With five weeks left in the 2025 NFL regular season, the NFC East is suddenly a lot more interesting than it looked just a few Sundays ago. The Dallas Cowboys have ripped off three straight wins, while the Philadelphia Eagles have stumbled through back-to-back losses - and just like that, the gap at the top has narrowed to two games. The division that once looked like Philly’s to coast through is now officially up for grabs.
Let’s rewind for a second. Not long ago, the buzz was all about the Eagles potentially breaking the NFC East’s long-standing curse - no repeat division champs since 2004.
But here we are in December, and that streak is breathing again. Dallas is surging, Philly is flailing, and the race is back on.
To be clear, the Cowboys still have a viable path to the postseason through the wild card. But with the way things are trending, they’ve got a real shot at stealing the division crown - and maybe even knocking the defending Super Bowl champs off their perch in the process.
The Eagles’ recent slide didn’t start with the losses to Dallas and Chicago. Even in wins over Green Bay and Detroit, their offense looked out of sync.
The defense bailed them out in those games, but that unit hasn’t been as sharp lately either. Now, with a tough stretch behind them and the holiday chaos in the rearview, the question is whether Philly can steady the ship - or if more turbulence lies ahead.
Here’s how the NFC East looks heading into Week 14:
- Philadelphia Eagles: 8-4 (2-2 in the division, 7-3 vs NFC)
- Dallas Cowboys: 6-5-1 (3-1 in the division, 3-4-1 vs NFC)
- Washington Commanders: 3-9 (1-1 in the division, 1-6 vs NFC)
- New York Giants: 2-11 (1-3 in the division, 1-8 vs NFC)
Philly’s remaining schedule has some potential landmines: at the Chargers, then the Raiders, followed by games at Washington, at Buffalo, and a season-ending home game against Washington. The Chargers and Bills are both 8-4 and right in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt.
Those games won’t be easy. And while Washington is out of postseason contention, Dan Quinn’s teams typically don’t roll over - especially not in division matchups.
The Eagles would need to drop at least two more games to open the door for Dallas. That’s not a small ask.
But if the Cowboys can run the table - and that’s a big “if” - they’d finish at 11-5-1. If Philly ends up 11-6, that slight edge in winning percentage gives the division to Dallas.
It’s a steep climb, no doubt. But it’s not impossible. And it all starts with a massive Week 14 showdown.
The Cowboys head to Detroit for a Thursday night game that carries serious playoff implications. Both teams are coming off their Thanksgiving games, so rest isn’t an issue.
But with the Lions currently sitting eighth in the NFC, just ahead of Dallas in the wild card race, this one feels like a postseason preview. It’s a measuring-stick game - and a must-win if Dallas wants to keep its division hopes alive.
Meanwhile, the Eagles will be watching from afar until Monday night, when they face the Chargers in L.A. Philly will have had a few extra days of rest after playing on Black Friday, but they’ll be going up against one of the league’s stingiest defenses - the Chargers rank third in the NFL. That’s not exactly the ideal matchup for an offense still trying to find its rhythm.
As for Washington and New York? They’re on the outside looking in - and in Week 14, they’re not even in the picture.
The Giants are on a bye, and the Commanders face the Vikings in a game that has zero impact on the playoff picture. We’ll circle back when they’re facing teams that actually matter to the NFC race.
Bottom line: the odds still favor the Eagles to win the East. But what looked like a foregone conclusion a few weeks ago has turned into a real race. Philly’s recent stumbles have cracked the door open, and Dallas is doing more than just knocking - they’re charging through it.
If both teams keep trending the way they have, we could be in for a wild finish. Buckle up.