For the first time since 2021, the Washington Commanders completed a sweep of the New York Giants with a Week 9 27-22 win at MetLife Stadium. Washington did so without running back Brian Robinson Jr., who was unable to suit up due to a hamstring injury.
The Commanders will return home to Northwest Stadium for Week 10 to take on their last AFC North team in this season's slate when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline, a move that head coach Dan Quinn dubbed as an easy decision and should bolster the Commanders' defense. Lattimore has yet to practice in Ashburn, so his status for Sunday is likely still in the air.
Like Washington, Pittsburgh also made moves at the trade deadline. The Steelers acquired wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets and defensive end Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers. The team also comes off a bye week, allowing starting center Zach Frazier and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson to heal up and return to the lineup.
Similar to last week in New York with nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, the Commanders' offensive line will have to contend with protecting their quarterback from T.J. Watt. The edge rusher is the leading contender for Defensive Player of the Year, with 6.5 sacks and 24 solo tackles on the year. Watt can be a game-wrecker, so keeping him in check is key for the Commanders to win.
As the Commanders prepare to take on the Steelers, let's check in on the other teams around the division.
Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
The Cowboys have been riding a three-game losing streak with the team unable to put up a win since Oct. 6, when they squeaked out a three-point victory over the Steelers. They most recently lost on the road in Week 9 to the Atlanta Falcons 27-21 and return home for Week 10 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles.
Things look to only be getting worse for Dallas, whose quarterback Dak Prescott exited Sunday's game with a partial hamstring avulsion that could require season-ending surgery. That means backup quarterback Cooper Rush will be in the driver's seat for the foreseeable future, shaking things up on offense.
The bright spot for the Cowboys is the likely return of defensive end Micah Parsons, who returned to practice for the first time since Week 4 on a limited basis. Parsons said he plans to play Sunday, which is timely for the Cowboys considering Philadelphia has been cooking on offense since returning from their bye week.
The Cowboys' offense looks shaky with Prescott out and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb limited in practice. There will be more pressure on Parsons and the defense to limit a hot offense. Considering the Cowboys' tumultuous season, a win on home turf against a division rival could help swing momentum in Dallas' favor for a late playoff push.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
Philadelphia heads to Dallas coming off a gritty 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at home. Running back Saquon Barkley had another stellar performance against the Jaguars, putting up 159 rushing yards and one touchdown. Barkley's most impressive play of the game was a backwards, no-look hurdle over defenders for a 14-yard catch-and-run.
Dallas is currently ranked No. 30 in the league against the run, something the Eagles will likely exploit with Barkley. Parsons' imminent return on defense is something Philadelphia will have to plan for, although their offensive line has held up well to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts.
The division rivals seem to be trending in opposite directions, with the Eagles welcoming back healthy players while the Cowboys continue adding to their injury report. There's a chance tight end Dallas Goedert could return from his hamstring injury, which he suffered Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. Goedert's return would bolster the Eagles' offense, which has been dominant since the team returned from their bye week and give Hurts another weapon.
New York Giants (2-7)
The Giants and Carolina Panthers jet to Germany this weekend for a battle between two struggling teams. Neither team seems to have found a groove yet this season, as both sit at a losing 2-7 record.
Week 9 saw the Giants drop their fourth-straight game. A bright spot for New York last weekend, however, was quarterback Daniel Jones ending his 672-day home field touchdown drought. The team rallied in the second half, and Jones finished the day with a 76.9 completion percentage for 174 passing yards for two touchdowns.
The Panthers are coming off a one-point, 23-22 Week 9 win over the Saints that pushed New Orleans to fire Head Coach Dennis Allen. They were big sellers ahead of the trade deadline, sending wide receivers Jonathan Mingo and Diontae Johnson to the Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, for future NFL draft picks. Ahead of their trip overseas, the team also announced that Bryce Young will start in quarterback over veteran Andy Dalton.
With so many changes on offense, the Panthers are truly a wild card for the Giants' defense, which could work to Carolina's advantage if they can connect. The Panthers' pass rush hasn't been strong this season, which should allow the Giants' offensive line to give Jones time to throw downfield. Jones and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers have proven their strong connection, which could be Carolina's downfall.
