No team has been repeat winners in the NFC East for the last 19 years, the longest streak without a repeat winner in NFL history. Early in the 2023 season, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like they could be the first team to break that trend since they themselves last did it from 2001 to 2004, but ended up having a disastrous second half to the season. Instead, the Dallas Cowboys took the division with a 12-5 record, their second NFC East title in three seasons. As much as they’d like to be repeat winners this year, the Eagles will be looking to bounce back and have the roster to do so.
As for the Washington Commanders and New York Giants, their outlook still appears bleak. The Commanders are in the middle of a rebuild and the Giants continue to make questionable decisions each offseason. The Giants haven’t won the title since 2011 and they’re unlikely to do so this year. If Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has a breakout season, they could be a dark horse, but it would indeed be a big surprise.
Key Offensive Player
Dak Prescott (QB)
31 years old
Mississippi State
Key Defensive Player
Micah Parsons (DE/LB)
25 years old
Penn State
During the offseason, the Cowboys lost several starters and key rotational players and did next to nothing about it in free agency. They still have elite talent with Prescott, Lamb, and Parsons, but the lack of depth throughout the roster is concerning. Dallas is coming into the 2024 season with less talent than last year, and more questions.
ATTACK. Prescott is coming off his best season yet, but the quarterback seems to have trouble in the postseason (2-5 in his career) and that has raised questions about his value on the team. With one year remaining on his current contract as he awaits an extension, Prescott might only ever finally get some respect if he can make a deep run in the playoffs.
DEFENSE. Parsons has been making quarterbacks’ lives miserable since he entered the league in 2021. This season won’t be any different in that regard, but Parsons will be playing under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, and major improvements will need to be made in two aspects: playing well late into the season (Parsons’ production tends to drop off around December), and stopping the run.
RavensWeek 3
LionsWeek 6
@49ersWeek 8
TexansWeek 11
@EaglesWeek 17
Key offensive player
Saquon Barkley (RB)
27 years old
Penn State
Key Defensive Player
Jalen Carter (DT)
23 years old
Georgia
This offseason, the Eagles have made major improvements. In addition to returning players Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, they’ve stacked their roster with talent on both sides of the ball, plus added Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio to the coaching staff. With all that in mind, the Eagles look like the top team in the division.
ATTACK. QB Jalen Hurts has led one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL in the last two years, but he’s been missing a player with that same explosiveness in the backfield. Enter Saquon Barkley. The former Giant will add another weapon to the offense.
DEFENSE. Carter had a dynamic rookie season, quickly establishing himself as one of the best defensive ends in both the NFC East and the league. Though his performance dwindled towards the end of the season, experience should add to his ability to stay consistent heading into the 2024 season.
Packers in BrazilWeek 1
@GiantsWeek 7
@BengalsWeek 8
@RavensWeek 13
CowboysWeek 17
Key Offensive Player
Jayden Daniels (QB)
23 years old
Arizona State/LSU
Key Defensive Player
Bobby Wagner (LB)
34 years old
Utah State
The Commanders spent the offseason revamping their roster and leadership, hiring former Cowboys DC Dan Quinn as their head coach and adding rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Daniels will start his first season surrounded by reliable talent at the receiver and running back positions, and the outcome of Washington's season will depend greatly on how Daniels performs.
ATTACK. After winning the Heisman Trophy, Jayden Daniels was the No. 2 overall pick and his influence on the team has the potential to be significant. Washington is counting on Daniels to turn their destiny around and give them their first winning season and NFC East win since 2020.
DEFENSE. Bobby Wagner, together with Frankie Luvu, makes up part of the best linebacker duo in the NFC East. Despite being 34 years old, Wagner remains one of the best linebackers in the league with a career-high and league-best 183 total tackles last season. He’ll also be reunited with Dan Quinn, who was his defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014 in Seattle.
BuccaneersWeek 1
@BengalsWeek 3
@RamsWeek 6
BearsWeek 8
@EaglesWeek 11
Key Offensive Player
Malik Nabers (WR)
21 years old
LSU
Key Defensive Player
Brian Burns (LB)
26 years old
Florida State
Things have been bad for the Giants for several years now, and unfortunately, the outlook for this season is grim as well. The moves they made in the offseason weren’t significant, quarterback Daniel Jones has failed to throw more than 15 touchdown passes in three seasons, and they have a serious lack of depth on their roster in general.
ATTACK. The Giants drafted wide receiver Malik Nabers sixth overall and he has the potential to be the only offensive player on the team that might make opposing defenses nervous. He’s competitive and tough and those are the qualities the Giants are counting on to help transform their offense.
DEFENSE. The Giants are counting on the addition of Brian Burns to be a dominant force on the defense. In his five seasons in the NFL, he has 46 sacks and 95 quarterback hits with 142 pressures. With All-Pro Dexter Lawrence on the interior and Burns on the edge, he has a chance to significantly impact the Giants defense.
VikingsWeek 1
BengalsWeek 6
@SteelersWeek 8
Panthers in MúnichWeek 10
@CowboysWeek 12
