NFL Power Rankings: Where NFC East Teams Stand Ahead of 2020 Season
No team has finished top of the NFC East in back-to-back seasons, since the Philadelphia Eagles won four consecutive divisional titles between 2001 and 2004.
Uncertainty has reigned supreme in the intervening 16 years and the division could remain similarly volatile, with the Dallas Cowboys tipped by the bookmakers to wrestle the title back from Philadelphia after one year.
Elsewhere, the New York Giants will be hoping for steady progress in Joe Judge's first season as head coach, while the Washington Football Team will be content with making news for what happens on the field than for off-field shenanigans.
Here's what to expect from the NFC East ahead of the upcoming NFL season.
All odds are courtesy of DraftKings.
Dallas Cowboys
Mike McCarthy replaces Jason Garrett as Cowboys head coach and has the unenviable task of delivering the franchise's first Super Bowl title in 24 years. The former Green Bay Packers has opted to leave the keys to the offense in the hands of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, a decision that could benefit Dak Prescott, who ranked second and fourth last season in passing yards and touchdown passes respectively.
Prescott, who failed to agree a long-term extension with Dallas in the offseason and will play on the franchise tender, is surrounded by plenty of attacking talent in the shape of star running back Ezekiel Elliott and wideouts Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, who both passed the 1,000-receiving yard threshold last season. The Cowboys, who are odds-on favorites to win the division, have added electric wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the draft and could be the best offense in the NFL should he hit the ground running.
- Odds to win NFC East: 21/25
- Odds to win Super Bowl: 15/1
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' injury curse has struck again, this time before the season has even begun. Philadelphia has lost first-round pick Jalen Reagor to a shoulder tear and Alshon Jeffery could miss the first month of the season as he recovers from foot surgery, while left tackle Andre Dillard and right guard Brandon Brooks are both out for the season. That leaves the offensive line precariously short of talent, which in turn could make life difficult for Carson Wentz, who last season passed for a career-high 4,039 yards. The Eagles will need their quarterback to remain healthy and play in every game for the second consecutive season—something he's so far failed to do in the NFL—if they are to become the first team to defend the NFC East title in 16 years.
- Odds to win NFC East: 3/2
- Odds to win Super Bowl: 20/1
New York Giants
A new era begins in New Jersey, where Joe Judge takes over as head coach with former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett joining him as offensive coordinator. The Giants have won 12 games in the last three seasons combined and there appears to be no quick fix to their issues, despite Judge's strict disciplinarian approach—players no longer wear names on their jerseys in training camp as Judge wants to be able to "identify them by their body type" and got players and coaches to run laps around the practice field after mistakes. There are, however, some bright spots for the G-Men. If fully fit, Saquon Barkley remains one of the most devastating running backs in the league, while tight end Evan Engram has a high ceiling and second-year quarterback Daniel Jones will be hoping to make strides.
- Odds to win NFC East: 11/1
- Odds to win Super Bowl: 80/1
Washington Football Team
To describe Washington's offseason as tumultuous would be a gross understatement. From being forced by the sponsors into dropping the native American reference in its nickname, to multiple reports of harassment and of a toxic culture behind the scenes, it hasn't been a good few months for Dan Snyder's franchise. Washington has brought into in Ron Rivera to make sweeping changes to the roster, but the former Carolina Panthers head coach faces huge challenges of his own after being diagnosed with a curable form of skin cancer last month. On the field, the situation isn't exactly rosy either as second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins looks short of both protection and options. On a brighter note, Chase Young, the second overall pick of this year's draft, should have an instant impact on Washington's defense.
- Odds to win NFC East: 13/1
- Odds to win Super Bowl: 150/1
