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Ranking the NFC East QBs through the first five weeks

2023-10-11 14:03
Jalen Hurts leads the NFC East with his exceptional playmaking abilities. Dak Prescott struggles to meet expectations. Sam Howell shows promise despite challenges. Daniel Jones faces doubts as the Giants' QB.
Ranking the NFC East QBs through the first five weeks

Last season the NFL saw three NFC East teams in the postseason, as the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Philadelphia Eagles all appeared. The Washington Commanders were left out but still managed a .500 finish.

With all these teams come great quarterbacks, as Jalen Hurts is an MVP candidate, Dak Prescott is one of the best pass throwers in the game, Daniel Jones has elite agility, and Sam Howell isn't that bad.

With that being said, some position themselves ahead of the others. There has been debate about Jones being a top quarterback in the NFC East, but that might not be the case. Hurts and Prescott are looking sharp so far, and Howell is having a decent start.

Through the first five weeks in the NFL, this is how the quarterbacks in the NFC East division rank:

4. Daniel Jones, NY Giants

In Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, the former Duke quarterback suffered a neck injury. Right now it's unclear if he will play in New York's upcoming game against the Buffalo Bills, but it might be wise to play it cautiously.

Jones had his 2021 season cut short with a neck injury, so Daboll might need to turn to Tyrod Taylor. The 26-year-old quarterback hasn't looked great, so even if he feels good, he might need the break.

In Week 4 vs. the Seattle Seahawks, Jones was sacked 11 times. This past week he was sacked six times, putting his season total at 28.

New York would be taking a serious risk sending him out there in Week 6, but he is also the clear best option when healthy. The Giants just handed him a four-year, $160 million contract, but fans are starting to worry if that was a mistake.

Through five games, Jones has only two passing touchdowns and already has six interceptions. Now that he has the big contract, the expectations have risen for the former Duke product. If New York's quarterback doesn't get back on track soon, the fans aren't going to take it kindly.

3. Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

The first two weeks of Sam Howell's season were going great, as the Washington Commanders defeated their first two opponents. The 23-year-old quarterback looked strong, as he threw for over 500 yards in his first two games.

Since starting undefeated, the Commanders have lost three straight. Washington just came off a brutal Thursday Night Football loss to the Chicago Bears. After falling to Justin Fields 40-20, Howell's team currently sits at 2-3.

Howell does lead all NFC East quarterbacks with 1,349 passing yards through the first five weeks, which is pretty impressive. His last three games have been far from impressive, as he's thrown for six interceptions across that stretch. The young quarterback has completed 68.6 percent of his passes, which is surprising considering he's been sacked 28 times this season.

If the former UNC quarterback can play at a high level consistently, he could very well slide up on this list as the season progresses. Only time will tell if Washington can get the best out of their young starter.

2. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

One of the most pressure-packed jobs is being the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, especially this season considering the high expectations surrounding the team.

In his first five games this season, Dak Prescott has thrown for 1,061 yards, and five touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions. He also attains a 65.3 QBR, which is good for eighth in the entire NFL.

The 30-year-old quarterback is off to a lackluster start, and with Jerry Jones trading for Trey Lance in the offseason, he needs to get things going quickly. His performance against the San Francisco 49ers was certainly alarming, as he threw three interceptions and recorded just 153 passing yards.

When Prescott is at his best, he is one of the top quaerterbacks in football. In his first four games, he averaged over 225 passing yards per game. The veteran quarterback also recorded just one turnover, while throwing four touchdown passes.

The pressure has often gotten to him though, as he can't seem to win big games as of recently. Now in his eighth season as the Cowboys starter, he needs to start performing at a high level more consistently if he doesn't want his seat to get warmer as the starter.

1. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

It's no surprise that Jalen Hurts has looked like the best quarterback in the NFC East through the first five weeks of the season. Last year's MVP runner-up has picked up right where he left off last season, as he has the Philadephia Eagles sitting at 5-0.

Hurts already has ten total touchdowns on the year, to go along with 1,468 total yards on the season. The former Alabama quarterback has also completed 67.3% of his passes, while only throwing four interceptions.

The ascension of Hurts has been fun to watch, as he's gone 28-11 as the team's starting quarterback since 2020. There were question marks surrounding the decision to replace former MVP QB Carson Wentz with Hurts a few years ago, but it certainly paid off.

In the Eagles' last 20 games with Hurts as the starter, they've lost just once. The Eagles quarterback is on another level compared to the other three starters in his division. Philadelphia has one of the most dangerous offenses in football, as they rank first in the entire NFC in offensive yards with 2,022.

Philadelphia is arguably the best team in the league this season, and that is because Hurts is one of the game's best quarterbacks. As long as the former Heisman Trophy winner is on the field, the Eagles will have the most dynamic offense in football.