We simply cannot wait for the new NFL season to start, and we are counting down the days until the very first kick off. If you are like us and love the NFL, then you definitely need to have a read on below, as we take a look at each and every team from the NFC East and analyze their chances for success in this brand new season.
Dallas Cowboys
The 2021 Dallas Cowboys reeled off six consecutive victories after a narrow season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take control of the NFC East race. Third-year head coach Mike McCarthy’s squad dropped three of their next five games before posting a 5-1 record down the stretch to claim its first division crown since 2018.
The Cowboys lost several key contributors – receiver Amari Cooper, defensive end Randy Gregory, and offensive tackle La’el Collins – during the offseason, but remain the favorites to capture their second straight NFC East title.
Quarterback Dak Prescott tossed 37 touchdowns a year ago and will direct an offense that is expected to lean on running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Elliott tallied 1,002 yards and 10 scores last season but averaged just 4.2 yards on 237 attempts.
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Pollard is an explosive runner who averaged a lofty 5.5 yards per rush in 2021 while posting 719 yards on 130 carries. Former Oklahoma standout CeeDee Lamb will take over WR1 duties and hauled in 79 passes last year for 1,102 yards and six scores.
Fifth-year wideout Michael Gallup returns from a torn ACL but is expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season. Tight end Dalton Schultz caught 78 balls last season and has become a dangerous red zone threat with 12 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
The loss of Gregory to free agency was a massive blow to the Cowboys’ defensive front. However, 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons recorded 13 sacks and 20 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last season and will form a dynamic pass rush with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.
Dallas’ interior line will also feature Dante Fowler Jr., Dorance Armstrong, Trysten Hill, Carlos Watkins, Chauncey Golston, and second-round pick Sam Williams. Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs intercepted 11 balls during his sophomore campaign but allowed a whopping 1,051 yards to opposing receivers. The Cowboys have the talent to compete for a Super Bowl, but huge questions remain on the offensive line and the receiving corps.
New York Giants
The 2021 season for the New York Giants started on a low note and ended even worse. The Giants opened the season with one win in their first six games and finished the regular season with six consecutive losses which cost second-year head coach Joe Judge his job.
Former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was hired to transform an anemic offense. New York is rebuilding a squad that has hit rock bottom, and even in a division that lacks a dominant team, it will be a struggle for the Giants to advance to the postseason.
Fourth-year quarterback Daniel Jones, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, threw only 10 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 11 outings last year. The Giants’ woeful offense scored 14 points or less in 10 games a year ago. Running back Saquon Barkley averaged a paltry 3.7 yards per carry behind a subpar offensive line in 2021.
Andrew Thomas on being named a team captain: “It’s definitely an honor”
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New York did prioritize upgrading the offensive front with a trio of free agents and drafted Alabama tackle Evan Neal with the seventh overall pick. The team has a talented cast of receivers in Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Kadarius Toney, and second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson. The only question is if the pass catchers can remain healthy.
The Giants drafted Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth overall pick to help a defensive unit that surrendered 30 or more points in six games last season. Second-year edge rusher Azeez Ojulari showed promise during his rookie campaign with eight sacks, and veteran tackle Leonard Williams will look to rebound from a lackluster 2021 season.
New York will trot out a young and inexperienced secondary after releasing cornerback James Bradberry. Veteran Adoree’ Jackson will be joined by rookie Cor’Dale Flott, and second-year players Rodarius Williams and Aaron Robinson. The Giants might surprise a few teams this season but finishing with a .500 record will be a huge challenge.
Philadelphia Eagles
The 2021 Philadelphia Eagles snuck into the playoffs last season despite defeating only one team with a winning record. The Eagles also picked up wins against five teams that finished at the bottom of their respective divisions. But Philadelphia significantly upgraded its roster during the offseason and will open the 2022 season as the biggest threat to the Dallas Cowboys’ hopes of capturing back-to-back division titles.
Third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts showed flashes of being a franchise signal-caller a year ago but needs to improve his accuracy and read defenses better. However, if the former second-round pick can take a step forward in 2022, the Eagles could easily be one of the top teams in the NFC.
The addition of former Tennessee Titans receiver A.J. Brown elevates a passing attack that includes last year’s top pick, DeVonta Smith. Philadelphia also added Olympic hurdler Devon Allen, a vertical threat who possesses world-class speed. Hurts and featured back Miles Sanders combined for more than 1,500 rushing yards a year ago, and last year’s fifth-round pick Kenneth Gainwell added 544 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns in limited action.
Introducing the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/CuWLHZAJHw
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 30, 2022
The Eagles signed free agent linebacker Haason Reddick to spark a non-existent pass rush that helped opposing quarterbacks torch Philadelphia for 28 touchdown passes a year ago. The sixth-year veteran posted 11 sacks for the Carolina Panthers last year and has 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
Former fourth-round pick Josh Sweat and veteran tackle Javon Hargrave both tallied 7.5 sacks in 2021, but 2017 first-rounder Derek Barnett needs to rebound after recording only two sacks last season. The Eagles have all the pieces to compete for the NFC East crown and to make a deep playoff run if key players remain healthy and productive.
Washington Commanders
The 2021 season started promising for the Washington Commanders who had a 2-2 record after four games. But the Commanders lost four games in a row before putting together a four-game winning streak to get back to .500 with a 6-6 mark.
However, another four-game skid followed before Washington disposed of the lowly New York Giants in the regular season finale. The Commanders should escape the NFC East cellar once again this season, but advancing to the postseason will remain an unrealistic goal.
Quarterback Carson Wentz returns to the NFC East after a one-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts. The second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the former Eagle gets another chance to resurrect a career that seems to be nearing an end.
The Commanders have one of the league’s top wideouts in Terry McLaurin, and a productive backfield with Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. Washington surprised everyone by drafting Alabama running Brian Robinson in the third round, and then took North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell in the fifth round. If Wentz can prove the doomsayers wrong, the Commanders might be a .500 team.
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— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 29, 2022
Washington has one of the NFL’s most talented defensive fronts consisting of a slew of first-round picks. Chase Young, the second overall pick and 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year, tore his ACL in Week 10 and will not be ready for the start of the 2022 season.
But defensive end Montez Sweat has racked up 21 sacks in three seasons, while tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne have combined for 40.5 sacks. The secondary lost veteran safety Landon Collins to free agency but should still be a solid unit with cornerbacks Kendall Fuller, William Jackson, and Benjamin St-Juste.
The Commanders will be a well-coached squad that will surprise more than a few teams. But there are just too many question marks to expect this team to have a winning record once the regular season ends.
When the 2022 NFL season does eventually kick off, make sure SportsTips is your go-to destination for NFL picks. We will provide NFL picks for each and every game of the season from our experts, so you can place your bets with more confidence!
