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Who is the best team in the NFC East? Through four weeks, it’s anyone’s guess.

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Cite

Greif, A. (2026, October 4). Who is the best team in the NFC East? Through four weeks, it’s anyone’s guess. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/nfl-nfc-east-giants-commanders-eagles-cowboys-rcna601467

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

NBC News · collected 2026-10-04 · by Andrew Greif

Quick Summary

The NFC East remains one of the most competitive NFL divisions through four weeks, with no clear front-runner for the division title. The New York Giants lead at 3-1 but have relied on their defense and backup quarterbacks to maintain their winning streak. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are 2-2 despite a narrow victory over a strong opponent late in the game, raising concerns about their offensive consistency. The Dallas Cowboys are also 2-2 with a high-scoring offense but struggle defensively. Only the Washington Commanders at 1-3 appear to be trailing significantly behind the others.
Written by AI on 2026-10-05, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Dennard Wilson and John Harbaugh instilled confidence in Deonte Banks, who reached a speed of 21.85 mph on his 98-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. Jameis Winston threw an interception that gave the Cardinals a lead, but Banks' pick-6 sealed the game for the Giants (3-1). The Cardinals (1-3) are frustrated after losing three consecutive games despite looking strong at times during their matchups. Jacoby Brissett has struggled with wins, holding a 2-14 record over two seasons with the Cardinals and a career mark of 21-48 as a starter. Head coach Mike LaFleur is trying to keep his team focused on moving forward rather than dwelling on past losses. The NFC East remains competitive, with no clear favorite emerging after four weeks. The Giants' backup quarterbacks have kept them in contention for the division lead despite challenges. Paul Schwartz provides exclusive insights into the Giants through texts for Sports+ subscribers. Jevon Holland emphasized the importance of trust and confidence from coaches to players like Banks. Winston's performance continues to be scrutinized, with the team looking to finish drives efficiently without making costly mistakes. The Cardinals face a tough road ahead as they try to turn their season around after another close loss. John Harbaugh has set high standards for his team that are being met by players like Banks, who made a critical play in the final moments of the game against Arizona. The Giants' resilience and ability to come back from deficits highlight their potential as contenders in the NFC East. LaFleur aims to prevent the Cardinals from feeling sorry for themselves and encourages them to focus on improving rather than dwelling on past mistakes. Winston's interception led to a 24-19 deficit, but Banks' return secured the victory, showcasing the Giants' defensive prowess under Harbaugh's leadership. The NFC East remains unpredictable with each team having its strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to predict which team will emerge as the division winner. LaFleur emphasizes moving forward and not letting past losses define their future performance against other teams. Winston's struggles continue to be a focal point for the Giants' offense, but Banks' heroics demonstrate the importance of strong defensive play in securing victories. The Cardinals' inability to capitalize on opportunities contrasts with the Giants' ability to make big plays when needed most. LaFleur acknowledges the need for his team to stay positive and focused as they navigate through a challenging season. Winston's interception was pivotal, but Banks' return showcased the Giants' resilience and defensive capabilities under Harbaugh's guidance. The NFC East remains competitive, with each game potentially determining playoff positioning. LaFleur aims to keep his players motivated despite recent setbacks, emphasizing the importance of moving forward rather than dwelling on past losses. Winston's performance continues to be a topic of discussion as the Giants look for ways to improve their offensive efficiency without making costly mistakes. Banks' interception return was a defining moment in the game, highlighting the impact of strong defensive play under Harbaugh's leadership. LaFleur encourages his team to stay positive and focused on improving rather than feeling sorry for themselves after another close loss. The NFC East remains unpredictable with each team having its strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to predict which team will emerge as the division winner. Winston's struggles continue to be a focal point for the Giants' offense, but Banks' heroics demonstrate the importance of strong defensive play in securing victories. LaFleur aims to keep his players motivated despite recent setbacks, emphasizing the need to stay positive and focused on improving their performance moving forward.

