DIVISION PREVIEW
Philadelphia is the betting favorite to win this division for a third straight year. Last season, the Eagles snapped a 21-year streak in which the NFC East hadn’t produced a back-to-back champion. But if Philly is going to finish on top again, it’ll have to do it without A.J. Brown. After four straight 1,000-yard seasons, and some light sideline reading, Brown was shipped to New England in a deal Dianna Russini was born to break. Still, most of the main characters are back from a Philly team that ranks eighth in the NFL in Offensive EPA per play (0.074) and fourth in Defensive EPA per play (-0.068) over the last two seasons.
Dallas sits just below Philadelphia on the NFC East odds board, and the Cowboys — as always — head into the year with serious hype. This time, it might actually be warranted. Everyone is back from a Dallas offense that ranked fifth in EPA per play (0.109) last season, but the bigger story is a dramatically improved defense. The Cowboys hired former Eagles defensive pass game coordinator and DBs coach Christian Parker to replace Matt Eberflus, and they invested heavily on talent this offseason. If Dallas can flirt with top-15 defensive production, you’re looking at a genuine NFC East contender — and real postseason threat.
New York made a division-altering move by hiring John Harbaugh. The Giants now have one of the better culture-setters steering the ship, and Harbaugh didn’t waste any time shaking up the roster. New York will look to go from worst to first, and given how frequently that happens in the NFL, it can’t be dismissed. At the very least, if health permits, there’s no reason the Giants can’t be a much more competitive team.
Washington didn’t move on from Dan Quinn. A 5-12 season was a brutal hangover from a 12-5 campaign in 2024, but the front office felt Quinn deserved another shot. Quinn did make changes of his own, bringing in Daronte Jones as DC and promoting David Blough to OC. Jones has free rein to reshape the defense, and Blough, regarded as one of the NFL’s brightest young offensive minds, gets to do the same on the other side of the ball. If things click, Jayden Daniels and Co. can be dangerous again.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Brian Schottenheimer’s first year leading America’s Team wasn’t all that different from Mike McCarthy’s last. Dallas went 7-10 in the 2024 season, then the team went 7-9-1 in Year 1 under Schotty. It certainly wasn’t the type of year that Jerry Jones was expecting after backing the former offensive coordinator, and the pressure will now be ramped up in Year 2.
The Cowboys pretty much have everyone back from last year’s offense, which was among the best in football. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson made up an explosive passing game, and Javonte Williams rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in a resurgent year out of the backfield.
Dallas now needs to take a step forward on defense, as the unit really let the rest of the team down in 2025. If there’s a real change on that side of the ball, there’s nothing keeping the Cowboys from making a deep postseason run. The offense is that special.
Three Burning Questions for the 2026 Season
Is this defense good enough?
Among other miserable numbers, this defense was dead last in third-down EPA per play allowed (0.347) last year. So, for the fourth time in as many years, the Cowboys will have a new defensive play-caller. This time around, it’ll be Parker running the show. The 34-year-old has earned some hefty praise for the work he did with the Eagles secondary, and he now steps into an awesome situation. There will be pressure on Parker to get more out of this Cowboys defense, but that’s also a ground-level bar to clear.
Dallas also made some sharp moves in the offseason. In yet another Cowboys-Packers swap, the team added Rashan Gary to add some pass-rushing juice. With Quinnen Williams already on the defensive line, Dallas is now looking scary up front. The Cowboys also drafted Caleb Downs at No. 11. Many believe he’ll be an instant-impact player — and possibly compete for Defensive Rookie of the Year. If Cobie Durant, who Dallas signed away from Los Angeles, can play some solid football opposite DaRon Bland II, the Cowboys could move closer to being a top-12 defense. That would make Dallas a real player in the NFC.
What can be expected out of this offensive line?
It wasn’t too long ago that the Cowboys O-Line was the class of the NFL up front. However, Dallas has been searching for consistency ever since. There’s undoubtedly a world in which everything clicks in 2026. The Cowboys were 19th in Pass Block Win Rate (63%) and 11th in Run Block Win Rate (72%) in 2025, and I don’t think anyone would bat an eye if this is a top-10 team in both.
