“The same procedure as every year”… A sentence that does not apply to the NFC East. Since 2004, no team has won the division in consecutive years. This makes the NFC East probably the most balanced division in the entire NFL. Also in the coming year? sport.de reveals this to you in the Division Preview.
Also in 2023 it seems to be exciting here. “America’s team”, the Dallas Cowboys, are planning another attack on the crown. The Philadelphia Eagles want to go back to the Super Bowl. The New York Giants want to know where they stand. And with the Washington Commanders, all signs point to a new beginning.
review
Three teams from the NFC East made it to the playoffs in 2022. The Eagles (14-3) secured the No. 1 seed of the NFC, the Cowboys (12-5) and Giants (9-7-1) advanced to the wild card round. The Commanders (8-8-1) just failed. The records show that no team dropped out and had a negative win-loss record.
Will that also be the case in 2023?
Dallas Cowboys
The demands of “Team America” are the same every year: Super Bowl or Bust.
Jerry Jones, who will be 81 in October, would love to raise the Lombardi Trophy again.
The Cowboys roster is indisputably one of the stronger ones in the NFC. Offensively they got rid of the aging Ezekiel Elliott and the electrifying Tony Pollard will now lead the backfield. Brandin Cooks gives Dak Prescott a real deep threat and the 1.65m tall Deuce Vaughn will also get his touches.
The Cowboys are led defensively by All Pro Linebacker Micah Parsons. Potential top five defense was bolstered with CB Stephon Gilmore to address man coverage issues. A strong pass rush including a good defensive backfield also suggests a very good Cowboys Defense in 2023.
Dallas is set for another attempt at the division crown and the long-awaited NFC Championship Game. If the defense can maintain last year’s level and Dak Prescott become even more consistent, you have to reckon with “America’s team”.
New York Giants
Brian Daboll – that’s the name of the great hope of the New York Giants. In his first season as the Giants head coach, he immediately made the playoffs. There, however, there was a bitter defeat against the Eagles, which begs the question: How far are the Giants? How good is Daniel Jones really? How much was it the easy game plan last year?
In any case, Daniel Jones is offensively trusted and has been given a new contract. At least in 2023 he will still lead the team. After a back and forth, Saquon Barkley was also held. With tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Cole Beasley coming out of retirement, they want to equip Daniel Jones with safe pass receivers. Left tackle Andrew Thomas has also been given a new long-term contract.
“Anchor” Dexter Lawrence has been tied on the defensive for a long time and should make life difficult for the opposing quarterback again this year. Along with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Xavier McKinney and this year’s first round pick Deonte Banks, he wants to try to stop the strong offenses of the Cowboys and Eagles.
For the Giants, the word “if” plays the biggest role this year. If Daniel Jones can make another move, if Saquon Barkley can stay fit, if the defensive backfield becomes more stable, and (most importantly) only if the Cowboys and Eagles falter this season, the Giants will likely have a shot at the division win.
Philly Eagles
After a narrow Super Bowl defeat, the team says it is excited for this year.
With Jalen Hurts, the franchise quarterback seems to have been found. Accordingly, he was given a new record contract.
In general, the roster on both sides of the ball is certainly one of the best in the NFL. With AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, you have a top 5 wide receiver duo, the O-line is a top 3 line, and the defensive front is also one of the top three in the NFL.
Last year, the Eagles dominated opponents at will – on the ground or through the air. Hurts scored 13 touchdowns on the ground alone and was considered an MVP candidate until his injury. Defense posted a stellar 70 sacks throughout the season and made life difficult for many offenses.
Looking at the roster and the rest of the NFC, the Eagles are certainly the favorites. Not just the division win, but the entire NFC. Injuries and a total regression from hurts are probably the only factors that can stop the Eagles this year.
Washington Commanders
Probably the biggest unknown in the division this year. After the sale of Dan Snyder’s franchise to Josh Harris, all signs point to a fresh start in Washington. A new name is in the air, a new quarterback in the starting blocks and with Eric Bienemy as the new offensive coordinator, a potential successor to Ron Rivera is already on the spot.
The quarterback position in particular will show this season where Washington is going in the next few years. What do you have in last year’s fifth-round pick Sam Howell? A potential franchise quarterback or (again) a temporary solution? The backup situation with Jacoby Brissett is also unexciting. Howell has a more than solid supporting cast in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. The question will be whether Bienemy can scheme this offense as well as in Kansas City.
The Commanders’ defense should again be one of the better ones in the NFL this year thanks to the strong D-Line and a solid backfield.
Who is Sam Howell and how quickly and well did the Commanders handle the sale of Dan Snyder? This year it will not primarily be about sporting success, but about steering the franchise back onto a better and more successful path for the future.
forecast
No back-to-back division winner for almost 20 years, no team with a negative record last year. The NFC East promises excitement based purely on history. Realistically, however, the NFC East will be a one-on-one between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The entire NFC East schedule is among the top ten toughest in the NFL this season. I don’t trust either the Commanders or the Giants to cause a surprise here.
Even the Cowboys and Eagles will find it very difficult to repeat last season’s wins.
In the end I have a little more faith in the Eagles and they will become the first team since 2004 to win the division twice in a row.
The other division previews
Lennart Scholz
Footballerei means 100% NFL football free snout: analyses, game reports, portraits and much more from the NFL.