Week 9 NFC East predictions: Eagles stay ahead of rival Cowboys

The top two teams in the NFC East face off in Week 9 while others look to rebound after tough losses.

New York Giants (2-6) at Las Vegas Raiders (3-5): Viva la NFL Red Zone. Seriously, if you know anyone willing to sit through this game, get them help. The Raiders already gave up on the season on by firing head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler on Tuesday night. The Giants are still trying, even if the numbers say otherwise.

New York put up 194 total yards and -9 yards passing in a 13-10 loss to the Jets. Luckily for for the Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones will be back after missing three games with a neck injury. He’s no Pro Bowler, but he’s no Tommy DeVito either. While New York's quarterbacks struggled, running back Saquon Barkley had a season-high 128 yards last week and now gets a Raiders team that just gave up 152 yards to Lions’ rookie Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Giants should do well against a woeful Raiders team led by interim coach Antonio Pierce and Aidan O'Connell at quarterback. The fourth-round rookie lost his only start to the Chargers in Week 4, but will try to do better in an ugly game between two of the three lowest-scoring teams in the NFL.

PREDICTION: Giants 17-14

Washington Commanders (3-5) at New England Patriots (2-6): The other low-scoring team would be the New England Patriots. Averaging just 14.8 points per game, it’s hard to believe Bill Belichick’s team has two wins and harder to believe he signed an extension.

The Commanders average 21.4 points per game and appear to have a slight edge at quarterback with Sam Howell. Washington’s second-year QB threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-31 loss to Philadelphia last week, giving him the sixth-most yards of any passer.

Howell made the Eagle’s defense look silly at times as he spread the ball to nine different receivers. New England’s Mac Jones found eight targets against the Dolphins, but will be without leading receiver Kendrick Bourne who suffered a torn ACL in Miami.

On the other hand, Washington just lost 11.5 sacks by trading away defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Jones could have more time in the pocket this week, he just won’t have anyone to throw to.

Expect a low-scoring game and for players like Brian Robinson, Terry McLaurin and Logan Thomas to help what’s left of the Commanders get by the Patriots.

PREDICTION: Commanders 17-13

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-1): The division lead may not be up for grabs, but the winner of this game could get a grip on NFC East tiebreakers. Fresh off a 43-20 pummeling of the Rams, Dallas brings the NFL’s third-ranked defense to meet Philadelphia’s third-ranked offense in the not-so-friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field.

The teams split last year’s games with each team winning at home. Dallas leads the series 70-54, and are 7-3 against Philadelphia over the last five years. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is 8-3 against the Eagles, while Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is 1-2 as a starter against Dallas, winning his only home matchup.

If Hurts wants a second win, his defense will have to contain a resurgent Cowboy’s passing game. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had a season-high 158 yards and two scores against the Rams, but the Eagles’ A.J. Brown isn’t doing bad either.. 

Brown is averaging an unbelievable 138.5 yards per game over the last six weeks and if the Dallas defense can’t get to Hurts, he could carry Philadelphia to their third straight win. Of course, the Eagles defensive line can’t afford to give Prescott time to throw, either.

Defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are both dealing with injuries and could miss Sunday’s game. If both are healthy, Philadelphia wins a close one. If not, Dallas wins their second straight game.

PREDICTION: Eagles 31-28