Trotter: Predicting topsy-turvy NFC East with every crew nonetheless alive

With a gamble to lengthen its slim lead in the NFC East on Sunday, the Washington Soccer Team failed.

With a gamble to high-tail interior a half-game of first location in the NFC East on Sunday, the Eagles additionally failed.

And with a gamble to take care of shut over first location in the NFC East on Sunday, the Giants persisted the pattern of the day and failed.

Maybe the most attention-grabbing shock on Sunday used to be the Cowboys staying in the division hunt by winning with out operating again Ezekiel Elliott, who used to be a game-time scratch towards the 49ers attributable to a calf bruise.

So what are we to provide of the NFC East with two weeks to play? The finest part all of us know for determined is that the winner will now no longer enact the season with a winning file. The handiest someone can attain is 8-8, which might maybe maybe require Washington to take hold of out. The Giants or Cowboys might maybe maybe well additionally salvage to seven wins if both wins its final two, whereas the Eagles can attain no greater than 6-9-1.

However most doubtless fittingly, every remains alive in its quest for the division crown and an automatic playoff berth. And whenever you are wondering, the final crew to ascertain the postseason with a sub-.500 file used to be the Carolina Panthers, who finished 7-8-1 in 2014. Let the file demonstrate that the Panthers additionally won their playoff opener that season sooner than bowing out in the divisional round.

Making an strive to name the eventual NFC East champion is roughly cherish attempting form out Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray one-on-one in the commence field: You are inclined to miss and must peep silly in the blueprint. However what the heck, we might maybe maybe well additionally all use some levity in these subtle events, so right here is my projected repeat of enact:

Week 16: vs. Carolina Panthers (4-10)

Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles (4-9-1)

It might maybe well well additionally now no longer have a nickname, on the replacement hand it does have a proficient defense and only ample offense, even though Dwayne Haskins had been to launch the final two games for Alex Smith, who sat out Sunday with a calf damage. Haskins made early errors in the 20-15 loss to the Seahawks that had been reflective of why he misplaced his starting up job earlier in the 300 and sixty five days, but the 2d-300 and sixty five days legitimate learned his rhythm in the fourth quarter, main two touchdown drives whereas polishing off 20-of-28 passes for 170 yards and a score. The starting up job remains Smith’s when healthy — since 2018, Washington is 10-5 when he starts, 6-25 when he would no longer — but Haskins flashed ample to think the offense can end above water whereas Smith is out.

Washington closes towards Carolina at dwelling and the Eagles on the road. Neither will be gimmies: The Panthers have misplaced eight of 9, but easiest regarded as some of the defeats used to be by better than eight functions, and 4 had been by 5 functions or fewer. The Eagles have misplaced 5 of six, but with out notice peep alive offensively with Jalen Hurts at quarterback the previous two games.

Week 16: at Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys (5-9)

The Giants shut the season at Baltimore, then dwelling towards the Cowboys. The susceptible is a cosmopolitan matchup, excited about the Ravens seem to have learned their mojo as soon as more. They’ve held three of their final four opponents to 19 functions or fewer and must be going thru a Giants crew that has now no longer surpassed 19 functions since Nov. 15.

Recent York QB Daniel Jones has overlooked two of the final three weeks attributable to damage, and it is unsure whether or now no longer he will be again to face the Ravens. However even though he does return, getting previous Baltimore appears unbelievable. Supreme-case scenario for the Giants is that they grab every games and Washington loses on the least one, because they’d contain the tiebreaker (by advantage of two wins over the Soccer Team this season) must the teams finished tied atop the division.

Week 16: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4-9-1)

Week 17: at Recent York Giants (5-9)

The Cowboys had been playing with greater urgency and efficiency one day of a two-game grab hobble, but that success has come towards contaminated teams starting up contaminated backup quarterbacks. Hurts is a backup-grew to develop into-starter who is removed from contaminated. Of course, he has been handsome darn factual. And the proven reality that he has one thing to play for even though the Eagles as a crew might maybe maybe well additionally now no longer — he desires to be a severe candidate to launch in 2021 — methodology he will peep to enact solid. So, I see the Eagles beating the Cowboys, which will have Dallas gamers inquisitive about their vacation plans getting into a meaningless season finale on the Giants. (Endure in solutions, I even have Washington clinching the division with per week to play.)

So, that is how things will play out. My gut tells me so. Nonetheless, that will be indigestion.