And then there were three. Only winners get nicknames Robert Griffin III so for the time being we will have to settle for RG3-7 or perhaps simply Bob Griffin. The Redskins are atrocious their leader’s abilities under scrutiny, and their team in shambles, are the Shanahans done in D.C.? The tide has turned in New York; no longer are the Giants the laughing stock of the NFL, and with a win over the Cowboys Sunday the G-men could be deep in the race for the NFC East title. Don’t sleep on Dallas however as Jason Garrett may be coaching for his job for the remainder of the season. Things are looking up in Philadelphia, especially for Nick Foles who has finally shown signs that he is the next franchise quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. But I digress, this is a three horse race, and Sunday’s showdown in the Big Apple will go a long way towards determining who feasts, and who is stuck in a famine when the 2013 playoffs roll around.

San Francisco 49ers(6-4) @ Washington Redskins(3-7)

Let’s get this one out of the way shall we? There is a better chance of Al Gore stopping global warming than the Redskins have of winning this game. Maybe Dan Snyder should consider a name change, because this current one isn’t working so well. Almost a year has passed since Washington took the league’s best rushing offense to the playoffs, and the franchise is in shambles. Mike Shanahan and Bob Griffin cannot get on the same page, and Alfred Morris continues to be the lone bright-spot on an offense without scheme. There is no one to blame for this situation than Mike Shanahan, who is both head coach and vice president of football operations, giving him major say in the personnel department. While Shanahan has drafted well, his on the field demeanor and execution are lacking to say the least.

With a confused grin reminiscent of rival NFC East coach Tom Coughlin, Shanahan patrols the sideline with a grimace only Bill Belichick’s mother could love. Now standing at 24-33 as head coach of Washington’s beloved franchise, Shanahan could be on his way out of the nation’s capital. The coach that posted the most wins in a three year period in football history (46 in 1996-1998) with the Denver Broncos is taking a long walk off a short pier, and could take his son, the team’s offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, with him into the realm of the NFL’s forgotten. Monday night’s upcoming meeting with one of the NFL’s most talented teams will not be the aloe to soothe the burn of defeat currently encircling the Shanahan clan, and at this point, the Redskins may be better off by cutting their losses.

Prediction: 49ers 37 Redskins 13

With Frank Gore and Vernon Davis ready to go on Monday night, and the possibility of Michael Crabtree returning to action, San Francisco should dominate the league’s 26th ranked passing offense and get an easy win on “Monday Night Football”. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick may have his full arsenal at his disposal on Monday with Crabtree, Davis, and Anquan Boldin all expected to take the field for the first time this year. Washington’s secondary can’t hold a candle to the ferocity of the 49ers defense, and the Redskins will fall to 3-8. Get ready Mr. Griffin, you’re about to be renamed yet again: RG3-8.

Dallas Cowboys(5-5) @ New York Giants(4-6)

With the first place Philadelphia Eagles on a bye this week, Dallas and New York take top billing in the battle for first in the mediocre NFC East. Coming off a bye and coaching for his job, Jason Garrett will look to utilize DeMarco Murray and find balance to an off-kilter offensive unit. Averaging 250.8 yards per game through the air and just 77 on the ground, the 13th and 28th ranked offensive unit must find their Zen-spot, or risk falling out of contention yet again. With the league worst defense to lean on, Dallas will have to control both the tempo and the scoreboard if they hope to defeat the surging Giants.

Before fans of the New York Giants start chanting Super Bowl, it is important to remember that the teams’ four wins this season have come against teams that could aptly be described as wounded animals. Take a look at the four quarterback’s ratings the Giants have defeated this season: Josh Freeman-52.6, Matt Barkley-44.6, Terrelle Pryor-69, and Scott Tolzien-68.2. Not one of these men resembles anything close to the pocket passing ability of Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo and the Giants will face their toughest test of their current win-streak. While the Giants have improved drastically on defense over the past few weeks, is it a result of the addition of Jon Beason to the middle of the defense, a scheme change, or simply a by-product of the competition?

Prediction: Cowboys 42 Giants 41

Fans expecting a defensive struggle at the Meadowlands should wait for the New York Jets to return home, as the Giants and Cowboys would struggle to cover Stevie Wonder at wide receiver. I’ll take the team that has played well enough to win over the course of a season, not just a few weeks against lackluster opponents. Despite another poor showing from a flaccid defense, Dallas will win in a shootout.