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Tuesday 18 OcTOber 2022
NFC East goes from least to beast in 2 years
By ROB MAADDI win over Dallas. “So, of
AP Pro Football Writer course you want to win the
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The games against the teams in
NFC East went from least to this division, because that’s
beast in less than two years. what’s so cool about this
After sending a losing team division because these are
to the playoffs in 2020, the hated rivalries. Now, they
division boasts three of the all count the same. That’s
four NFC teams with win- still one win. But it’s sweet
ning records through six because this is a cool divi-
weeks. sion.”
The Philadelphia Eagles For now, it’s the best in foot-
(6-0) stand alone atop the ball.The Vikings (5-1) are
East as the only unbeaten the only other team in the
team in the NFL following a conference with a winning
26-17 victory over the Dal- record. The AFC has just
las Cowboys (4-2) on Sun- three teams with four wins
day night. The New York Gi- going into Monday night.
ants (5-1) are right behind The NFC East hasn’t sent
Philly after upset wins over three teams to the play-
the Ravens and Packers in offs since 2007 when Tony
consecutive weeks proved Romo led the Cowboys
they’re no fluke. to a division crown and
“There’s no doubt this is Washington and New York Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts throws during the first half of an NFL football game in front of Dallas
one of the great rivalries,” earned wild-card berths.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni The Giants went on to beat
said after securing his first New England in the Super
Cowboys’ Leighton Vander Esch on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Philadelphia.
Associated Press
Bowl, handing the Patriots compete and do the best
their only loss of the season. job we can.”
Considering how inconsis- Dallas had won four straight
tent the rest of the NFC has games with backup quar-
been, the Eagles, Giants terback Cooper Rush until
and Cowboys are posi- running into Philadelphia.
tioned well for January. Rush’s three interceptions
The four NFC teams with cost the Cowboys against
the best odds to reach the the Eagles, but he per-
Super Bowl entering the formed well enough during
season Buccaneers, Pack- Dak Prescott’s absence to
ers, Rams and 49ers are keep the team in the mix.
each 3-3 and flawed. Prescott said he plans to re-
“What’s exciting about turn this week.
being 6-0 and not hav- “I’m happy as hell the posi-
ing played a complete tion we’re in,” Prescott said.
game is there’s only room “It’s good to be 4-2. I’m not
to get better and that’s excited we lost, but there’s
our goal,” Sirianni said. a long season ahead and
Rookie coach Brian Daboll we’re in a good position.”
has New York headed to- The division hasn’t had a
ward its first winning sea- repeat winner since the Ea-
son since 2016. The Giants gles captured four straight
have overcome 10-point titles from 2001-04. The
deficits in the second half Cowboys won it last sea-
in three of their wins. “This son but lost a home play-
league is hard. It’s not al- off game to San Francisco.
ways going to be perfect. The Eagles earned a wild-
There will be a lot of people card spot last year and
down on you,” Daboll said. were blown out by Tampa
“And you might be down in the opening round.
on yourself, wish you could This isn’t the NFC East that
do better. But you keep on won seven of 10 Super
getting back up, you keep Bowls from 1986-95 — that
on swinging, keep on com- may never be matched
peting, regardless of the — but it’s a long way from
score or the situation of the being the laughingstock it
game. And that’s not easy was during the pandemic-
to do, right? That’s not easy stricken 2020 season when
to do when you’re down. If the Giants almost won the
you sit on the bench and division at 6-10. Washing-
start ... complaining, that’s ton defeated the Eagles
easy to do. “We know in the final regular-season
we’re a long way away. game to finish 7-9 and take
(It’s the) early part of the the title. Philadelphia, play-
season. But we just try to ing for draft positioning,q