Written for “Giants' Pick-Six Win Over Cardinals” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 16 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Giants' Pick-Six Win Over Cardinals
Sports · 17 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 9% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Fox News
Hedges 2 of 23 claims Outlet record 69/100
New York Post
Hedges 1 of 29 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles discuss different aspects of the Giants' season and NFC East standings, not a single specific game or incident.”
New York Post
Hedges 1 of 11 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles discuss different aspects of NFL teams' performances and do not focus on a single specific incident or game.”
New York Post
Hedges 1 of 13 claims Outlet record 66/100
“Article A discusses the NFC East division standings broadly, while Article B focuses on a specific game result between the Giants and the Cardinals.”
Toronto Star
Hedges 1 of 42 claims Outlet record 64/100
“Article A covers a specific game summary of the Giants' win over the Cardinals, while Article B discusses the general competitiveness and standings in the NFC East division after several games, not focusing on one specific match.”
New York Post
Hedges 0 of 8 claims Outlet record 66/100
“Article A discusses the NFC East standings through four weeks, while Article B focuses specifically on the Giants' Week 4 game and their performance.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
46
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
9%
4 of 46 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
60/100
NBC News's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
17
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-05 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

NBC News · 1965 article(s) · 1 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 1 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Andrew Greif
16 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Thunder star Jalen Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer and best all-around defender during its title run two seasons ago, fractured a fibula and dislocated his left ankle in a gruesome injury Sunday.
🔮 Without intending to, though, Scheelhaase honed skills while he was a youth pastor that he says helped him rise quickly within the coaching industry. “I would say that there’s a lot of carryover,” Scheelhaase said in an interview.
🔮 Back in March, as the first pitches were being thrown and as the first hot dogs were just being unwrapped, the 2026 Major League Baseball season started under the assumption that it would be the final one before contentious labor negotiations in the winter.
🔮 Though Green Bay’s 23 points were the second-fewest allowed by Dallas this season, the total could have easily been higher, after Packers receiver Matthew Golden dropped what appeared to be two likely touchdown receptions; after one drop, the Packers’ drive stalled and settled for a field goal.
🔮 On Tuesday, that scenario was avoided when the WNBA and NBA announced that after several logistical fixes, the Dream will host Games 3 and 4 of their WNBA Finals matchup against the Golden State Valkyries at Atlanta’s 17,004-seat State Farm Arena, rather than a 3,500-seat venue south of downtown.
🔮 Offensive numbers like that might normally doom a team.
2026-10-06 · assertive framing · The undefeated NFL team that can’t score touchdowns
🔮 Facing the undefeated Buffalo Bills on the road, Maye had his best game of the season, throwing for a season-best 269 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Patriots to a 26-21 victory.
🔮 Leading 20-10 with 7:31 to play in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were two yards from the Rams’ end zone when coach Nick Sirianni opted against kicking a short field goal to try what might have been a game-sealing touchdown.
🔮 “You would think a ball would ricochet into somebody’s hands.”
🔮 Tomlin may have been perfecting the map for more than a decade, but his hobby had only become public three weeks earlier.
Also by Andrew Greif
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 16 articles by Andrew Greif →

Topics

Eagles Giants NFL The New York Giants The Philadelphia Eagles

Subjects

Giants ORG · 6× Eagles ORG · 4× Barkley PERSON · 2× Philadelphia GPE · 2× Rams ORG · 2× Sirianni PERSON · 2× Winston PERSON · 2× NFL ORG · 1× The New York Giants ORG · 1× The Philadelphia Eagles ORG · 1×

Narrative

In the same 10-minute span in which Philadelphia saw a victory slip out of its grip while the Giants secured their own in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Dallas had its own late drama to avoid a 1-3 start that would have been the franchise’s worst through four games since 2020.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-05
🔮 Leading 20-10 with 7:31 to play in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were two yards from the Rams’ end zone when coach Nick Sirianni opted against kicking a short field goal to try what might have been a game-sealing touchdown.

Claims (46 extracted, 4 hedged)

