Both teams winless in two weeks as NFC East rivals clash Monday

For the first time since the American Football League and National Football League merged in 1970, every team within a single division has failed to win a game over a two-week span. This historic slump sets the stage for a critical matchup on Monday night when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles face off in Philadelphia. Both squads currently sit at 2-4, and the outcome of this contest will likely determine which team retains a realistic chance at the division crown.

The New York Giants currently hold the top spot in the NFC East with a 3-2-1 record. The Cowboys and Eagles trail them closely, but the gap is minimal given the recent performance of their divisional rivals. The collective lack of victories over the past fortnight has created an unusual window where a turnaround remains mathematically possible for both contenders.

Philadelphia is currently riding a four-game losing streak, a drought not seen by the franchise since 2020. The offensive output has been particularly low, with the team managing only 58 points across those four defeats. This suggests that the struggles extend well beyond the quarterback position. Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve and is expected to miss the remainder of the year due to blood clots, placing the burden on backup Tanner McKee.

McKee, who spent the majority of his first two professional seasons in a backup role, is taking over the offense for the first time in a high-stakes environment. His previous starts occurred after the team had already secured a playoff berth. Last week's loss to Carolina marked his first meaningful start, and he had only two days of first-team practice before that game. This week, he has had a full week to prepare with first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. McKee noted that he feels well-prepared and plans to increase his meetings with the coaching staff rather than working in isolation.

The running game presents another significant challenge for the Eagles. Star running back Saquon Barkley has missed more than two games with a hamstring issue, though his return is still a possibility. His backups, Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby, are also dealing with injuries. Carson Steele, who was signed from the practice squad last week, suffered a shoulder injury during the game against Carolina. Consequently, Dameon Pierce was the only healthy running back available for that contest, rushing for 35 yards on the day. Dallas has allowed an average of 4.7 yards per carry this season.

Dallas carries its own set of issues into the matchup. The defense ranks 30th in the league under first-year coordinator Christian Parker. On the offensive side, the team scored a combined 29 points in their last two losses, including a 23-13 defeat to Green Bay last week. The Cowboys have now scored fewer than 20 points in back-to-back starts by Dak Prescott for the first time since 2019.

Owner Jerry Jones addressed the coaching situation at the NFL's annual fall meeting on Wednesday. He stated that he does not anticipate making any further coaching changes for the current season. Jones described the recent hiring of longtime defensive assistant Mike Pettine this month as a strategic and unique move for the organization.

Several individual milestones are on the line for players from both teams. Javonte Williams has recorded seven rushing touchdowns through the first six games, making him the second Cowboys player to achieve that total, behind only Emmitt Smith in 1994 and 1995. CeeDee Lamb has 48 receptions, which ranks third in the league and is the most in franchise history through six games. He is also approaching 8,000 career receiving yards. On the Eagles side, tight end Dallas Goedert needs one more catch to move into third place on the franchise's career receptions list.

The Cowboys are favored by four points in this matchup. Dallas holds a 3-3 record against the spread this season, while Philadelphia is 1-5. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 72-58 and won the previous meeting 24-21 on November 23, 2025. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CST on ESPN. The Eagles will next play at Washington on November 1, followed by a home game against the Giants. That stretch of divisional play will likely reveal whether Philadelphia's season can still be salvaged.