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Washington Commanders supporters might already be circling the season finale on their calendars, but former offensive coordinator Scott Turner has taken that speculation to another level. During an appearance on "Grant and Danny" on 106.7 The Fan Friday, Turner unveiled a striking forecast for how the NFC East will unfold. His vision centers on a Week 18 showdown at Northwest Stadium between the Commanders and Dallas Cowboys, with the division title and a playoff berth hanging in the balance.
Turner's confidence stems from his assessment of the remaining schedules, particularly that of the New York Giants. "I think the Giants have a tough schedule coming up," Turner told the co-hosts. "I think they are going to have a hard time." As a result, he envisions Washington and Dallas battling for NFC East supremacy in the regular-season finale. "That Week 18 game at Northwest Stadium, I got a feeling it will be a win-or-go-home game," Turner said. "That's going to be for the division."
The prediction comes on the heels of Washington's 24-21 victory over the Giants on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. That win lifted the Commanders to 3-5-1 and dropped New York to 5-3-1. More importantly, it gave Washington a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Giants, having gone 1-0-1 against them this season. However, the Commanders still trail New York by two games and Dallas by one with eight games remaining.
Key Analysis
Turner's forecast gains traction when examining the broader NFC playoff picture. Neither the NFC East nor the NFC South currently boasts a team that appears capable of securing a wild-card berth unless a significant winning streak occurs. As things stand, only the division winner from each of those divisions is likely to reach the postseason. In the NFC East, the Giants are the sole team with a winning record at 5-3-1, followed by Dallas at 4-5, Washington at 3-5-1, and Philadelphia at 2-7. If Turner's scenario materializes, the Commanders would need to close the gap on both New York and Dallas over the final eight games to set up a winner-take-all finale in Landover.
Originally reported by yahoo.