The Dallas Cowboys, off a 12-5 record in 2021, opened as favorites to win the NFC East for a second season in a row. they failed at the first hurdle in the playoffs, however, and in Big D, that wasn’t acceptable
The Philadelphia Eagles come in as the second choice, with the Washington Commanders some distance away in third. Longshots of the division are none other than the New York Giants.
So, will the Cowboys come through on their favorable NFL odds? Is there a challenger in the race for the 2022 NFC East title?
Find out as we preview the NFC East betting market for teams and offer NFL predictions for your consideration.
Current Odds to Win NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys +120
- Philadelphia Eagles +175
- Washington Commanders +450
- New York Giants +750
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Dallas Cowboys (+120)
For the Dallas Cowboys, the primary focus is winning in the playoffs, division (perhaps) not so much. Of course, winning the division is the best way to get into the playoffs. Coach Mike McCarthy will have the title in his sights.
The Cowboys are currently 6-5 favorites, or +120, to win the NFC East, but will deliver on that favorable online sports betting outlook this season? That’s the multi-million dollar question.
Odds moved slightly against Dallas after losing some glitz and glam. Perhaps the biggest star to leave was wide receiver Amari Cooper, now with the Cleveland Browns. They also bid adieu to wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr. (Miami Dolphins), offensive tackle La’el Collins (Cincinnati Bengals) and defensive end Randy Gregory (Denver Broncos).
At the same time of this mass exodus from Jerry’s World, the other teams in the NFC East improved. Namely their archrivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, who were one of the more aggressive teams during the offseason.
The advantage that Dallas has is at quarterback. Right now, Dak Prescott is easily the best signal-caller in the NFC East. Statistically, he’s far superior to his divisional counterparts, and the Cowboy offense should remain one of the best in the league.
As a franchise quarterback, Prescott has job security. That’s a luxury provided to no other starter in this division.
Jalen Hurts and Daniel Jones are young quarterbacks at varying points in their development and maturation. They’re both playing on their rookie contracts and facing uncertain futures. Hurts and Jones are also saddled with expectations to perform at a high level and deliver the results.
Carson Wentz has a lot of pressure on his shoulders as well. However, he’s in the midst of an existential crisis following a failed stint. He wasn’t a good fit with the Colts in Indianapolis, and now returns to the NFC East. A short-term deal with the Commanders gives Wentz a chance to prove himself as a starter.
Prescott and the Cowboys have had their way with the NFC East over the past few years. They’re still the team to beat for many reasons, but this season things could get more challenging.
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Philadelphia Eagles (+175)
The Philadelphia Eagles turned some heads in coach Nick Sirianni’s first season, going 9-8 to earn a playoff spot. Although the Eagles were bumped out in the first round at Tampa Bay, it was an achievement. That’s why many are turning to the Eagles as their sleeper NFL pick.
Of course, the best indication of the public’s interest is the NFL odds board, which shows the Eagles are on the move. The Eagles opened around +250 to win the NFC East. Since those markets opened, they’re down to +175.
Philadelphia was always tipped as the second-best option after Dallas, but the odds gap was once fairly considerable between them. One of the main reasons for this shift is Philadelphia’s savvy offseason moves.
After his first full season as the starter, Jalen Hurts remains an unanswered question. That isn’t something one should brush under the carpet. However, the Eagles have been aggressive, building around a young signal-caller and fortifying their ranks for 2022.
They traded for star wideout A.J. Brown, landed pass rusher Haason Reddick and cornerback James Bradberry, and some good draft picks as well. It’s these additions that have the public buying what the Eagles are selling. Moreover, with this revamped roster, they don’t have any excuse for not succeeding.
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Washington Commanders (+450)
The 2020 NFC East champions are beginning a new era, complete with a new name and a new (Carson Wentz) quarterback. Wentz is making a return to his former divisional stomping grounds after a less-than-impressive season with the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.
For Wentz, this is his third team in three seasons, a “make or break” season for the former Philadelphia Eagles’ No. 2 overall draft pick. He doesn’t cut it and it’s hard to see Wentz getting another starting job in the league..
Head coach Ron Rivera is entering his third season with the rebranded Washington Commanders. It hasn’t been smooth sailing in the nation’s capital, though.
Though a widely-respected coach, Rivera’s team was “a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck. Rivera was diagnosed with cancer, too.
Rivera had more to deal with than just about any head coach in the league. Through it all, he was his stoic self, manning the sidelines of every game and navigating through the fractious environment.
Thus, under the circumstances, one had to believe that he did the best he could with what was there. It’s no surprise that Washington finished under .500 in both seasons.
Washington’s 7-9 record in 2020 gave them NFC East title in a year which all four teams struggled mightily. However, Last season’s 7-10 record didn’t quite cut it as the team finished third.
Bookmakers have rolled out conservative NFL odds for Washington’s 2022 campaign. Priced at +450 to win the title, they are the third favorites, but not in the wagering realm as Dallas or Philadelphia.
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New York Giants (+750)
The New York Giants are longshots of the division, for any number of reasons. They’re in the midst of a rebuild, having exiled both coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman as a result of two excruciatingly-painful seasons.
Now, it’s new GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll with a project in quarterback Daniel Jones. He is beginning this season with non-believers aplenty. Daboll spent several seasons in Buffalo working with Josh Allen. Quarterbacks aren’t all made the same, but the talent drop-off between Allen and Jones is palpable.
If a team doesn’t have a viable quarterback, there are bound to be low expectations. This is true here, even if the rest of the roster is serviceable.
