Happy Thanksgiving from VSiN! The Giants have a lot for which to be thankful. They are still in the NFC East playoff race despite having started the 2018 season with a 1-7 record. They’re also guaranteed that a team ahead of them will lose Thursday, with Washington visiting Dallas as the afternoon course in the holiday football feast (Fox, 4:30 p.m.).
NFC East standings entering Week 12: Redskins 6-4, Cowboys 5-5, Eagles 4-6, Giants 3-7.
Because the division winner is assured of a playoff spot, let’s focus on that race today from a market perspective. We’ll use our estimated “market” Power Ratings (compiled by Jonathan Von Tobel and I), for a quick outline of the remaining schedules for all four teams. The numbers you see in parentheses are the current ratings based on mid-week point spreads. They reflect a “neutral field” performance level.
When projecting future games, allot 2¹/₂ to three points for home-field advantage.
Here’s what’s left for each team:
- REDSKINS (76): at Cowboys (81), at Eagles (79), vs. Giants (76), at Jaguars (77), at Titans (80), vs. Eagles (79).The market does not see this as a playoff-caliber team after the injury to Alex Smith. Colt McCoy and company wouldn’t be touchdown underdogs in Dallas if it was. Four of Washington’s last six games are on the road. The Redskins will be underdogs in all four. Bleak.
- COWBOYS (81): vs. Redskins (76), vs. Saints (88), vs. Eagles (79), at Colts (81), vs. Buccaneers (76), at Giants (76).Offshore markets consider Dallas the favorite to win the division, despite a probable loss to the Saints just ahead. Visiting Indianapolis is no walk in the park either. Pokes should be favored in their other games.
- EAGLES (79): vs. Giants (76), vs. Redskins (76), at Cowboys (81), at Rams (87), vs. Texans (82), at Redskins (76).Given last Sunday’s disaster in New Orleans, it’s tough to like the Eagles’ chances to upset the Rams in LA. But, Alex Smith’s injury helps the Eagles the most because they still have two games left against Washington.
- GIANTS (76): at Eagles (79), vs. Bears (83), at Redskins (76), vs. Titans (80), at Colts (81), vs Cowboys (81).If you presume it will take 9-7 to win the NFC East, it’s virtually impossible to see the G-men running that table. They might be underdogs in every game unless they lift their form significantly or there are injuries to other teams. We’ll clear the table with full league “market” ratings:
- NFC: Saints 88, Rams 87, Bears 83, Vikings 82, Panthers 82, Packers 81, Seahawks 81, Cowboys 81, Eagles 79, Falcons 78, Redskins 76, Lions 76, Buccaneers 76, Giants 76, 49ers 75, Cardinals 74.
- AFC: Chiefs 86, Patriots 86, Steelers 86, Chargers 83, Texans 82, Ravens 81, Colts 81, Titans 80, Broncos 80, Jaguars 77, Bengals 77, Browns 77, Dolphins 75, Jets 74, Raiders 73, Bills 71.
