Cowboys and Eagles should embarrass themselves after Week 2

Week 1 is the week of overreactions and Week 2 is the week of reality checks. Now we're getting a better look at where the teams stand, and that includes the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys got a quick reality check from the secretly good New Orleans Saints, while the Eagles blew another lead in the final minute to fall to 1-1.

The NFC East could have another crazy season. Each week we'll analyze each team's performance and create a mini power ranking to see how the four rivals compare to each other. Let's not waste any more time.

The Giants played the Commanders hoping to jumpstart their offense against Dan Quinn's ragtag secondary, and that's exactly what they did, with strong games from running back Devin Singletary and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Nabers was able to record over 60% targeting from Daniel Jones and Washington had no answer. However, it was a drop by Nabers on a fourth down late in the game that gave the Commanders the lead.

Even though the Giants lost a lot of yards, their defense deserves credit. They made some great plays and showed up in the red zone, preventing Washington from scoring a single touchdown.

New York still managed to lose, but Jones seemed more relaxed after a brutal first week. If he and Nabers continue to develop their chemistry, the Giants will be competitive in most games.

The Commanders' defense was solid, if not unspectacular, limiting the Giants' offensive weapons not named Malik Nabers and Devin Singletary, allowing just three touchdowns. Their pass rush remains a problem after trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young last season.

On offense, running back Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 136 yards from scrimmage and Austin Ekeler totaled 85 yards. Both RBs ran convincingly and bounced off tackles.

Jayden Daniels, selected No. 2 overall, had an efficient afternoon, completing 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards (7.3 YPA) and a 99.1 passer rating. However, he was sacked five times, forcing him to run 10 times for 44 yards – probably too much for Dan Quinn's liking.

The Commanders are a competitive team, but their offensive line and secondary are among the worst in football.

The Dallas Cowboys played awfully. Allowing six touchdowns in one game is a lot. What's worse is that they came on consecutive possessions.

Whether they were forcing the ball down Dallas' throat, finding gaping holes in the middle of the field or hitting deep shots, the Saints did what they wanted. It was one of the worst defensive performances in recent Cowboys history, perhaps even worse than the playoff loss in January.

Offensively, the Cowboys did enough to make a game, scoring on five of their first six drives, although only one resulted in a touchdown. With the Saints scoring early, the game shifted to passing, showing how few playmakers Dallas has behind CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson. The front office will need to find a new running back and receiver soon.

The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Atlanta Falcons in a turbulent prime-time game on Monday night football. The Eagles defense appears to have regressed to the same level as last season, allowing 385 yards of offense and giving Kirk Cousins ​​all the time in the pocket.

Philly's pass rush was not only nonexistent, they couldn't stop the run either. Bijan Robinson rushed for 95 yards on 6.9 yards per carry, while backup Tyler Allgeier totaled 59 yards on 5.9 yards per attempt. The performance culminated when Cousins ​​was allowed to march down the field to throw the game-winning touchdown with 38 seconds left in regulation.

The Eagles' offense was powered by a rejuvenated Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith, who proved he could fill a WR1 role in AJ Brown's absence. Costly game management from Nick Sirianni, failed execution in the red zone and more turnovers from Jalen Hurts ultimately sealed Philly's fate.

Still, the Cowboys' loss was significantly worse than the Eagles'. It's early in the season, but both teams have shown their inconsistency. The Eagles face the red-hot New Orleans Saints this week, while the Cowboys face the struggling Baltimore Ravens. The results could change the top of the division.

Outlook for week 3

The Eagles didn't take the top spot in the NFC East, the Cowboys gave it away. Washington and New York don't have the roster to compete, but their young stars can give the team hope of narrowing the gap. It's not a huge change from last week, but a notable one nonetheless.

The Commanders and Giants have a lot to prove before they can be considered the top team in the NFC East. Washington plays at Cincinnati, which hasn't looked like the dominant team in recent years, and the Giants play the Browns, who have more questions than answers.

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