It is officially August and the first NFL preseason game has already been played. We can now dive into each division and find out who the contenders and pretenders are. This is my favorite division because I am a Giants fan (sadly) and also because I think it has the most uncertainty with 3 of the 4 teams.
Let’s take a look at each team and see if they are the real deal or a lost cause.
Win Total over 10.5 | +105
Win Total under 10.5 | -130
The reigning NFC East champs are the favorites to win the division as they probably should be. However, they lost a few key pieces from last year's team. They lost Amari Cooper and Wilson as Wide Receivers, but did draft Tolbert and sign James Washington to try and fill the void. This new WR core is going to be a hit or miss and with Gallup missing the early part of the season with an injury I’m not totally convinced they will succeed even with Lamb expected to make a big jump this season.
The Cowboys also lost key spots in their offensive line and that is one of the toughest parts of a team to replace and compete at a high level. Dak Prescott might have to run more than he is used to and not have as much time in the pocket. I do like the RB tandem that they have with Zeke and Pollard, but there are just too many unknowns for me.
I do think that this team is good and will most likely make the playoffs, but will they win the division?
Win Total over 9.5 | -130
Win Total under 9.5 | +110
This Jalen Hurts led team finished 9-8 last season which was good enough for 2nd place in the NFC East. Let’s be real, this Eagles team was riddled with injuries all season and Jalen Hurts did the best he could with what he had. I am still not convinced that he is “The Guy '', but he showed some signs of greatness during last season and he obviously can prove that he can be “The Guy” this season.
There are 2 things that the Eagles have going for them this season. They bolstered their defense with the addition of James Bradberry to pair up with Darius Slay. They went out to get a pass rush as well. This defense thoroughly improved and should be fun to watch. The other part of their roster that should see significant improvements from last year is the offensive line which could be in the argument for the best offensive line in the league. Obviously they added AJ Brown and other key players on their roster, but these will be the strengths of this team on the deepest roster in the division.
Win Total over 8.5 | +145
Win Total under 8.5 | -170
I honestly forgot what this team was even called. They change the name every year, but I'm pretty sure it's the Commanders now. This team was 7-10 last season and had some tough injuries as well that held them back from probably being a .500 football team. Terry Mclaurin is legit and I am a fan of Antonio Gibson as well. They took a chance on Carson Wentz and I honestly think it's a decent fit. He plays well if the team around him is decent and he isn’t forced to make plays out of nothing.
On the defensive side, I think their secondary can be better but they have to prove to me that they can play better before I believe it. Chase Young is a top 3 pass rusher and his unknown timetable for his return definitely hurts them as well. Their defense is pretty suspect with him off the field and I think in this division it will be tough for them to dominate, but they can definitely be a sneaky team and tough out when fully healthy, especially with Ron Rivera as a coach. They should hover around .500 or a little below all season long.
Win Total over 7.5 | +125
Win Total under 7.5 | -145
This team believes in themselves which is a great thing. However, I do not believe in them at all (and you probably shouldn’t either). They were 4-13 last season, but they did make some significant moves this offseason. They grabbed a new Head Coach in Brian Daboll, the former offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills and even earlier on in his career was the offensive coordinator for Alabama. They also paired him with former Bills GM Joe Schoen who have obviously worked together already.
I think those moves help the Giants in the coming years, but this one will be a test season for them and the bar is honestly set pretty low for me. They need to trade Saquon Barkley and maybe Leonard Williams too if they want to rebuild faster. I think they can maybe win a few more games, but I am thinking of 7 wins as a high ceiling and a more realistic 5-6 win season.
First of all, the NFC East hasn't had a repeat winner since 2004 which already knocks the Cowboys out before analytics are involved. In all seriousness though, I do think the value of the Eagles is too hard to pass up. They have the best roster in my opinion and if Jalen Hurts can be consistent all season they should be able to take care of business with their defense holding it down. They have new offensive talent and he should have plenty of time in the pocket to help him make mature decisions with the ball or with his legs.
NFC East Winner: Philadelphia Eagles +170 via Fanduel
