The NFC East has turned into a mess through six weeks of 2026, and the race is still wide open despite the fact that none of the four teams has won over the last two weeks. That stretch includes the tie between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders, with the Giants sitting on top for now at 3-2-1.
Still, the division feels like it’s waiting for somebody to grab it. In a recent CBS Sports breakdown, four experts weighed the odds of each team winning the NFC East, and Washington came in at 24.7%, behind the Giants at 31.9%, the Cowboys at 27%, and the Eagles at 16.5%.
Jordan Dajani made the case for the Commanders, and he didn’t shy away from the rough edges. He pointed to Washington’s worst six-game start since 2020, while also bringing up the memory of that 2020 rebound run to a 7-9 finish and an NFC East title. He also reminded readers that the old Washington Football Team pushed Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the wild-card round.
The Commanders have given him enough to cling to. They beat the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks while forcing three turnovers, then hung around in prime time against the 49ers after falling behind 23-3. Washington outscored San Francisco 14-0 the rest of the way and outgained Brock Purdy and company 201 yards to 7 in the fourth quarter.
Dajani also emphasized that Washington has enough defensive pieces to make this work. Daron Payne remains a former Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson both made big plays Monday night, and rookie Sonny Styles is described as an ascending talent next to Frankie Luvu. There are questions in the secondary, and Trey Amos needs to get back to 100%, but the larger point is that the Commanders do not need an elite defense to win this division.
The quarterback side of the equation matters just as much. Dajani said the “Daniels magic” has to show up again, and he believes Jayden Daniels still has the weapons to show he is an elite quarterback even after losing Terry McLaurin.
His final read on the division was clear: the Eagles are already looking ahead to 2027, the Cowboys’ defense is a mess, the Giants are relying on J.J. McCarthy, and Washington will be the team standing at the top when it’s over.
“It’s going to be the Commanders standing atop the NFC East when it’s all said and done. Keep your left hand up.”
There’s plenty of reason to be cautious with any projection this early, and the picture could still change. J.J.
McCarthy could save the Giants, and they may even have a defense that can support him. But the current shape of the race suggests it may come down to Washington and New York, the two teams many pegged near the bottom before the season.
Their Week 10 meeting could end up carrying the tiebreaker when the dust settles.
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 🡒]