NFC East Exposed: Eagles Plummet After Week 3 Collapse

Image Source: PhillyVoice

NFC East fortunes shifted dramatically after a chaotic Week 3, with the Philadelphia Eagles tumbling in the latest NFC hierarchy while the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Washington Commanders continued to show major flaws and unexpected promise.

In his September 29, 2026 rankings, PhillyVoice columnist Jimmy Kempski placed Philadelphia seventh in the NFC at 2-1. The Eagles were ranked fourth the previous week, making their drop one of the most significant changes in the conference.

NFC East power rankings reveal a division in transition

The Eagles’ disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears on a national broadcast raised fresh concerns about Philadelphia’s offensive execution and coaching decisions. Although the team remains above .500, the performance made it look more like a club heading in the wrong direction than a legitimate NFC contender.

One sequence in particular drew intense criticism: a screen pass to DeVonta Smith late in the first half with 19 seconds remaining at the Bears’ 9-yard line. Instead of taking several chances into the end zone, Philadelphia called a screen that produced only a short gain before Jalen Hurts improvised a quarterback sneak for a touchdown as the clock expired.

Kempski argued that the call was especially questionable because the Eagles had struggled badly on passes thrown at or behind the line of scrimmage. Through three games, Philadelphia had gained negative yardage on those attempts, even when the screen against Chicago was executed relatively well.

Eagles face urgent questions after Chicago loss

The Eagles’ 2-1 record keeps them firmly in the NFC East race, but their offensive identity remains uncertain. The team has talented players, including Hurts, Smith and Jordan Mailata, yet its early-season struggles have made routine situations look unnecessarily complicated.

Philadelphia’s decline in the weekly ranking does not eliminate its playoff hopes. However, it places greater pressure on Nick Sirianni and the coaching staff to improve play-calling, clock management and execution before the schedule becomes more demanding.

Cowboys suffer another painful late-game defeat

The Dallas Cowboys landed ninth in the NFC at 1-2 after an extraordinary loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Their defeat included a controversial pass-interference call, questionable offensive decisions, a touchback on a late kickoff and a defensive breakdown that allowed Baltimore to move into position for the winning field goal.

Dallas had a chance to force overtime after cutting the deficit to three points. Instead, the Cowboys kicked the ball through the back of the end zone, giving the Ravens possession at the 35-yard line. Baltimore then used a long completion to reach field-goal range and secured the victory.

The loss continued a troubling pattern for Dallas. The Cowboys have remained competitive in stretches, but mistakes at critical moments have repeatedly erased their chances. With the division still unsettled, their 1-2 record is not fatal, but the margin for error is shrinking quickly.

Giants survive while losing key players

The New York Giants were ranked 11th at 2-1, but their record does not tell the full story. New York defeated Tennessee while gaining only 238 yards and failing to score a touchdown. The victory also came during a difficult stretch of injuries.

The Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart for the season in Week 2 and then saw defensive standout Brian Burns suffer a season-ending torn ACL in Week 3. The team also traded for J.J. McCarthy, adding another layer of intrigue to a season that already appears unpredictable.

Washington scores surprising win over Seattle

The Washington Commanders moved up to 12th after Marcus Mariota led an upset victory over the previously unbeaten Seattle Seahawks. Washington entered the game as an underdog but created one of the biggest surprises of the young NFL season.

Mariota and Jayden Daniels have produced similar numbers across their recent starts, giving Washington an unusual quarterback discussion. Daniels remains the organization’s long-term hope, but Mariota’s experience helped deliver an important win and temporarily stabilized the team.

The result also demonstrated how quickly the NFC can change. Seattle was ranked second despite the loss, while Washington gained credibility by defeating a team that had been viewed as one of the conference’s strongest contenders.

What the NFC East standings mean now

• Eagles: 2-1, but facing serious questions after a nationally televised loss.
• Cowboys: 1-2 and struggling to avoid costly late-game mistakes.
• Giants: 2-1, though injuries have weakened both sides of the ball.
• Commanders: 1-2 and gaining confidence after an impressive upset.

The NFC East remains wide open, but Philadelphia’s fall is the clearest warning sign from Week 3. Every team in the division has a path forward, yet each must correct major weaknesses before the race becomes more competitive.

Frequently asked questions

Who leads the NFC East after Week 3?

The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants both had 2-1 records after Week 3. The Eagles were viewed as the stronger team entering the season, but their loss to Chicago created significant concern.

Why did the Eagles fall in the NFC rankings?

Philadelphia dropped because of its disappointing loss to the Bears and concerns about offensive play-calling, screen passes, clock management and overall execution.

What happened to the Cowboys?

Dallas lost to Baltimore after a series of late-game mistakes, including a controversial penalty, questionable play decisions, a touchback and a defensive breakdown.

Did Washington upset Seattle?

Yes. The Commanders defeated the Seahawks in one of Week 3’s biggest surprises, with Marcus Mariota leading Washington to the victory.