NFC East Stagnation: Cowboys and Eagles Seek First Divisional Win in Six Weeks

Both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles enter Monday night's game in Philadelphia at 2-4, seeking to end a six-game winless stretch in the division. The New York Giants lead the NFC East at 3-2-1, but the gap is narrow enough that either winner could seize control of the division standings.

The division has posted a 0-8 record over the last two weeks, a mark that has not occurred in any NFL division since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. This collective slump places immediate pressure on both coaching staffs, as a loss would likely push one team further from a playoff spot given the current standings.

Philadelphia faces a significant offensive hurdle with quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve for the remainder of the season due to blood clots. He is replaced by Tanner McKee, who received more than a full week of preparation time with first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. McKee stated that he feels he has a good preparation process and plans to consult more frequently with the coaching staff rather than working alone.

The Eagles' running back rotation is also depleted. Saquon Barkley is out with a hamstring injury, and backups Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby are also injured. Carson Steele, signed from the practice squad, suffered a shoulder injury in last week's loss to Carolina, leaving Dameon Pierce as the primary ball carrier who rushed for 35 yards in that contest.

Dallas is dealing with its own defensive struggles, ranking 30th in the league under first-year coordinator Christian Parker. Offensively, the Cowboys have scored fewer than 20 points in consecutive starts by Dak Prescott for the first time since 2019. Their last two losses produced a combined 29 points, including a 23-13 defeat by Green Bay last week.

Owner Jerry Jones addressed the team's stability at the NFL's annual fall meeting on Wednesday. He said he does not expect to make additional coaching changes this season and described the recent hiring of defensive assistant Mike Pettine as a strategic and unique move for the organization.

Individual milestones are at stake for both rosters. Javonte Williams has seven rushing touchdowns, the second-highest total for a Cowboys player in the first six games, trailing only Emmitt Smith's marks from 1994 and 1995. CeeDee Lamb holds the franchise record for receptions through six games with 48 catches, which is third in the league this season. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert needs one catch to move into third place on the team's career receptions list.

The Cowboys are favored by four points in the matchup. Dallas is 3-3 against the spread this season, while Philadelphia is 1-5. The Cowboys hold the all-time series lead, 72-58, and won the last meeting on Nov. 23, 2025, by a score of 24-21. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CST on ESPN.

The Eagles will play at Washington on Nov. 1 before hosting the Giants in a final divisional game. The outcome of Monday's contest will determine which team enters that stretch with a viable path to the division title.