NFC Jump: Washington, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants compete for the worst division of football | NFL News

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There is plenty to play on the last Sunday of the NFL of the regular season, with the Browns, Rams, Cardinals and Washington all working live on Sky Sports as they look to secure their place in the playoffs. .

The 5-10 third-placed New York Giants could grab an NFC East title in the final week of the regular season, which should tell you everything you need to know about the worst division of football.

One of the Giants, Washington or Dallas Cowboys will make NFL history this season as the first team ever to make the playoffs after a 2-7 start to the year.

Washington will show their first playoff field since 2015 with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, with a direct enough link if the Giants beat the Cowboys.

The Giants can do the postseason with a win over the Cowboys along with a loss in Washington, while the Cowboys move on with a win over New York with a loss or a Washington tie, or on the other hand a tie to the Giants and the loss of Washington.

Rather than being an NFL non-entity, the situation in the NFC East once again raises questions about the league’s playoff situation, with the division winner promising a home playoff game against a 10-win team that could be. It’s a system flaw, but maybe that’s a conversation for a later date.

Washington Football Team (1st, 6-9)

Washington Football Team Quarterback Alex Smith. (Photo by AP / Rick Scuteri)

Any positive expectation from Washington came into the season around defending some of the best talent in the league. While it had been a slow arrival, Jack Del Rio ‘s unit began to justify the hype over the second half of the season.

Production has reached from all over, 2019 the first rush pass Montez Sweat leading the way with eight sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two emergency kicks and six pass defenses, followed by 2020 second place pick Chase Chase with 6.5 bags, 11.5 machines for loss, four forced fumbles, including two recovered and one return for a sailing ship.

They have found a key partner in 2019 fifth line player Cole Holcomb (65 tackles, 2.5 sacks), led in high school by Kendall Fuller (four interceptions, 10 pass defenses) and benefited from 10.5 sacks between Ryan Kerrigan and Tim Settle to rank in third place against the pass and fourth in overall defense.

A slow start has been a common issue, however, with Washington finally finding a double whammy in 11 of 15 games.

A four-game win streak over November and December, including a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers, featured the best of this team as it allowed just six full friction (after 18 allowed during the first six weeks), as well as limiting three straight enemies to 70 yards or under rushing.

In the meantime, while Smith did not light highs with the deep ball, he applied a little fluency and proved the need to take offense from Kyle Allen who was injured in the injury. against the Los Angeles Rams in Week Five.

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Running a rookie in the third round running back Antonio Gibson at the same time added to his reputation with a 115-yard performance, three touchdowns in the Cowboys ’Thanksgiving Day climate, just to be on stopped with a thumb injury against the Steelers next week.

Smith has missed the last two games due to injury, with Washington spouting a chance to capture the division without with their Week 16 loss to the Carolina Panthers behind Dwayne Haskins. released since then.

While a quick start to defense is needed on Sunday, so are Smith, Gibson and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who has also been fostering an ankle problem.

Dallas Cowboys (2nd, 6-9)

Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Andy Dalto. (Photo AP / Ron Jenkins)

This season promised the Cowboys so much, with the depth of talent that gave them the luxury of using the 17th overall pick on Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb with a view to playing more Dak Prescott armor toward a big deal 2021.

End-of-season injuries on offensive tackles are made by Tyron Smith and La’el Collins and guard Zack Martin for a declining offensive line, the tight end of Blake Jarwin’s season over after Week One and missing linebacker Sean Lee the first two months of the season.

Going down for the year was a big blow for the Dak, but it has been far from the Cowboys’ biggest issue, with the still worthless Andy Dalton doing a respectable job behind the rejection defense. .

Dallas has recorded a fourth-25 of 25 passes so far this season, including a second-tier-13 fumbles and 12 intercepts.

Right now, Mike Nolan’s defense can’t stop anyone. The Cowboys are currently ranked 26th overall, 11th against the pass, dead-end against a run and 30th in scoring. Pressure on the quarterback has run almost entirely through DeMarcus Lawrence and Aldon Smith, in his first season back since 2015, while linebacker duo Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch, who are considered among the best in the NFL, putting on a red carpet for ball carriers.

And yet Dallas have hit some sort of blow just in time to keep themselves in contention, riding a three-game winning streak that saw Ezekiel Elliott’s recent log that was very frustrating 2020 just his second 100-yard rush game of the season with Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper both going for over 100 yards getting in the 37-17 win over the Eagles.

Lamb also led the team with five catches for 85 yards in the win over the 49ers the week before, along with a two-run tour from Tony Pollard without Zeke.

And that’s where the frustration lies. All those players, all that talent, but with very few results to be seen for it.

New York Giants (3rd, 5-10)

New York Giants backup James Bradberry. (AP Photo / Stephen Brashear)

Complete performances have been scarce for Giants clothing that so often followed Patrick Graham’s special defense and especially short-handedness.

In a tenure of limited success, general manager Dave Gettleman deserves a big credit for hitting two free additions in the corner of James Bradberry and linebacker Blake Martinez, who is on top of every hundred to prove.

Veteran Logan Ryan has similarly proven an inspiring build at safety, while Leonard Williams is a pass-rusher, part of that head-scratching trade with the New York Jets last season, in a mid-year career with 8.5 pocannan.

The Giants are currently ranked 13th overall on defense, 16th against the pass, 11th against run and 10th in scoring, after falling slightly amid a three-game losing streak.

First-year head coach Joe Judge has played this team harder than Giants fans will ever be able to remember seeing under Pat Shurmur, and certainly in the ranks about end of Ben McAdoo’s tenure as director.

He also deserves to feel his side should be better off than 6-9, having conceded a late field goal for the Cowboys in October, before losing by one point to the Allies. Eagles and just two points against Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With offense, Daniel Jones’ lack of progress in decision-making and member security has been disappointing, although the lack of ingenuity on the part of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, coupled with costly and unreasonable falls. -Ability for receivers to create separation at times.

The Giants are ranked 31st overall, 29th in passing, 20th in haste and 31st in scoring, with the worst red zone efficiency in the league.

Jones was sent off in the fourth-43rd hour behind an offensive line that saw promise from spies Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux and Matt Peart, but lacked consistency through.

While there has been a lack of defense on the pass, Wayne Gallman, who has taken a chance, has a good chance of getting in without Saquon Barkley who was injured and picked up a very poor agent. free Devonta Freeman with 617 yards torn for six touchdowns. 136 carrying.

Between Gallman, Jones, Alfred Morris and Dion Lewis, the Giants are expected to pound the rock against a defense from the Cowboys allowing 161.1 league yards per game.

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