Week 1 in the NFC East wasn’t without its glories. A couple of teams, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles came out on top, while the Washington Commanders and New York Giants took the loss. The Dallas Cowboys eked out a close win over the Cleveland Browns, while the Eagles took home the win against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. Each squad had its moments of brightness and warts, so let’s dive in and prepare for what’s going to be a wild ride.
NFC East: Barkley Shines, Hurts Struggles
The Philadelphia Eagles must be delighted with the performance of Saquon Barkley. After acquiring Barkley from the New York Giants, he ran for 132 yards and scored three touchdowns against the Packers in a close, tight game. He gave the Eagles that much-needed consistency in the running game. If he can just stay healthy, Barkley may end up with a career year and make this deal seem like a stroke of genius by the Eagles.
While he put up a good number—278 yards and two touchdowns—Jalen Hurts was not at his best. It was a performance that included an early pick-six and another interception in the end zone. The Eagles won, but some shaky moments by Hurts appeared obvious. It’s clear he needs to shake off any rust from the offseason quickly to avoid jeopardizing his team’s confidence.
Ezekiel Elliott Shines, Giants Struggle
In his return to the Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott did a pretty good job. He ran 40 yards on 10 carries and added a touchdown. Though he wasn’t overpowering, Elliott was able to do what was needed. His pass protection was also key in helping the Cowboys win on the road. That’s a good start to what many hope will be a successful season for him.
The New York Giants got off on the wrong foot as Daniel Jones did not impress in the least. Being outplayed by Sam Darnold, a few turnovers, and never finding his rhythm all saw the quarterback struggle. Without Saquon Barkley to support him, the Giants found offense an uphill struggle. Continue this level of underperformance from Jones, and it will certainly be one of those tortuous seasons for the New York fans.
Commanders’ Debut: Hits and Misses
It was a pretty poor Washington Commanders debut for Cade York, as he missed two field goals, one from 47 yards and another from 56 yards. A strong offseason had many excited about New York heading into Week 1. Kicking inconsistencies is just too costly, and York needs to get these issues ironed out quickly to regain confidence.
None more so than the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, who had his defense bottling up the Browns to an anemic single first down in the first half. Names like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs headlined the list of big plays; it was a great game plan from Zimmer for sure, as the valuable assets the Cowboys have truly came into their own in this one.
Conclusion
There was no lack of drama or intrigue during the opening week of the NFC East season. The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles had flexed their muscles, while the Washington Commanders and New York Giants showed where they needed to improve. Going into the furtherance of the season, adjustments will be paramount. Until then, the NFC East will continue to promise thrilling and competitive football, as each team’s performance in the coming weeks will significantly shape up the landscape of the division.
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