Predicting the 2025-26 NFC East Turnout

Published: Thursday, July 3, 2025

by Ryan Nelke

The NFC East once again failed to have a repeat winner, with the Philadelphia Eagles taking home the division crown, as well as the Super Bowl last season.  With that said, for the first time in two decades, there is a very good chance that this streak is broken, as the Eagles enter the season as the favorites to capture the division title once again.

However, Philadelphia repeating is no sure thing as Washington will certainly be on their tail after skyrocketing to prominence last year under Jayden Daniels, while Dallas will also be in the mix with the return of a healthy Dak Prescott.  So, without further adieu, it is time to get into my predictions for the 2025-26 NFC East.

The Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles enter the upcoming season as the odds on favorite (-145) to win the East, and for good reason, as this team is a powerhouse on both sides of the ball.

Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and AJ Brown lead the charge on offense, while the defense is a collection of studs in the front seven and the secondary.  Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Zach Baun highlight the front, while the secondary is young but talented, as it is led by Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Reed Blankenship.

The offense ran through Barkley last year, and it will do so once again this year, which will keep this team lethal when they have the ball in their hands.  The key for this squad is staying healthy, as when they have all their pieces on the field, everyone knows what they are capable of.  For these reasons, I have the Eagles repeating as division champs with a 13-4 record.

The Washington Commanders

Washington instantly completed their rebuild as soon as they selected Jayden Daniels with the #3 overall pick, as Daniels brought the Commanders out of the gutters in his first year at the helm.  The rookie quarterback won 12 games, upset the #1 seeded Lions, and brought Washington back to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1992.

Following this successful season, the front office went out and bolstered this offense even more, adding LT Laremy Tunsil and WR Deebo Samuel.  On the defensive side, they brought in DT Javon Kinlaw and CB Jonathan Jones, and now will be able to get a full season out of CB Marshon Lattimore after trading for him mid-season last year.

With these additions Washington made, plus having the star second year quarterback in Daniels back under center, it should keep them in the hunt throughout the year, but I cannot guarantee that this is once again a 12+ win team, so I have the Commanders finishing 10-7 and taking the final Wild Card spot.

The Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys season ended in Week 9 last year when Dak Prescott injured his hamstring, requiring him to undergo season-ending surgery.  The rest of the year was an afterthought, as Dallas limped to the finish line, ending with a 7-10 record.

The upcoming season brought new changes to Jerry World, as Mike McCarthy is out at head coach, with Brian Schottenheimer assuming the role after being promoted from offensive coordinator.

With Prescott healthy, and being able to throw to a WR duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, it should be interesting to watch on offense, but overall, there are not too many things that excite me about this team, which is why I have them finishing right around .500 at 9-8.

The New York Giants

While there are glaring issues on the offensive side of the ball, the defensive side gives the New York faithful something to get excited about this season.  New York’s front seven has the potential to be one of, if not the best this year as it features Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Bobby Okereke.

This goes without mentioning how the Giants also upgraded their secondary, bringing in Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland, making their defense one of most complete lineups in the league. The Giants ability to win games this season will have to come through the defense holding opponents to low-scoring outings, and if they can do it consistently, they may surprise some people.

The only concern is the quarterback situation, as Russell Wilson is expected to be the starter to begin the year, but Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart loom in the background.  Malik Nabers and an upgraded running back room should give the Giants some weapons to play with, but it will not be enough to get New York to the playoffs this year, as I have them as a 7-10 squad.

Projected NFC East Standings

1) Eagles (13-4)
2) Commanders (10-7), 3rd Wild Card
3) Cowboys (9-8)
4) Giants (7-10)

The NFC East always proves to be one of the more interesting divisions in football, with all the starpower and playoff drama at the forefront.  Find out how it all pans out when the season kicks off on September 4th when the Eagles host the Cowboys in the season opener…

Ryan Nelke can be reached at nelkerya@shu.edu.

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