Dallas Cowboys

Redskins' win over Giants just makes NFC East look even worse

Published Nov. 29, 2015 5:45 p.m. ET

Alex Marvez

Each NFC East team has held at least a share of first place at some point this season.

It's now Washington's turn.

Yes, the same Redskins that haven't led the division for a single week since winning it during the 2012 season. The same Redskins that are 5-6 with losses in all five road games. The same Redskins wracked by a preseason quarterback controversy. The same Redskins that entered Sunday's divisional matchup against the New York Giants with the NFL's 27th-ranked offense.

Those deficiencies don't matter as much when their rivals have even bigger issues.

By virtue of a better division record, Washington moved ahead of the Giants (5-6) with a 20-14 victory at Fed-Ex Field.

No other division -- even the AFC South -- has a club with a sub-.500 record atop it through Week 12. The Redskins enjoy that distinction partially because every team that once led the NFC East is falling apart.

--Dallas (3-8) failed to win a game when Tony Romo was sidelined with a broken collarbone. The Cowboys may not win again now that Romo was re-injured in last Thursday's loss to Carolina and is out for the season.

--Philadelphia (4-7) also had a miserable Thanksgiving Day experience. The Eagles were drummed by Detroit, 45-14, and lost their third straight game. Chip Kelly's vaunted offense is in disarray and the defense has started to crumble.

--New York's problems in 2015 stem largely from a defense that entered Week 12 ranked 31st in yards allowed and sacks produced. However, that unit wasn't the main reason for Sunday's defeat. With quarterback Eli Manning throwing three interceptions in the first three quarters -- including one in the Redskins end zone -- the Giants fell into a 20-0 hole.

Of course, the Redskins deserve credit for causing those struggles as well. The Giants were forced to field a one-dimensional attack as Washington surrendered only 33 rushing yards on 13 carries. Outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is a pass-rushing terror on a front seven that does a nice job getting pressure. And despite surrendering two fourth-quarter touchdown passes -- including another fantastic diving grab by Odell Beckham Jr. that cut Washington's lead to six points with 4:57 remaining -- a battered secondary did just enough to help Washington hold on.

Offensively, it's still too early to say that Kirk Cousins can become a franchise quarterback. But unlike the passer he replaced during the preseason -- Robert Griffin III -- at least Cousins has a shot at reaching such heights.

Having a healthy DeSean Jackson boosts those odds. The big-play threat that the wide receiver provides surfaced again when he zoomed past the Giants secondary for a 63-yard touchdown catch.

Later, tight end Jordan Reed helped Washington smother New York's comeback hopes with a 21-yard grab on third-and-6, a play that highlighted his eight-catch, 98-yard outing. Alfred Morris then rushed for a first down to help Washington salt away the clock in securing the victory.

The Redskins will be trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season on Dec. 7 when they host Dallas. The next step after that will be having success away from home. As pointed out during the FOX telecast, the Redskins have gotten outscored by an average of 15.2 points and have a minus-six turnover differential during those five stumbles.

But even if the Redskins fail to triumph at Chicago (Week 14), Philadelphia (Week 16) or Dallas (Week 17), the NFC East can still be won. Home victories over Dallas and Buffalo (5-6) in Week 15 would give Washington a 7-9 record, which might just be enough to capture the division title and secure a first-round home playoff game under the NFL's outdated postseason format. That also would make the Redskins only the second team in league history to win a division title with a 7-9 mark.

Such ignominy, though, won't matter in Washington coming off two straight seasons of double-digit losses. It might even make Cousins repeat his ballyhooed "You like that?!?" celebratory line from last month's comeback win over Tampa Bay.

That would be fitting in a division where there is little to like.