This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The Philadelphia Eagles have the best roster in the NFC East. By far.
So, it’s no surprise that the Eagles are the betting favorite to win the division. The Dallas Cowboys are the defending NFC East champions and have a talented roster, too, but no team has repeated as NFC East champions since 2004. The Washington Commanders should be improved under Dan Quinn.
The Giants? Well, they’re more likely to be contending for the 2025 No. 1 overall pick than a division title.
But this division feels like it’s the Eagles to lose. They were in win-now mode throughout the offseason, fortifying their roster.
Philadelphia made a huge splash by landing running back Saquon Barkley, who should benefit by playing behind a better offensive line with the Eagles compared to his Giants days. Defensively, the Eagles should improve under new coordinator Vic Fangio.
The biggest question is how coach Nick Sirianni and star quarterback Jalen Hurts handle their relationship after what was reportedly a fractured and unhealthy one in 2023 as the Eagles went from a 10-1 start to being one-and-done in the playoffs.
However, if everyone is on the same page, the Eagles should pull away for the NFC East title in what should be a two-horse race between them and the Cowboys.
source: Getty Images Unlike the Eagles, the Cowboys had a quiet offseason.
Owner Jerry Jones claimed his organization was “all in” and then did little to back it up. They didn’t make a coaching change, bringing back Mike McCarthy in what is a lame duck season. They still haven’t reached an extension with star quarterback Dak Prescott or linebacker Micah Parsons. The biggest moves of the offseason were reuniting with running back Ezekiel Elliott, who turned 29 this summer, and just recently reaching a long-term contract with receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Still, the Cowboys have a talented roster, and maybe there will be a boost by having a coach such as McCarthy and a player such as Prescott in a “contract year.” The Cowboys’ defense will have a new look and feel to it, too, under coordinator Mike Zimmer.
At the end of the day, though, it’s hard to discount how the Eagles approached the offseason compared to the Cowboys. Philadelphia acted like the organization that was more “all in,” which is why it is the clear-cut favorite in the NFC East. In a division that has alternated championships between the Eagles and Cowboys the last decade—with a couple of Washington flukes mixed in—expect the title to flip back to the Eagles in 2024.
The Commanders and Giants, meanwhile, are remote contenders at best.
Aug 17, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) drops back to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports Washington’s future looks promising with reigning Heisman winner Jayden Daniels under center, but it will likely take some time for that to come to fruition. But the Commanders may not be too far off if Quinn can replicate his early days with the Falcons when he had them in the Super Bowl in his second season.
As for the Giants, it’s hard to see too much promise right now. They are coming off a 6-11 season, and many feel it will be difficult for them to even get back to the six-win mark. So, the talking point on the Giants this season may be whether they land next year’s top overall pick and if Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is the man to turn the franchise around.