Dallas will just need some development — and better health — from 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton. He hasn’t lived up to the hype as the blindside protector for this team, and he can’t afford to be the weak link as the man responsible for Prescott. The Cowboys are as good as anyone in the middle, as Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker look like a great guard duo. Cooper Beebe is also making strides at center. But ultimately, how good this unit will be is up to Guyton. He needs to be better, and he needs to stay on the field.
How will the Cowboys navigate one of the league’s toughest schedules?
According to Warren Sharp, Dallas has the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL in 2026. One of the more grueling stretches of the year sees the Cowboys traveling to Brazil for a date with the Ravens, then heading back to America for a road game against the Texans and a Thursday Night Football home game against the Buccaneers. In that stretch, Dallas will play three games in 12 days. The Cowboys then play back-to-back primetime road games against the Packers and Eagles.
Nothing about Dallas’ schedule is favorable. However, how well Dallas manages it will ultimately come down to how the team answers the previous two burning questions, and how the group holds up physically. If the defense is better, the O-Line is solid, and none of the team’s stars suffer injuries, the Cowboys can beat any opponent, anywhere.
Cowboys 2026 Win Total Pick – Over 9.5
Schedule be damned, Dallas to go Over 9.5 wins is one of the best plays you can make heading into the 2026 season. Available at plus-money odds, this perennial bet-against team looks like the ultimate bet-on group heading into the season. Dallas’ offense is as explosive as anyone’s, the team has the best kicker in football, and a serious investment was made in improving the defense. On paper, this is an intimidating team.
NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants decided that the work Brian Daboll did with rookie Jaxson Dart wasn’t enough. New York fired him after a 2-8 start, which was a bit of a risky move. When you’re invested in a young quarterback, there’s nothing more important than his development. But the Giants were rewarded for their boldness, as John Harbaugh hit the open market.
It doesn’t get much better than Harbaugh when looking for a leader. It has been quite some time since he won his Super Bowl with the Ravens, as that came all the way back in 2012. But Harbaugh won the AFC North in four of his final eight seasons with Baltimore, and that was viewed as the “down” stretch in his tenure.
There’s simply more juice within the organization with Harbaugh at the helm. Let’s see what he can do in Year 1.
Three Burning Questions for the 2026 Season
Does Harbaugh have enough talent to push for the playoffs?
The Giants made some big changes on defense. New York traded star Dexter Lawrence. There’s really no one-for-one replacements for Lawrence, but the Giants did their best to recreate him in the aggregate. They added D.J. Reader, Leki Fotu, and Shelby Harris up front. They’ll now hope that Abdul Carter, last year’s third-overall pick, and Arvell Reese, this year’s fifth-overall pick, can be the stars that defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson needs for this unit. They’ll also look to unlock Kayvon Thibodeaux’s potential.
New York also added Tremaine Edmunds as an immediate contributor in the middle of the defense, plus corner Greg Newsome II joins a group of defensive backs that has been shaky in recent years.
Whether the Giants actually have enough to compete will come down to how this unit looks. Baltimore always had elite defenses under Harbaugh, and he’ll need a strong defense in New York.
On offense, there’s undeniably talent. Dart is an intriguing dual-threat quarterback, Malik Nabers is a star on the outside, Cam Skattebo is a tank out of the backfield, and the offensive line continues to improve — especially with rookie Sisi Mauigoa adding some serious beef. This group has the potential to take off under Matt Nagy, but that brings us to our next question…
Can the offense’s most important pieces stay healthy?
As impressive as Dart looked as a rookie, he suffered a concussion and was evaluated for a handful of others. Dart is clearly a dangerous runner, but running is also a danger to Dart. He needs to find a way to stop putting his body in harm’s way, or he risks turning into Not Another Teen Movie’s Reggie Ray.
Skattebo is similar. The Arizona State product is as violent a between-the-tackles runner as there is in the NFL. And while he didn’t suffer any concussions, his running style does make him prone to injury. His 2025 season ended with a right ankle fracture-dislocation, and getting back to his pre-injury level, and staying there, isn’t guaranteed.
Nabers also has to stay healthy. He isn’t quite like the other two. He tore his ACL in what was a fluky injury. But his status for Week 1 is in doubt. There’s also no guarantee he’ll look the same when he returns.
