A month into the season, the NFC East has an unexpected leader and no team better than 3-1. The New York Giants are 3-1 and alone in first place. Philadelphia and Dallas are 2-2. Washington is 1-3 and finished Sunday with its third quarterback of the year.
The Cowboys' 34-30 comeback at Houston kept them out of a 1-3 hole that history says is hard to escape. ESPN's Todd Archer noted that since 2000, Dallas has never won just one game in the season's first month and gone on to finish above .500.
New York, winning ugly
The Giants have won two straight with Jameis Winston starting for injured Jaxson Dart. Against Arizona on Sunday, Winston threw three touchdown passes and two interceptions, and the 36-24 final was not secure until cornerback Deonte Banks returned an interception 98 yards on the last play, the Associated Press reported.
New York is 3-0 at MetLife Stadium, including a 28-20 win over Dallas in the opener.
"It wasn't the most beautiful game, as far as playing perfectly: It was a winning game," Giants coach John Harbaugh said.
New York also added depth at the position, trading with Minnesota for J.J. McCarthy six days before the game. He dressed Sunday but did not play. The Giants visit Washington next.
Philadelphia, banged up
The Eagles let a 10-point lead slip in a 24-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Philadelphia failed on all 12 of its third-down tries, finished with 172 yards of offense and has now been shut out 31-0 in the second half across consecutive defeats, according to the AP.
Late in the fourth quarter, coach Nick Sirianni passed on a chip-shot kick that would have put the Eagles up 13, and the fourth-down play came up short. Kyren Williams then scored twice in the final four minutes. "You go for it and don't get it, that's on the head coach," Sirianni said.
The injury list grew. Running back Saquon Barkley hurt his right hamstring, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell hurt his knee and pass rusher Jonathan Greenard exited with an ankle problem, the AP reported. Philadelphia entered the game without six starters and travels to London to face Jacksonville on Sunday.
Washington, down to a rookie
The Commanders lost 30-13 to Indianapolis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Marcus Mariota, starting while Jayden Daniels is out, was hurt on Washington's second drive, and coach Dan Quinn said it looked like an MCL injury, according to the AP. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis came on and threw his first NFL touchdown, a 47-yarder to Treylon Burks.
