Things haven't gone well for the Washington Commanders so far this season. They are 1-3 after a demoralizing Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and nothing seems to be going right for head coach Dan Quinn as speculation rises about his long-term future.
But weirdly, they are not out of the NFC East just yet.
The division is a proverbial disaster. It was expected to be among the most competitive before the campaign, but it's been anything but so far. And the Dallas Cowboys' embarrassing Thursday Night Football loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed it.
Struggles throughout the NFC East have given the Commanders hope
It's a mess almost all around. And if the Commanders can beat the New York Giants in Week 5, they will be right back in the thick of things.
The Giants have surprisingly been the calmer of the four division rivals.
Despite losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart and star edge rusher Brian Burns to season-ending injuries, the G-Men are 3-1. They've had some favorable games on a last-place schedule, but the improvements and resolve are encouraging.
Washington cannot take anybody lightly; they don't have that luxury. But with quarterback Jayden Daniels back under center after a two-game absence, they'll always have a shot.
And with everything happening elsewhere in the NFC East, this weekend becomes even more of a must-win.
Dallas is freefalling. They were once again touted as a lively Super Bowl contender before the campaign, but they're falling flat again. Their defense looks worse than it did last year, and the offense isn't bailing them out with enough frequency to stay competitive.
Commanders must get their own house in order, but the NFC East is wide open
And given the major investments owner Jerry Jones has made in contracts and trades since shipping All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, it's deeply disappointing.
The Philadelphia Eagles, typically the model of stability in a chaotic division, are suddenly fighting against the tide.
Nick Sirianni's squad is 2-2, and it could be a lot worse. Prolific right tackle Lane Johnson has retired to focus on his mental health, and the Eagles have traded two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens.
Their offense is inept right now. Saquon Barkley is week to week with an injury, and quarterback Jalen Hurts is not thriving in Sean Mannion's system. Defensively, they are still strong, but this is a team game.
There are also claims of consolidation to focus on the future. General manager Howie Roseman will probably have a few tricks up his sleeve around the trade deadline to keep things ticking over, but it's a precarious situation.
The Commanders are propping up this weak division, which says a lot. But if they can beat the Giants and other results go their way, they might be able to make a run over the second half of 2026.
Washington just has to focus on what it can control.
Wins have been hard to find over the last couple of seasons, and that has to change. But if they can get some key men back and take things one game at a time, Quinn's squad has the talent to be more competitive.
That's far from guaranteed. But in this division, full of unknowns and not much quality, anything is possible.
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