The first month of the 2024 NFL campaign is wrapped up and some teams have impressed. Others, not so much, with the list including the NY Giants. Since its inception, the NFC East has been one of the more interesting divisions in the league, and that’s never been more true than over the last couple of decades. There hasn't been a repeat winner in almost 20 years, and while the jury is still out on whether the Dallas Cowboys can break the streak in 2024, it’s not looking like they have the firepower to get the job done this season.
Regardless, it’s a long couple of months, as the NFL is truly a marathon, but we can discern who the top teams in the NFC East are at the moment, as the calendar turns from September to October. Here are the updated NFC East Power Rankings after Week 4:
4. NY Giants
The Giants are bringing up the rear at the moment in the division, and it’s tough to argue against their placement. While their Week 1 drubbing at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings doesn’t look so bad anymore, the franchise squandered a shot at wins against the Washington Commanders in Week 2, and again on Thursday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4.
With a 1-2 record in the NFC East and a 1-3 record overall, coupled with a quarterback who can’t hit a deep pass and a defense who can’t stop the run, the Giants are in a precarious position, and it doesn’t feel like it’ll get any better in Week 5, as they’ll travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks, who have been brilliant in 2024. For those worried about Malik Nabers, it looks like he should be good to go for the team's next game after suffering a concussion.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Next, the Philadelphia Eagles may be 2-2 with two quality wins against the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, but it’s becoming increasingly tough to get behind them as a contender in the NFC. Saquon Barkley has played well, much to the dismay of Giants fans around the world, but Jalen Hurts has looked lost at times under center, and Nick Sirianni is beginning to feel like a lame-duck head coach, although he won’t receive any sympathy from those same Giants fans rolling their eyes at the aforementioned Barkley.
Philadelphia fell to the Atlanta Falcons in shocking fashion at home, and they followed up their win over the Saints by being dominated once again by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 during a pivotal playoff rematch. The Eagles have an early bye week in Week 5, and perhaps it couldn’t come at a better time, as they’ll return to play after a week off against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
2. Dallas Cowboys
Continuing, the Dallas Cowboys are the runner-up in these updated NFC East power rankings. Mike McCarthy’s team didn’t do anything overly impressive against the Giants in Week 4, but Dallas continued their dominance over New York in the process, limiting the Giants to five field goals - CeeDee Lamb ravaged their secondary too.
The run-defense certainly looked improved for the Cowboys, which was shocking after a short week, and perhaps it had more to do with the Giants simply not running the ball to the best of their ability, but if it’s a sign of things to come, Dallas’ outlook could be much improved. Injuries to DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons hurt, but the rest of the NFL will have no sympathy, as the war of attrition continues for the Cowboys in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, another winnable game.
1. Washington Commanders
At last, or in this case, at first, the Washington Commanders are the best team in the NFC East at the moment, bar none. The Giants have to be kicking themselves after coming close to defeating Dan Quinn’s team in Week 2, but the iconic franchise’s offense has taken off since, with superstar rookie Jayden Daniels at quarterback.
Giants fans saw how much Brian Daboll liked the LSU product during Hard Knocks, which makes his historic start to his NFL career even more frustrating. Many believed Washington’s luck would have run out against the Cincinnati Bengals or Arizona Cardinals, but it looks like Daniels and the Commanders might be for real. Their next two games are against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, and if they win those two, the sky's the limit.
All in all, the NFC East is tight in 2024, and the Giants could easily be 3-1 instead of 1-3 at the moment if their field goal kicker didn't get hurt, or if Daniel Jones channeled his 2019 self on even one of those throws to Darius Slayton vs. Dallas. As it stands, New York will have to regroup and hope they get some help from the rest of the NFL over the next couple of weeks, as the Giants won’t play another divisional clash until Oct. 20 when they welcome Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles back to MetLife Stadium.