Week 18 NFC East predictions: Cowboys on top, Commanders bottom out
The Cowboys look to win their 25th division title as the NFC East stays in house for Week 18.
Dallas Cowboys (11-5) at Washington Commanders (4-12)
After a controversial 20-19 victory over the Lions on Saturday night, the Cowboys own an 11-5 record and tiebreakers over the 11-5 Philadelphia Eagles. The NFC East is theirs for the taking as long as they do what they couldn’t do last year: beat a last-place Commanders team to end the regular season.
Last January, the Commanders rang in 2023 by beating the Cowboys 26-6 in quarterback Sam Howell’s first start. He wasn’t as lucky against the 49ers throwing for just 169 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions last week.
Despite the narrow victory, Dak Prescott was much better in Week 17, throwing for 365 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Of course, 227 of those yards went to CeeDee Lamb who set the franchise record for receptions (122) and receiving yards (1,651) in a single season.
He’ll have a chance to pad his stats against a Washington team that’s allowed the second-most passing yards (4,148) in the NFL.
Maybe the Commanders send head coach Ron Rivera out on a high note, but with a division title at stake, the Cowboys should have this one locked up by halftime.
PREDICTION: Cowboys 27-13
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) at New York Giants (5-11)
Philadelphia beat New York 33-25 on Christmas Day but couldn’t keep the momentum going, giving up 449 yards and 32 first downs in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals.
After starting the season with a 10-1 record, the Eagles have lost four of their last five games.
Thanks to a 94-yard score from punt returner Gunner Olszewski and 359 total yards from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the Giants would have upset the Rams at MetLife Stadium on Sunday had Mason Crosby not missed a 54-yard field goal with 34 seconds left.
The Giants would love to send Philadelphia to the playoffs with a two-game losing streak and may even get help from Nick Sirianni. When speaking with reporters on Monday, the Eagles head coach said he would consider resting his starters against New York.
“Obviously, we try to think through everything at all times,” he said. “We’re going to do whatever we need to do to win this game, but that’s still a consideration because we think through all those different things."
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith could miss the first game of his professional career after suffering a mild ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.
If he sits, quarterback Jalen Hurts will certainly look to get A.J. Brown more involved. The team’s leading receiver has one touchdown in his last seven games.
Assuming the Eagles play their starters, Philadelphia should win the game, but given their recent defensive struggles, it won’t be easy.
PREDICTION: Eagles 28-24
More must-reads: