Around the NFC East: Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles storylines

With Week 16 of the NFL season this weekend, there are headlines across the NFC East. Let’s take a look at what’s going on with all of the New York Giants division rivals in this week’s Around the NFC East.

Washington Redskins

Redskins Vs. Cardinals - Studs and Duds | Hogs Haven

We have officially swept the NFC West. Congratulations to the Skins!

I know, I know... but hey, we have to find something to be positive about, right?

The Redskins injury depleted roster was home on Sunday to take on an Arizona team still holding onto an ever-so-slim sliver of hope for a playoff birth. That playoff hope was extinguished it seems, as soon as the sluggish Cardinals stepped of the plane in D.C.

Credit an aggressive Redskins defense that kept Blaine Gabbert uncomfortable all afternoon, and an offense that did just enough to squeak out a victory. However ugly a victory it was, a win is still a win, and hope remains alive for a .500 season - something all Redskins fans would rejoice in given the circumstances surrounding this year.

Below are my Studs and Duds of the game.

Studs:

Brandon Scherff/Chase Roullier: The tandem of Scherff and Roullier looked very solid on the afternoon. The Cardinals threw some aggressive stunts at the Redskins offensive line, and these two did an extremely good job working together to pick up those stunts and help keep Cousins clean. They both made key blocks on the Bibbs touchdown as well.

Kapri Bibbs: Bibbs showed his value as a receiver out of the backfield, hauling in a beautifully executed screen, and taking it 36 yards to the house. On the day, he had four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. I really like what this kid brings to the table!

Anthony Lanier: Lanier was absolutely amazing against the Cardinals Sunday, recording two sacks, multiple pressures, and batting down three passes at the line of scrimmage.

Preston Smith: Smith was all over the field Sunday, recovering a fumble early, recording what should have been a sack-fumble midway through the second quarter, getting an interception in the redzone, recording a sack, and generating five quarterback hits and a pass defended. What a game by Smith!

Redskins’ Trent Williams likely shutting down for final two games unless ‘dire need’ | Washington Post

Fresh off earning the sixth Pro Bowl honor of his career, Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams doesn’t intend to end the 2017 season on the injured reserve list. But seated at his locker Wednesday, Williams acknowledged that he’ll likely sit out the two remaining games, standing by on the active list in case there is “a dire need.”

“At the end of the day, our goal was to be in the playoffs and that’s not going to happen, so now it’s time to be looking forward to getting healthy,” said Williams, 29, who since the season’s midpoint has been trudging to meetings and playing on a dislocated kneecap that requires surgery.

“As of right now, I can be there for emergency,” Williams explained. “It’s up to [Coach] Jay [Gruden]. But I definitely have to have surgery, and it’s going to be a lengthy recovery so that’s what I’m starting to direct my focus at right now.

Williams said he hopes to delay the surgery until after the holidays, explaining: “I don’t want to be a burden to anybody on Christmas.”

Philadelphia Eagles

Three Eagles players got snubbed from the 2018 Pro Bowl | Bleeding Green Nation

It was revealed on Tuesday night that the Philadelphia Eagles will be sending six players to the 2018 Pro Bowl.

But the reality is it should’ve been more.

The feeling here is that three Eagles players got badly snubbed: Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham, and Kamu Grugier-Hill. (Note that they were all named alternates.)

JASON KELCE

After two down years, Kelce has been an absolute stud in 2017.

It’s apparent when you watch the tape. There just aren’t many blockers who can get out in space and make plays the way Kelce can.

Pro Football Focus has Kelce ranked as their No. 1 overall center in the NFL this year. And he’s actually their No. 1 overall offensive lineman regardless of position!

The two players that made it in over Kelce were Alex Mack of the Falcons and Travis Frederick of the Cowboys. They rank No. 2 and No. 3 by PFF this year, respectively. So it’s not like they’re bad. It’s just that Kelce has been better.

Would John DeFilippo make a good head coach? Eagles backup QB Nate Sudfeld says ... | NJ.com

Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo is expected to be a hot commodity for head coach vacancies this offseason, in part because of his hand in Carson Wentz's meteoric rise this season.

As teams such as the Giants, Cleveland Browns and others could be on the lookout for young quarterbacks in next April's NFL Draft, a head coach with a proven track record of developing young quarterbacks could boost DeFilippo's profile.

Eagles backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld chose to sign with the Eagles, even with no clear path to becoming a starter, over the Indianapolis Colts this season due in large part to the value in playing under former quarterbacks in head coach Doug Pederson, offensive coordinator Frank Reich and DeFilippo.

Dallas Cowboys

It’s a bit poetic that the Cowboys have to go through Seattle to get to the playoffs | Blogging the Boys

For a little over a decade, the Dallas Cowboys have had some pivotal moments for their franchise come against certain other teams.

There’s obviously the division rivals, there’s Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, and then there are the Seattle Seahawks.

It is those very Seahawks who the Cowboys will host this Sunday, a game of extreme significance. Dallas is battling for a playoff spot, and they get reinforcements in the form of Ezekiel Elliott for the first time since November 5th.

What is it about Seattle, though? How is it that so many important moments over the last decade have seemingly come against them? A walk down memory lane...

2006 Wildcard Round: Tony Romo’s bobbled snap

It still hurts.

Elliott Returns to Practice, Declines to Discuss Time Away from Cowboys | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

Running back Ezekiel Elliott, who practiced with the Cowboys for the first time Wednesday since his six-game NFL suspension ended Monday, didn't want to talk about the past.

He didn't want to discuss the time he spent training for the majority of the suspension at a resort outside Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Nor did he want to talk about the workouts that showed him shredded in photos released from a documentary — 42 Days — he and his agent, Rocky Arceneaux, produced.

And he certainly didn't want to be introspective about what he learned about himself during the time he was exiled from the NFL.