Nearly one-quarter of the way through the NFL regular season, a hierarchy of contenders and pretenders are beginning to become defined in some divisions. asserted
hierarchy → begin → divisions
A rash of down-to-the-wire results Sunday has left the division as up-for-grabs as any in the league, with no clear favorite to run away with the division title and playoff spot that comes with it. asserted
that → leave → it
The New York Giants are 3-1 (1-0 in division play), but how long can their backup quarterbacks keep up a winning streak? asserted
quarterbacks → keep → streak
The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-2, and 1-0 in the division, but has been outscored by 18 points overall, and neither star running back Saquon Barkley nor quarterback Jalen Hurts has done much to quiet offseason concern about their offense. asserted
Barkley → outscore → offense
The Dallas Cowboys are 2-2, including 1-1 in the division, and remains one of the league’s biggest threats to score the ball — just as its defense is still one of the least trustworthy to get stops. asserted
defense → include → stops
Only the Washington Commanders (1-3, 0-2) look like a non-factor one month in after a lopsided 30-13 loss Sunday in London to Indianapolis. asserted
Commanders → look → Indianapolis
Parity has historically been the norm in the NFC East, which saw a different team win the division every year between 2003-04 and 2024-25. asserted
team → see → 2003
Not much separates them this fall, either. asserted
much → separate → them
The Cowboys (plus-10) have the best scoring differential among the group, but the Giants (plus-3), Eagles (negative-18) and Commanders (negative-34) aren’t far behind. asserted
Giants → have → group
The Giants’ playoff hopes appeared damaged two weeks ago after starting quarterback Jaxson Dart was lost for the season, leaving the team in the hands of the turnover-prone backup Jameis Winston. asserted
Dart → appear → backup
And yet, the Giants have won two straight games to improve to 3-1. asserted
Giants → win → 3
Sunday’s latest win, 36-24 against Arizona, was sealed only when defensive back Deonte Banks returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown in the final seconds. asserted
Banks → seal → seconds
It followed a nail-biting, 12-7 win last week against Tennessee that showed the limits of Winston, only for the 32-year-old former No. 1 overall pick to throw three touchdowns against the Cardinals. asserted
pick → follow → Cardinals
The Giants also were the beneficiaries of three interceptions to win their first three home games of the season for the first time since 2008. asserted
Giants → win → 2008
In addition to Dart’s season-ending injury, the Giants are without outside linebacker Brian Burns for the year, as well. asserted
Giants → end → year
It also marked the first time since 2021-22 that Winston had won back-to-back games as a starter. asserted
Winston → mark → starter
“We’re in a good position four games in but it’s only four games in,” Giants coach John Harbaugh said. asserted
Harbaugh → ’re → position
“... We can play so much better.” asserted
We → play → ?
As that game was ending, so were two others that kept the division in flux. asserted
that → end → flux
In Philadelphia, the Eagles had an opportunity to boost their uneven early-season results with a win against the prohibitive preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl, the Los Angeles Rams. asserted
Eagles → have → Bowl
Leading 20-10 with 7:31 to play in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were two yards from the Rams’ end zone when coach Nick Sirianni opted against kicking a short field goal to try what might have been a game-sealing touchdown. uncertain
what → lead → goal
When Jalen Hurts’ pass fell incomplete, though, the Rams answered with a 98-yard scoring drive, then added a second touchdown less than 3 minutes later to win, 24-20. asserted
Rams → fall → touchdown
If the game’s outcome shifted in the final minutes, there were warnings all afternoon for the Eagles, who were 0-for-12 on third down, the worst performance in franchise history. asserted
who → shift → history
“I know when we’re 0-for whatever we were today, everybody has a hand in that,” Sirianni said. asserted
Sirianni → know → that
He called the fourth-down decision his own fault. asserted
He → call → decision
“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror,” Sirianni said. asserted
Sirianni → have → mirror
“We have to be accountable. asserted
We → have → ?
I’ve got to do a better job. asserted
I → get → job
All of us have things to improve on.” asserted
All → have → things
Barkley also continues to look little like the player who rushed for 2,000 yards in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning season two years ago. asserted
who → continue → season
He entered Sunday with 174 yards in three games. asserted
He → enter → games
After two rushes for just eight yards, Barkley left the game with an injury — ominously, the 10th Eagles starter to be hurt this season. asserted
Barkley → leave → injury
In the same 10-minute span in which Philadelphia saw a victory slip out of its grip while the Giants secured their own in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Dallas had its own late drama to avoid a 1-3 start that would have been the franchise’s worst through four games since 2020. asserted
that → see → 2020
Trailing 30-26 with a little more than 2 minutes remaining, the Cowboys produced an 11-play drive that traveled 74 yards for the go-ahead score to beat Houston, 34-30. asserted
that → trail → Houston
Dak Prescott’s game-winning touchdown pass went to CeeDee Lamb with 40 seconds remaining — because who else could it have been? uncertain
it → win → seconds
Against a Houston defense that was one of the NFL’s best last season, Lamb was unstoppable while catching a career-high 17 passes for 189 yards. asserted
Lamb → catch → yards
(Lamb came into Week 4 with 20 catches all season.) asserted
Lamb → come → catches
Lamb joined Brandon Marshall (2009) and Terrell Owens (2000) as the only players since 2000 with at least 17 catches, 180 receiving yards and a touchdown. asserted
Lamb → join → catches
The win could be seen as a response to earlier, dispiriting results. uncertain
win → see → results
Last week, the Cowboys lost on a last-second field goal to Baltimore thanks to questionable decisions by coach Brian Schottenheimer, calls that the coach acknowledged to the team were his fault, according to a report. uncertain
coach → lose → report
…and 6 more, not listed.
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