NFC East Division: 2022/23 NFL Betting Preview and Predictions
-
Nik Kowalski
That’s bad news for the Dallas Cowboys, the 2021 division champion before bowing out at home in the NFC Wild-Card weekend.
The Cowboys roster has been depleted of some of its top-tier talent as well, while clubs like Philadelphia and Washington made major off-season moves in hopes to re-take the NFC East in 2022. New York’s even shaken things up with a new man in charge in Brian Daboll.
All in all, the NFC East is being viewed as a pick’em between the Cowboys and Eagles, who are +135 and +140 respectively to win the division on the NFL odds.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas’ biggest loss came just a week ago when All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith went down with a hamstring injury that’s going to keep him out for most if not all of the 2022-23 season. Smith is one of several key Cowboys players from a year ago who won’t be back for Week 1. Receivers Amari Cooper (Cleveland) and Cedrick Wilson (Miami) are gone, as well as defensive end Randy Gregory (Denver).
On the glass half-full note, 29-year-old quarterback Dak Prescott is healthy and coming off a 4,449-yard, 37-touchdown season. 23-year-old CeeDee Lamb is ready to explode after grabbing over 2,000 receiving yards in his first two NFL seasons. And Dallas’ defence is still littered with stars in defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, linebacker Micah Parsons, and cornerback Trevon Diggs. The Cowboys strength should still be their offence that ranked second last year in yards.
Dallas’ win total is listed at 10.5 games with their Super Bowl odds at +1415.
New York Giants
After finishing 4-13 last season the Giants moved on from head coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman, replacing the duo with Buffalo’s Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen. New York is still running it back with 2019 sixth-overall pick Daniel Jones at quarterback. Jones is 12-25 in the NFL and has 8,398 passing yards to go with 45 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in three seasons.
The Giants are banking on running back Saquon Barkley getting back to elite status. Injuries have limited Barkley to 15 starts in his last two seasons after rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie and sophomore in the NFL. The Giants also added guard Mark Glowinski in free agency, and spent their top-five draft pick on Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
New York’s win total is listed at 7.5 games with their Super Bowl odds at +6980.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts is back for his third NFL season and second under head coach Nick Sirianni, and has a fancy new toy in receiver A.J. Brown who was acquired via trade from Tennessee. The Eagles led the NFL in 2021 in rushing (156.1 yards a game) and it should still be their bread and butter with a stable of running backs and arguably the NFL’s top offensive line led by centre Jason Kelce and tackle Lane Johnson. This alone makes the Eagles a popular Super Bowl darkhorse.
The Eagles made some major additions on defence too, signing lockdown corner James Bradberry from the Giants and most recently trading for Saints defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Pass rusher Haason Reddick also joined his hometown team in free agency.
Philadelphia’s win total is listed at 9.5 games with their Super Bowl odds at +1458. Of note, they are -210 to make the playoffs after a Wild-Card berth a year ago.
Washington Commanders
Washington’s pushed their chips in on Carson Wentz in hopes of ending an ugly quarterback carousel that’s kept them with a single playoff win since 2005. Wentz, the second overall pick in the 2016 draft, is back in the NFC East after being traded from Indianapolis one season after he was acquired from Philadelphia. Washington was 23rd last season with 19.7 points per game.
The Commanders spent their first-round pick on Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson, who becomes another weapon alongside Terry McLaurin and his three-year, $68.2 million extension. 2020 Defensive Rookie on the Year Chase Young is still on the injured reserve after a torn ACL last season, but Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat are healthy and looking to get Washington’s defence back to elite status.
Washington’s win total is listed at 7.5 games with their Super Bowl odds at +4586.
NFC East Division Standings Prediction
- Philadelphia 11-6
- Dallas 10-7
- Washington 7-10
- New York 5-12