Cowboys bye comes as Commanders have easy Week 7 game, and Giants face the Eagles

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Here is how oddsmakers view this week’s NFC East games.

First of all, should we even be thinking of down the road playoff possibilities in the NFC East with the Dallas Cowboys just getting trounced by the Detroit Lions? On one hand, the Cowboys are 3-3 and not far out of the division lead. They hit their bye this week and should get some players back from injury who are key to the team. On the other hand, nothing about the Cowboys early season performances scream playoff team.

Still, there is a long way to go in the season and crazier turnarounds have happened in the NFL. Dallas is actually only one game behind the Washington Commanders in the NFC East and a half game behind the Philadelphia Eagles. So they are still within striking distance of the NFC East lead.

For anything of note to happen down the road this season, the Cowboys have to use the bye to not only get healthy, but to re-examine their offense and figure out ways to improve it. The defense was somewhat excused because of all the injuries for their performance on Sunday, but the Cowboys offense only scored three field goals against a Lions’ defense that is mediocre at best. That falls on Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott.

Another problem for the Cowboys is that both the Commanders and Eagles are likely going to win in Week 7 while Dallas is resting. The Eagles are 3.5-point favorites over the New York Giants this coming week. The Eagles are struggling, they had to hold on for dear life in beating the Cleveland Browns, but they should have enough to put the Giants away.

Meanwhile, the Commanders are gifted a game against the Carolina Panthers. Washington is a 7.5-point favorite at home and should have no problem getting the win.

By the time the Cowboys get back in action against the San Francisco 49ers, a game where they will be underdogs, they could be staring up at a two-game deficit in the division. It’s a troublesome time in Dallas, and one that could snowball in the coming weeks.