NFC East takes NFL by storm in early, plot twist-filled, 2022 season  

Week seven came along quickly in this plot twist of the 2022 NFL season. High expectations for specific teams have been met with utter disappointment yet others with low expectations have overachieved incredibly to start the season. Although teams are either shocking the NFL in either an over or underwhelming way, week seven brought out their true colors which can bring excitement or fear to fans around the country.  

Many of the overachievers in the beginning of the 2022 NFL season reside in the NFC East. NFL media focused their coverage on the potential of the AFC West during the offseason due to the blockbuster trades and elite quarterback play available, yet the NFC East has taken the league by storm. Leading the division with an undefeated record the Philadelphia Eagles, now 6-1, New York Giants, and a 5-2 Dallas Cowboys team who just added their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, from the injured list. Ron ‘River boat’ Rivera gives his Washington Commanders fans faith that their organization can produce winning football holding a 3-4 record but compared to the rest of the division they are out matched. 

The high-octane rushing offense of Philadelphia keeps quarterback, Jalen Hurts, amongst the top MVP candidates this season. The ability to mix the run and pass game with running back Miles Sanders and Hurts feet in a read option, to possessing elite wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith on the outside creates an immense unpredictability making the Eagles a juggernaut heading into the second half of the season.  Also Read: The NFL top 10 Quarterbacks for the 2022 season.

Despite the absence of Prescott, backup quarterback, Cooper Rush, led Dallas to a 4-2 record going into a week seven bout against the Detroit Lions giving Prescott a comfortable situation to enter his season debut. Rush’s ability to hold the fortress until Prescott’s return proved pivotal after seeing just how dangerous the other teams are in their division. The Cowboys defense also highly contributed to their early season success led by young linebacker stud Michah Parsons who seems like a man possessed between the white lines when the whistle blows. Watching Parsons rush the quarterback should bring ease to Cowboys fans knowing he’s only in the second season of his career at twenty-three years old. 

Primier defenses in the NFL are normally accompanied by a competent offense scheme which revolves completely around Dallas’ two headed monster backfield in Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard. These two runners come together to combine Pollard’s explosiveness with Elliot’s toughness to create a nightmare for any defensive front. Dallas’ performance on Sunday just reaffirmed to the rest of the NFL that their run and defensive game will dominate unless thoroughly game planned around. 

Josh Allen can thank one person for ultimately turning around his entire playing style and creating him into the dual threat powerhouse quarterback that we know Allen as today, that person is Brian Daboll. Over the offseason, many speculated that the Giants would not be competitive this season due to their ‘under talented’ offense and worries of poor play from young rising quarterback, Daniel Jones. One of the biggest questions going into this season for the Giants was, can Jones take the next step? With Coach Daboll at his side, so far so good for the former Duke quarterback. Jones has led the ‘G-men’ to five game winning drives this season and much of the threat has been generated by using his feet. With the big win over Green Bay in London came much attention towards the Giants way.  Follow SpotLife Asia for the latest news and updates.

Daboll’s done a fantastic job keeping these men in blue motivated to succeed and never give up despite what the media says. One player who continues to prove himself despite his injury plagued seasons is Saquon Barkley. Barkley’s presence in this offense takes so much pressure off the shoulders of Jones to carry them to a win each week. With Barkley’s healthy legs he’s shown off his sneaky ability to jump cut and weave through defenders but also inviting physicality in his game as well. Keeping Barkley healthy will be key to the Giants prolonged success in this early season. 

The Commanders expectations were definitely not high going into the season as their training camp attendance could tell but they’re putting smiles on their fans faces with huge victory over the struggling Green Bay Packers after fighting the whole game to comeback. Quarterback, Taylor Heinicke, led the Commanders past Aaron Rodgers and the Packers by constantly putting the ball where receivers Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin can make plays. Heinicke’s ability to keep Washington in the game was something quarterback, Carson Wentz, was struggling to do. Rivera’s decision to make the switch proved wise as the Commanders played differently under Heinicke’s leadership. It will be interesting to see what Washington can do with their solid defense and QB switch. 

One of the best stories to follow during the rest of this action-packed season will be to see who comes out on top in this unexpectedly lethal division. The top three teams in the Eagles, Giants, and Cowboys all have the title up for grabs. Winning games within the division will be a huge task for these powerhouses to keep division title hopes alive till playoffs arrive.