The NFC East has been intriguing for a few years now, as every team has taken their turn at the top of the division, and while none of these teams would be considered elite in 2022, all four of them have a chance of taking the division crown, meaning it will arguably be football's most competitive and exciting division this upcoming season. Each team seems to be getting better, and while no team right now seems like a genuine Super Bowl threat, all those things can change with a breakout season or two, good, consistent QB play and a clean bill of health.
Fans of every team in this division will be rightfully confident that their team can get on a roll and take the division crown, and after all the change in this off-season, it might be the hardest division to predict ahead of the 2022. However, today we are going to look at each team individually, and give one prediction per NFC East team ahead of the upcoming NFL campaign.
Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys claim one of the 3 Wild Card spots in the final weeks of the season
Lots of people like to make fun of the Cowboys when they lack success, and while fans remain optimistic, it is hard to believe that a team with so much talent and expectations has failed to win a playoff game for the past 20-years. The offensive line remains as good as any in football, and with all their pieces blending together after years of experience together, the time is now for the Cowboys to step up and make a run, and with Dak Prescott at the helm, the talent, leadership and experience is there for this team to finally go on a deep postseason run.
The NFC is full of genuine Super Bowl contenders, so it's hard to see the Cowboys making it that far, but after so much promise and expectation, anything less than at least a Wild Card spot and one playoff win will be a huge disappointment again for everyone in Dallas. If the running game and the defence get going around Prescott, this is a team that could surprise many, but until the Cowboys can finally prove they're good enough to win playoff games, people will continue to doubt them.
New York Giants - Kayvon Thibodeaux wins Defensive Rookie of the Year
The New York Giants have struggled to get the organization heading in one direction since Eli Manning left, and while they've started a rebuild, the team is certainly still in the early stages of it, and thus, 2022 may be a bad one for Giants fans. Thankfully, there's going to be at least one shining light, as the team drafted Kayvon Thibodeaux in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and he's expected by many to be an absolute beast at the next level.
His performance at training camp so far has people in New York raving about the Oregon edge rusher, and while some questioned his motor heading into the draft, it's safe to say that if he's even on for 75% of the time on the field, he will make some big noise, and give opposing QB's absolute nightmares. Unfortunately it's not going to help the team too much, as they've got way too many holes to contend for a playoff spot, but for a team that's going to struggle, having a name like Thibodeaux that will only get bigger in the coming years will certainly help them tremendously.
Philadelphia Eagles - Jalen Hurts shines as Philly dominate the East
The Philadelphia Eagles have been very up and down over the past decade, as they won their maiden Super Bowl back in 2017, but have missed the playoffs in several other seasons. Thankfully for Philly fans, this team looks like it's being built the right way, and if Jalen Hurts can be as good as many expect with the new weapons he has like DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown, there's no reason why this team can't challenge the best of the best in the NFC in 2022.
The defence has improved immensely over the past few years as well, and with no other team looking like a genuine contender in the NFC East, the Eagles should be able to comfortably soar to a division crown if they can stay healthy for all 17 games. Year after year, the NFC East delivers plenty of surprises, so things like injuries, blockbuster trades and weird, inconsistent form can effect this prediction, but right now, if all four teams stay healthy, the Eagles should be head and shoulders above the rest.
Washington Commanders - Carson Wentz bombs and Washington fail to make the playoffs
The Washington Commanders have assembled a very good team, centred around a balanced attack and some studs on the defensive side of the ball, but unfortunately, the Quarterback situation is just one they haven't been able to nail down for a few seasons now. To fix the problem in 2022, they've turned to Carson Wentz, and if the division was a bit weaker, they may have been able to slide by, but as of right now, the Eagles and Cowboys are going to make it just a bit too tough for Washington to make it to the playoffs in their first season officially as the Commanders.
This was the hardest to predict, as Washington could certainly go on a run that leads them to the playoffs, but with so much talent in the NFC, it's just so hard to see them sneaking into one of the 3 Wild Card spots on offer. The Commanders have the pieces there, but will need one or two more names to fill out the roster before they become a genuine contender, and if they can find themselves an elite level QB, it may be their division to run very soon.
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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