The NFC East’s first six weeks have produced an ugly, unmistakable snapshot: every team in the division is below zero in point differential.
That alone says plenty about a division that entered the 2026 season with plenty of recognizable names, but not much steadiness. The New York Giants are technically on top at 3-2-1, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys are both 2-4. The Washington Commanders are bringing up the rear at 1-4-1.
FanDuel posted the numbers on X, and the gap across the division is stark. The Giants are the closest to breaking even at -4, the Cowboys are at -8, the Eagles sit at -31 and the Commanders are last at -40. No other division in the league has all four clubs in the red after six weeks.
That leaves the NFC East in a strange place heading into Week 7. One of these teams is still going to win the division and host a playoff game, but the early profile points to a champion that could end up with a losing record.
Philadelphia’s slide has been the most dramatic. The Eagles opened with two straight wins, then dropped four in a row, giving Nick Sirianni the first losing streak of that length he has endured as head coach. The blow has been made worse by the absence of Jalen Hurts, who will reportedly miss the rest of the season because of blood clots in his lungs.
Dallas has its own issues, and the recent stretch has been especially rough. Over its last two losses, the Cowboys have scored only 29 total points.
Jerry Jones has said he may be busy before the trade deadline, while also insisting he still believes the team is in a good spot. The Cowboys get a chance to steady things in Week 7 against the struggling Eagles.
The Giants, meanwhile, are clinging to first place while navigating serious quarterback turnover. Jaxson Dart’s season ended in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams because of a knee injury, and New York has since leaned on Jameis Winston for the next four games.
Now the Giants are set to start J.J. McCarthy in Week 7 at the Houston Texans.
Washington has had the fewest wins, but its problems go beyond the record. The Commanders have repeatedly let games slip away late, with coaching decisions and quarterback mistakes playing into the poor start. Their Week 6 loss to San Francisco came with another major setback, as Terry McLaurin suffered a torn patellar tendon.
The Commanders are on a bye in Week 7 before seeing Philadelphia next week. For the moment, though, the division’s defining stat is the same for all four teams: negative point differential, and no clear answers.
In Other News...
K'Lavon Chaisson Is Giving Commanders A Defensive Spark They Needed
K'Lavon Chaisson has been one of the more noticeable defensive additions in Washington lately, and the edge rushers recent run of play is starting to show up on the stat sheet. Over the last two games, he forced two fumbles, matching his career high and giving the Commanders a timely jolt from a position group that needs disruption off the edge. Both loose balls turned into recoveries by teammates Tim Settle and Frankie Luvu, the kind of hidden-impact plays that can swing a game even when they do not dominate the highlight reel.
For Washington, the bigger takeaway is that Chaissons production has come in a relatively short sample, with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles through six games. The Commanders have been looking for more consistent splash from their pass rush, and Chaissons recent stretch at least gives them a player who is finding ways to affect the ball as well as the quarterback. Whether he can keep that pressure coming is the next question, especially with the defense still trying to establish a steadier identity. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Quinns Bye Week Reset Could Hit One Commanders Starter Hard
The bye week has given Dan Quinn a chance to take a hard look at a defense that has not been close to the standard Washington expected, and the reset could extend beyond game-planning. Quinn has brought in Steve Wilks to help with defensive planning, a sign the Commanders are not treating this as a routine midseason tune-up but as an opportunity to rethink how the front is deployed after a rough stretch.
One of the clearest questions centers on the interior of the defensive line, where Tim Settle Jr. has not delivered the kind of start Washington needed. The Commanders have already been searching for better answers at nose tackle, and the next step may involve a more fluid rotation there as the staff looks for more impact and steadiness in the middle. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Still Has One Costly Issue Commanders Can't Ignore
Jayden Daniels has given the Commanders plenty to like early in his NFL career, but the last two games also offered a reminder that even the most promising young quarterbacks get tested by the details. Against the Giants, Washington had a late-game mistake that left points on the field, and against the 49ers there was a play call that drew plenty of second-guessing. Dan Quinn has been open about those moments, treating them as part of the learning curve while making it clear the conversation with his quarterback has already started.
For Washington, the bigger concern is not Daniels talent but how quickly the operation around him cleans up the situational stuff that can swing tight games. Quinn has stressed development and communication, and Daniels overall play still points to a franchise quarterback in the making. Even so, the Commanders are watching closely because the margin for error shrinks fast when a team is trying to turn promise into wins. [Read more 🡒]