The NFC East has once again produced a Super Bowl champion. The Philadelphia Eagles climbed the mountaintop once again in 2024. They’re not the only team in the division with their eyes on the Lombardi Trophy. Armed with QB phenom Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders have hope they haven’t felt in a decade. The Dallas Cowboys are always full of hope, delusional or not. The New York Giants are a football team.
The East was one of two divisions to produce multiple 12-win teams last season. It will be a fun race with Philly running it back and Washington arming themselves this offseason. And as much as I like to laugh at the Cowboys, they have the kind of elite talent you can never truly count out. It may not be an actual three-team race, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone for the East to hold three 10+ win teams.
The Field
Here’s how the odds break down for the NFC East division race as of now:
It’s no surprise to see the defending champion Eagles at the top. But Washington is right there with them and seemingly narrowed the gap this offseason. Let’s look closer at the gap between the top two teams in the division.
Philadelphia more or less kept the band together this offseason. They lost a lot of players around the fringes but managed to make up for that. Defensive tackle Milton Williams made a ton of cash this offseason with the Patriots. Still, if there’s one position group the Eagles have no problem finding a replacement in, it’s the defensive line. Philly is young, has a ton of elite talent, and is poised to be a dominant force in the NFC yet again.
But Washington is making moves. The Commanders hit tackle in a big way by acquiring Laremy Tunsil from the Texans, and then drafting Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round. That kind of protection for rookie phenom Jayden Daniels will go a long way. They also added Deebo Samuel in a trade with the 49ers, giving Daniels another big target over the middle. Samuel isn’t the All-Pro he used to be in San Francisco, but he adds depth to a receiving core that was carried by Terry McLaurin.
It promises to be an intriguing battle. Washington has much to prove, and Philadelphia has a title to defend. And hey, maybe the Cowboys jump in to make things interesting. Wilder things have happened.
The Pick
Washington Commanders To Win NFC East (+205)
I’m taking the chance on Washington in this one. Philadelphia has a lot of depth, but recovering from deep playoff runs piles up over time. Those extra games mean extra hits taken, extra miles on your legs, and additional stress.
Washington also made a deep playoff run, but it was their first. They’ll also have the bitter taste of being destroyed in the NFC Championship Game by these same Eagles. The younger legs and the extra chip on their shoulder are enough for me to think the Commanders can win 13-14 games and take home the division for the first time since 2020.
