By Anthony Wootton
No team has won back-to-back division titles in the NFC East since the Philadelphia Eagles won four in a row from 2001 to 2004. The Dallas Cowboys, who haven’t won a postseason game in four years, last managed to retain the division crown during their Super Bowl domination in the 90s when they hoisted three Lombardi trophies across five consecutive NFC East wins.
Philly, who last won the East in 2019, looks to have one of the most impressive rosters in the league, while the New York Giants are in transition with a new head coach, the former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll.
The Washington Commanders, who won the division with a losing record in 2020, will always be competitive with Ron Rivera as head coach. Just how competitive they’ll be rests in the hands of the new quarterback, Carson Wentz.
Here we preview each team and look at the best prop plays for the 2022 NFL season.
Dallas Cowboys (+2200 to Win Super Bowl LVII via DraftKings)
No offense scored more points (530) and had more total yards (6,919) than the Cowboys last season. Quarterback, Dak Prescott, ranked seventh in the league for passing yards (4,449). Wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, had over 1,100 yards receiving, and running back, Ezekiel Elliott, had his fourth 1,000-yard season on the ground. The losses of tackles, La’El Collins and Tyron Smith, weaken their offensive line, which is a concern.
Best Cowboys Props
Win Total O/U 10.5
The Cowboys were on fire to start the season last year, but with the departure of wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns, along with their weakened offensive line that’s been heavily impacted by the long-term injury to star left tackle Tryron Smith, it’s difficult to see them matching their 11-5 record again. Despite a 1,000-yard season, Zeke Elliott’s rushing production is not what it was when the Cowboys made him the highest paid running back in the game. He isn’t the Zeke of 2018 or 2019, and Dallas need him at his best. Top defensive end, Randy Gregory, is now with the Denver Broncos, which will be a big blow on the other side of the ball. They could well be a 10-win team, but will struggle to get to 11. Back the Under at -130.
CeeDee Lamb Receiving Touchdowns +8
Amari Cooper is no longer in Dallas, and Michael Gallup will be missing for the first quarter of the season, so expect CeeDee Lamb to be Dak’s main target. He’s had a total of 2,037 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons. Tight end, Dalton Schultz, was second in receiving yards for the Cowboys last season (808) and had 8 touchdowns, making him a threat. Lamb’s success has come on the outside. He might also see more targets from the slot this year. As his targets increase, so will his touchdowns, which is why he’s great value at -130 for 8+ TDs.
Philadelphia Eagles (+2200 to Win Super Bowl LVII via DraftKings)
Last year the Eagles made the playoffs with a first-year starting quarterback and a first-year head coach. Both are another year wiser, and head coach Nick Sirianni has a stronger roster. His quarterback, Jalen Hurts, has one of the best offensive lines protecting him and a new addition in the extremely gifted wide receiver, A.J. Brown.
Along with the acquisition of Brown, the Eagles added linebacker Haason Reddick and cornerback James Bradbury to their defense. In the first round of the draft they selected defensive tackle Jordan Davis from Georgia. Davis looks like a beast on that defensive front, and will dominate offensive lines opposite Fletcher Cox. Games are won in the trenches; the Eagles have built two of the strongest front lines in the NFL.
Win Total O/U 9.5
Philadelphia won 9 games last season, and through all the additions they’ve made, along with the extra experience for Sirianni and Hurts, they’re a good bet to improve on that total. Their schedule also helps, they only face four teams that made the playoffs last season; the Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans. Back the Over at -140.
Eagles to Win the NFC East
Everything is trending upwards for the Eagles. After going 3-6 at the start of the season, things started to click with their new head coach. They finished the second half of the year 6-2. Take the Eagles at +150 to win the NFC East.
Washington Commanders (+7000 to Win Super Bowl LVII via DraftKings)
It’s already been a turbulent start for the Commanders, with the firing of defensive line coach Sam Mills. Add to this the off-field issues at the top of the organization. They have talent on their roster, including Chase Young on the defensive front, but questions remain on how consistent they can be with quarterback Carson Wentz.
They traded for Wentz from the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason. We’re now five years from the quarterback’s MVP-calibre season, and each year it’s been asked whether he can reach that standard again, and he never does. He has more weapons on this offense than he did in Indy last season. Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and impressive rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson make up a solid receiving corps, backed up by tight end Logan Thomas.
Win Total O/U 8.5
2016 was the last time Washington won more than 7 games in a season. They’re a franchise that’s rotten at the very top. Their roster isn’t the deepest, and the rollercoaster that is Carson Wentz brings the good and the terrible from the quarterback position. It’s hard to see the Commanders getting 9 wins this season, so take the Under at -170.
Terry McLaurin Total Receiving Yards 1000.5
McLaurin has had back-to-back seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards. These feats were achieved with Taylor Heinicke, Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, and Garrett Gilbert throwing him the football. Carson Wentz is an upgrade on all of those quarterbacks, regardless of his flaws. Back the Over at -112.
New York Giants (+13000 to Win Super Bowl LVII via DraftKings)
The Giants had the second-worst offense in the league last season, totalling 4,884 yards and scoring a meagre 258 points. While they averaged 15.2 points per game, scoring, they conceded 24.5. The Giants were bad.
But there is cause for optimism. They’ve hired Brian Daboll as head coach, bringing him from the Buffalo Bills. Daboll oversaw the growth of quarterback Josh Allen during his time as offensive coordinator in Buffalo. Although the skillset of Daniel Jones is inferior to the Bills’ superstar, the Giants will need to see improvement from him. A lot of their success on offense will come from running back, Saquon Barkley, if he can stay healthy.
The Giants drafted twice in the top 10 this spring and bolstered their front lines with Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, who had 19 sacks in 30 college games, and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal. Questions remain over the strength of their receiving corps with Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney.
Win Total O/U 7.5
This season the Giants have eight games against teams that finished in the bottom 11 of last year’s standings. That strength of schedule, plus the return of Saquon Barkley to full health and the offseason additions, make them an attractive play to win eight or more games. They have enough quality to be feisty in this division, bet the Over at +125.
Saquon Barkley Rushing Touchdowns
The success of the Giants’ offense will rely on the production of Saquon Barkley. It doesn’t look as though they’ll be extending his contract, which means they’re likely to run him for all he’s worth. He averaged 5 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns in his only full season. That was his rookie year, but he’s entering 2022 without any ailments. He’ll be aiming for a big payday when he hits the open market in March, so expect maximum production from him. That’s why he’s a solid play at -115 for over 7.5 rushing TDs.
