LogFAQs > #973907014

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Washington Commanders
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. New York Giants

Could the Cowboys finally be back in the playoffs after a collapsing multiple seasons in a row now? They shored up some of their offensive issues. The running game probably still won't be great, but at least they have better depth with the drafting of HB Lindsay. Even with their playoff drought, the defense has still been playing at a high level, and they bring back all but one of their starters from last season. Their schedule is backloaded in terms of tough assignments, but they are largely home games. It's a weird schedule overall, and they did suffer some OL injuries and a starter on defense that will carry on through their away-heavy start to the season. If they can reach their bye at 3-2, I'd say that they are on the right track to a playoff spot.

I really want to pick the Commanders to finish atop the division. They spent a lot of resources on the defense and offense over the offseason, and they already had a pretty talented team with a very good offense. They finished the preseason with a fully-intact team, but this schedule is funny with their first seven weeks being all home games and their bye, thus ending their season with eight of 10 games on the road. Perhaps I'm being silly in preemptively thinking that their injury luck will run out eventually and thus being shorthanded in a road-heavy finale, but call it a hunch.

The Eagles have one of the best defenses in the league but also one of the biggest disparities between offensive and defensive prowess. It was a little surprise to me that they re-signed Taysom Hill who has been largely efficient but hasn't helped elevate the offense in his time with the team. HB Leonard Fournette was injured for a good chunk of last season but never looked great when healthy. This might be the most forgettable receiving corps despite there being four players rated 80+. The OL always seems to be a work-in-progress. They needed a Cowboys collapse to take the division last season, and with every other team being improved for this season, they might not be so lucky again this season. A noticeable improvement from the offense would go a long way though.

The Giants should be more competitive this season. QB Aaron Murray is one of the best in the league, they invested more in the OL, and maybe the defense continues to rise in their second season in a 3-4 D. The Giants have been accustomed to fast starts before completely fizzling out over the past several seasons, and with a relatively easy schedule to begin the year, maybe that will hold true once again. I don't know, but I think Murray will really help out this team even if the receiving corps is lacking a true threat. They are just two seasons removed from being in play for the division until the conclusion of Week 17, so maybe they can stay in it until the end as well.