NY coaches still want to see continued growth from the 2019 sixth overall pick.
Meanwhile, defensively the Giants have given up way too many points. The defense unfortunately, has been able to get off the field and the Giants rank last in opponent third-down conversions. If the Giants want to win, new DC Patrick Graham needs to make some serious adjustments when it comes to getting his defense a stop. New York’s defense will have to figure out something quick as they head to LA to face the 2-1 Rams. Sean McVay and his offense looked revamped, and it may be a long day for the Giants if they play anything like they did before.
If this losing trend continues, the NFC East may only take six games to win. Whichever team prevails, it’s hard to think any of these teams will make a deep playoff run. The season is still new, and things can change, but the NFC East for now will be known as the NFC Least by everyone else around the NFL.
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