It’s just alarming that New York’s most talented offensive players are dealing with things, and this unit won’t achieve much success without all three of them.
Is Jaxson Dart a franchise quarterback or a stat-sheet stuffer?
When Dart was able to play last season, some of the numbers were very encouraging. He threw for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he added another 487 yards and nine scores on the ground.
For those that play strictly player props, or even fantasy football, it sure looked like Dart was lighting it up. However, zooming out you see that New York only won four games with Dart at the helm, and his Completion Percentage Over Expected was -0.2.
Year 2 of the Dart experience should show us whether he’s legitimately suited to be a No. 1 in this league. Can he avoid nasty hits, improve his accuracy, and take the necessary steps as a leader? We shall see.
Giants 2026 Win Total Pick – Under 7.5
Everything about this team will be a little more serious with Harbaugh pulling the strings, but it’s still hard to get there with eight wins. Even with a favorable schedule, you’re banking on a completely overhauled defense gelling immediately. You’re also hoping for good health out of a reckless group of players. Harbaugh should get this right eventually, but it might take a little more than a year.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles had a loud offseason with the A.J. Brown saga coming to an end. Philadelphia dealt him to New England, reuniting him with Mike Vrabel. Replacing that kind of talent won’t be easy, but expectations for the Eagles haven’t changed. It’s Super Bowl or bust in Philly.
Nick Sirianni has guided the Eagles to at least 11 wins in four consecutive seasons, and this roster is good enough to raise the Lombardi Trophy again. Jalen Hurts is back under center with all kinds of weapons around him. Philadelphia has also made some big coaching changes, with Sean Mannion’s hiring being an exciting one. Kevin Patullo was in over his head last year, and the Eagles front office believes Mannion can be the mind this team has been missing since Kellen Moore left.
Philadelphia just needs someone to step up with Brown gone, and the Eagles have to prove they can rush the passer. But it’s hard to worry too much about this organization.
Three Burning Questions for the 2026 Season
Will this offense make lemonade with Makai Lemon?
When the Eagles used the No. 20 pick on Lemon, it was pretty clear they were moving Brown. Philadelphia did bring in Elijah Moore, Dontayvion Wicks, and Marquise Brown, but Lemon’s the guy that has the best shot at making up for the lost production.
Last season, the 5-foot-11 wideout had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns for USC, where he showed off extreme precision as a route runner, was a monster after the catch, and flashed an impressive ability to go up and grab the ball despite being small for a true No. 1. There’s a real chance he outperforms his draft slot — which is a theme for USC receivers — and he should hit the ground running. If he does, Philadelphia’s offense should be a top-10 unit in the league.
Which version of Hurts is showing up?
Hurts might not have Brown back, but he has plenty of weapons, a strong offensive line, and an all-world running back in Saquon Barkley. As long as he vibes with Mannion’s system — which will see Hurts under center more often — there’s really nothing keeping him from going out and playing at a borderline MVP level.
Hurts is, however, one of the more inconsistent quarterbacks in football. While he possesses all the talent in the world, we see far too many games in which the Eagles offense is stuck in neutral. Fair or not, that falls on the shoulders of Hurts, who has seen his PFF grade drop in three consecutive seasons.
Hurts has cut down on his interceptions, so that’s a positive. He also looks solid when looking at Completion Percentage Over Expected (3.2). But what’s keeping him from producing like a top-10 quarterback all year long? And will we see some more from him as a runner? Barkley cut into Hurts’ rushing numbers, but the quarterback’s yards per carry were down at 4.0. In 2022, he was at 4.6. He should be more efficient with his legs.
Will Philly consistently get to the quarterback?
The Eagles were 20th in the NFL in Pass Rush Win Rate (35%) last year, and that feels like something that should be much better with Vic Fangio running the defense. Will it improve in 2026?
Jonathan Greenard could make this a non-issue. While he had only three sacks a year ago, he recorded double-digit sacks in both 2023 and 2024. That’s the guy the Eagles are hoping they acquired from the Vikings.
