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Our Weekly Stroll Through The NFC East

It's Tuesday and here at BTB, that means that it is time to once again turn an eye toward the folks the Cowboys will have to beat if they want to make the NFL's post season shindig.

By DawnMacelli
"Peyton, I need a little help here. Well, maybe more than just a little."
"Peyton, I need a little help here. Well, maybe more than just a little."
Bob Levey

New York Giants (0-5)

Philadelphia Eagles 36

New York Giants 21

  • Eli Manning continues to struggle this season. The interception count is now up to an even dozen for the younger Manning brother, who is in the midst of his worse season as a professional. Against the Eagles it was a series of three fourth quarter interceptions that spoiled the Giants comeback attempt and added to Eli's woes.

"I honestly believe that he’s trying so hard to get us a win, he’s almost put too much on himself. He keeps it all pretty much inside. I’m not making excuses. There were a couple of those plays that were terrible." - Tom Coughlin

  • Game management by Tom Coughlin was also an issue this past Sunday. Faced with an opportunity to challenge a questionable reception that gave Philadelphia a first down, the coach called a time out to allow more time to make a decision. In the end, Coughlin challenged the ruling on the field but the ruling was confirmed by replay and New York was assessed a second time out. That was not Coughlin's only blunder on the afternoon. From our sister site, Big Blue View we have this take on the mistakes made by the coaching staff.

Tom Coughlin made two bad decisions, wasting a timeout on a challenge he lost and accepting a penalty whent he Eagles faced a fourth-and-four, pushing them back to third-and-19. Michael Vick turned that into points, running 38 yards to keep a Philly drive alive.

  • Brandon Jacobs, who recently made his return to the Big Apple, is rapidly proving that he has nothing left in the tank. He has been slowed by the effects of time on his body and he is making the same mistakes that cost Da'Rel Scott his job with the Giants. On Sunday Jacobs committed an unforced fumble and had a key drop on a screen pass, the offenses which landed Scott in Tom Coughlin's doghouse last week.
  • Injuries are taking a serious toll in New York as well. The G-men were once again without several key pieces against Philadelphia. In addition to the walking wounded, including Cullen Jenkins and David Diehl (who made his first appearance of the season on Sunday), there were a host of Giants who missed the week five contest.

CB Corey Webster, C David Baas, WR Louis Murphy, CB Jayron Hosley, TE Adrien Robinson, DT Linval Joseph and QB Ryan Nassib are all inactive today for the New York Giants as they face the Philadelphia Eagles. Nassib is the only healthy scratch among the seven.

  • Things will not get any easier for the Giants this week. On Thursday night they travel to Chicago to face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Washington Redskins (1-3)

Bye Week

  • Defensive end Jarvis Jenkins and linebacker Rob Jackson have returned from their NFL imposed time outs for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. Both men will have the benefit of two full weeks of practice before facing the Cowboys on Sunday night. It is not clear exactly how Mike Shanahan intends to use each man initially. Jenkins would have been the team's starting defensive end had he not been suspended and Jackson was slated to serve as the primary backup to Brian Orakpo. Both men have seen initial work with the scout team as they work themselves into football shape.
  • The beleaguered Washington secondary, which is giving up an average of nearly 300 yards passing per game, has been somewhat bolstered by the return of Brandon Meriweather. His presence gives the Redskins a veteran who can help defensive backs coach Raheem Morris reduce his reliance on rookies Bacarri Rambo and David Amerson.

"He just provides veteran leadership – a guy that’s been through the fire before, a guy that’s been back there and played. It allows me to get away from one guy and not have to teach every single thing and have everything be a new experience for that guy. He also makes his mistakes as well. Don’t get me wrong. But it’s still nice to have a guy back there that has played in this league for a while." - Raheem Morris on Brandon Meriweather's return

  • Second-year quarterback Robert Griffin III is beginning to develop as a pocket passer. Without the threat of him running the ball or his being able to move around in the pocket, the Washington offensive line has struggled to protect Dan Snyder's investment. That situation has started to change as Griffin has begun to "climb the ladder" to help out his line.
  • From the Redskins point of view it is good that Griffin is trying to help himself because his receiving corps certainly isn't helping him out much. Beyond Pierre Garcon, who is on pace to break the team record for receptions, the Skins are not getting much from their pass catchers. Disappointments include Josh Morgan, who was expected to return in top form after off-season surgery, and Fred Davis, who is not able to earn many snaps in the Washington offense. Between the two, they have only caught a dozen passes this season.
  • Next the Washington Redskins will travel to the Metroplex to face the Dallas Cowboys in the Sunday night game.

Philadelphia Eagles (2-3)

Philadelphia Eagles 36

New York Giants 21

  • Starting quarterback Michael Vick suffered a hamstring injury against the New York Giants and was replaced by Nick Foles. According to head coach Chip Kelly, Vick is day-to-day and will get the start against Tampa Bay if he is able to answer the bell. On the other hand various sources are reporting that Vick will miss at least one game due to his injury.
  • In spite of three fourth quarter interceptions of Eli Manning, the Eagles defense is still a mess. In the words of Eagles beat reporter Nick Fierro, Philadelphia benefited more from luck than from good play. The Giants left at least two touchdowns on the field and were hindered more by errant passes and a series of dropped balls than they were by Eagles defenders.
  • One Philadelphia Eagle who is having an outstanding season is running back LeSean McCoy.

RB LeSean McCoy rushed for 46 yards and his 33rd-career touchdown. His 514 rushing yards are the most ever by an Eagle through five games and his 33 rushing scores moved him out of a tie with Randall Cunningham and into fourth place in Eagles history

  • Next on the Eagles schedule is a date with Tampa Bay when they visit Florida to take on the Buccaneers.
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