The Philadelphia Eagles righted the ship, the Dallas Cowboys proved they’re probably a year away, the Washington Commanders are stuck in neutral, and the New York Giants lost a spiritual leader and key cog to their exciting offense. Let’s take a look at the NFC East and where each team stands after Week 8.

Saquon Barkley took his first carry 65 yards to the end zone on his way to 174 total yards and two touchdowns, and the Eagles never really looked back in their 38-20 win over the New York Giants. It was a jarring result after they lost to this same Giants team 34-17 just a couple of weeks ago. 

They seem to have course corrected offensively, scoring 38 points on Sunday and 28 the week prior against the Minnesota Vikings. Barkley did leave the game due to injury but, with the bye week coming next, there’s a good chance he doesn’t miss any time. 

If he does miss a contest, Tank Bigsby showed he can fill in, as he recorded 104 yards on nine carries against the Giants. It appears that this Eagles team is hitting its stride just in time for the second half of the season. 

The Cowboys have some tough decisions to make following a 44-24 shellacking at the hands of the Denver Broncos and the trade deadline fast approaching. To buy, or not to buy, that is the question. 

After Week 8, most would lean towards the latter, as they showed that they’re not one player away on defense by giving up 426 total yards to Bo Nix and company. There’s simply not a path to adding enough impact talent in the middle of the season to make it worth it. 

The question then shifts to whether or not they should sell. George Pickens is going to warrant a king’s ransom as a free agent this offseason. If they’re not going to re-sign him, should Dallas trade him for a princely sum before the deadline? 

What about getting what they can for pieces such as Jadeveon Clowney or Kenny Clark? The Cowboys surely didn’t expect to be asking these questions, but reality is rarely what we expect, and Jerry has to face the one he’s in. 

You can see the flashes of last year’s surprising conference finalist in this year’s club. A defense that shuts down Patrick Mahomes and friends in the first half, and Terry McLaurin making toe tapping touchdowns. 

But in their 28-7 loss to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football, the Commanders showed that they’re simply not at that level right now. They’re too old on defense to play at a high level for 60 minutes, and missing that next gear they had last year offensively. 

Jayden Daniels will eventually come back, maybe even this week, and provide a spark. But in a loaded NFC, the focus might have to start shifting towards protecting their franchise quarterback for next season and building a younger, more dynamic team around him. 

There’s a saying that goes “a star that burns twice as bright goes out twice as fast” and, while I’m not sure of the scientific validity of such a summation, it fits Cam Skattebo very well. The rookie running back that offered as many fond moments off the field as on it dislocated his ankle in the Giants' 38-20 loss to the Eagles, ending his rookie season far too quickly. 

It’s an emotional and practical blow, as his seven total touchdowns were tied for fourth in the NFL and his camaraderie with Jaxson Dart proved indispensable. But, he’ll be back next year, along with Malik Nabers, to provide dynamic weapons for what will be Dart’s sophomore year. 

In the meantime, Dart and the rest of the team will carry on, looking for flashes and signs of growth from the quarterback and the rest of the young players that are left standing for the second half of what’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a season.

It would seem that Philadelphia is set to run away with this thing. All three teams could threaten next year with roster tweaks and internal growth. But for now, there’s a clear cut leader in this division, and I don’t think anyone will be catching them this season.