As long as Philly can put some pressure on opposing quarterbacks, this defense should be great. The Eagles have an awesome group of corners, and there’s more upside with Riq Woolen in the mix. Philly also has a very reliable linebacking corps.
Eagles 2026 Win Total Pick – Over 9.5
The Over is a little juiced if you want to take Philadelphia to win 10 games, but a lot would have to go wrong for the Eagles to finish with nine or fewer. This offense is still loaded. Plus, the defense will continue to be scary as long as Fangio is running it. The team also has a favorable schedule this year, with Sharp Football Analysis giving Philly an easier schedule than all but six teams.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Things change quickly in the NFL. After an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2024, the Commanders went 5-12 in 2025. Dan Quinn now finds himself on the hot seat, and he’s banking heavily on his double coordinator change. The Commanders aren’t going to sit around and waste Jayden Daniels’ prime.
If there’s one positive about having a down year, it’s that you get to add some talent. Washington did just that in taking Sonny Styles, a star linebacker out of OSU, with the seventh pick. The team also addressed several other needs through free agency.
The Commanders should also get some better availability out of Daniels, who played only seven games last year.
Will all of that be enough for a turnaround?
Three Burning Questions for the 2026 Season
Will the retooled defense show up?
The Commanders weren’t great defensively in 2024. They finished 22nd in the NFL in EPA per play allowed (0.049), meaning they were a bottom-10 group even when they made the NFC Championship Game. However, they weren’t pitiful. That adjective describes Washington’s 2025 defense, as the Commanders were 31st in the NFL in EPA per play allowed (0.152). Washington couldn’t stop anyone last season.
Quinn is a defensive-minded coach, so he’ll be in the trenches trying to figure this thing out. But Jones, who worked for Brian Flores for years, will get to implement his own changes. That should be exciting for Washington fans and bettors given the way Minnesota’s defenses have looked.
Look for the Commanders’ pass rush to be a force. Washington signed Odafe Oweh away from Los Angeles, where he had 7.5 sacks and a PFF pass-rush grade of 81.0 last year. Styles also figures to be a major factor in getting after the quarterback. He only had one sack last year, but he’s an athletic freak and should take well to NFL coaching. The Commanders also have several high-impact vets along the line that can apply pressure.
Washington also added linebacker Leo Chenal, who is excellent in coverage. That signing, along with the moves to bring in Nick Cross and Amik Robertson, should address the disappointing pass defense.
All things considered, there’s a real path towards the Commanders being league average on defense.
Is David Blough ready to call the shots?
The lack of play-calling experience is definitely concerning, but Blough seems to be a star in the making. That’s part of the reason Washington moved on from Kliff Kingsbury. Daniels had a massive year in his rookie season, so he clearly took a liking to the Kingsbury offense. But Year 2 was an absolute mess, and Quinn wanted to give Blough a shot.
Look for Daniels to play under center more. That should give the running game a different look, and it should also open up the play-action game. Blough seems poised to bring some Sean McVay to this offense. He wants to have a few different looks, but a ton of options Washington can turn to out of those looks. That adds unpredictability.
Does Jayden Daniels have enough help?
You’d have to think Daniels will be healthier in 2026, and that alone should give Washington a shot at finishing as a top-10 offense. However, the Commanders have less talent around Daniels than they did a year ago.
Washington has worked to improve the offensive line, and the team brought in Rachaad White to add some juice out of the backfield. White is very good as a pass-catching weapon, and he’ll pair up with Jacory Croskey-Merritt to give the Commanders a nice one-two punch.
The issue is the Commanders don’t have enough talent at wide receiver. Terry McLaurin is underwhelming as a No. 1 option, and Van Jefferson and Treylon Burks haven’t shown that they can be every-week starters. That’s going to put a lot of pressure on Daniels to extend plays and give them time to create separation.
Commanders 2026 Win Total Pick – Over 7.5
New York and Washington have the same win total this season, but give me the Over on the team with Daniels, not Dart. Even with a disappointing group of pass-catchers, Daniels is good enough to turn the Commanders into a top-10 offense again, and there are real reasons to believe Washington will be better on defense. Of course, Washington’s schedule isn’t as easy as you’d expect for a team that won five games the previous year. But the Commanders have the talent to get back on track.
