The NFC East has seen its share of glory, from dynasties to Super Bowl parades. But right now, it's the laughingstock of the NFL—and Monday night could cement that status in the history books.
With the Eagles, Cowboys, and Giants all dropping their Week 6 matchups, the Washington Commanders carry the division's last shred of pride into Levi's Stadium. A loss to the undefeated 49ers would make the East the first division since the AFL-NFL merger to go winless in consecutive weeks while every team played, according to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. That's 60 years of NFL history—and zero wins to show for it.
The misery started in Week 5, when Philadelphia and Dallas both stumbled, and New York could only manage a tie against Washington. Then came Week 6, with the Eagles and Cowboys falling again, and the Giants losing to the Saints at home. That leaves the Commanders as the last line of defense against an 0-6-2 stretch over two weeks—a mark of futility never before seen in the division's six-decade existence.
Oddsmakers aren't giving Washington much of a chance, installing San Francisco as a touchdown-plus favorite. The 49ers are chasing a 6-0 start and look every bit the Super Bowl contender they've been. Meanwhile, the Commanders are coming off a chaotic overtime tie with the Giants, a game that ended in a clock-management blunder by Jayden Daniels that left fans and analysts scratching their heads.
Head coach Dan Quinn has dismissed any talk of locker-room discord, but the pressure is mounting. Questions about Daniels' leadership have swirled, with Quinn firing back at critics who question the rookie's standing in the huddle. And if the Commanders fall flat on national TV, the noise will only get louder.
The NFC East's woes have also sparked broader conversations about the league's scheduling and parity. Some have even wondered if the NFL should shuffle the slate to avoid such a dud of a primetime matchup, as the Eagles-Commanders game could lose its Sunday night slot in future weeks. But for now, all eyes are on Monday night.
There is a silver lining, albeit a faint one. Week 7 brings the Commanders a bye, the Giants a date with the 2-4 Texans, and—most tantalizingly—a Cowboys-Eagles showdown that guarantees at least one NFC East team finally gets a win. But that's little consolation for a division that's become a punchline.
Can Jayden Daniels and company pull off the upset? The 49ers' defense is relentless, and San Francisco is looking to pull away from the rest of the conference. If Washington wants to avoid making history for all the wrong reasons, they'll need to channel every ounce of fight they have left.
But if they don't, the NFC East will own a dubious record that no division wants to claim—and one that will be remembered for decades to come.
