(Photo: ESPN)
1. Philadelphia Eagles – (2025 Record- 11-6)
At no point during last season was I ever fully sold on them. If anything, they reverted to their 2023 ways, where they had a good record, but their play wasn’t necessarily reflective of that record. After winning the Super Bowl in 2024 with Saquon Barkley having the best season of his career, defenses knew that in order to beat the Eagles, they needed to load the box and dare Jalen Hurts to beat them through the air. The one thing I liked about them last year was their defense, which often challenged opponents physically and set the tone. However, this Eagles group simply couldn’t get out of its own way, and eventually it caught up to them as they were upset by the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round. This year, the offense will have a different look after the team traded A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots.
2. Dallas Cowboys – (2025 Record: 7-9-1)
Last season marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Cowboys. The organization decided to part ways with Mike McCarthy and promoted Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Their offense wasn’t the issue whatsoever, and for years you’ve heard me say that the Cowboys are a football team that needs to lean on the running game. However, that wasn’t the case in 2025, as they had to rely on high-scoring contests just to stay competitive. It was the defense that let them down, and they couldn’t stop anyone. Their focus this offseason was improving that side of the ball, and they’ve made several key moves, including hiring Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, acquiring Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers, and drafting Caleb Downs out of Ohio State. This should be a much-improved football team.
3. Washington Commanders – (2025 Record: 5-12)
The Commanders were one of the great stories of the 2024 season. They made the playoffs, won their first postseason game in 20 years, and came within one game of reaching the Super Bowl. Last year, however, they came back down to reality and never seemed able to regroup. Jayden Daniels struggled to stay healthy, and the Commanders simply couldn’t find any rhythm offensively. Their defense was just as bad as the Cowboys’, surrendering 384 yards per game, while injuries decimated the team’s chances of competing. Their struggles were a combination of offensive inconsistency, injuries, and one of the worst defenses in the league. If Jayden can return to the form he displayed during his rookie season, I like this team’s chances of regrouping and becoming competitive once again.
4. New York Giants – (2025 Record: 4-13)
This team is still a mess, and I don’t know any other way to put it. They were in the majority of their games last season, only to blow leads—many of them double-digit leads—and lose. The most memorable collapse came against the Denver Broncos, when they surrendered 33 points in a single quarter. The best thing the Giants did was hire John Harbaugh as their next head coach. They needed someone like him: a disciplinarian who believes in structure, accountability, and putting the team first rather than relying on star power. The Giants haven’t had that type of coach since the Tom Coughlin era. This team has a promising young trio in Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers, who is looking to return after tearing his ACL last season.
2026 NFC East Predictions
- Cowboys (11-6)
- Eagles (11-6)
- Giants (7-10)
- Commanders (6-11)
As of now, I view the NFC East as a two-team race between the Cowboys and Eagles. This year, I’m picking the Cowboys to win the division for the second time since 2023. The Eagles still have some question marks, while I really like what the Cowboys did this offseason to address their defensive issues. Dak Prescott will keep this offense among the league’s best, and if the defense improves and remains consistent, Dallas will be in great shape. I can see this Cowboys offense being one of the best in football as they bring back their core for another season. If the defense takes the step forward many expect, the Cowboys have a legitimate chance to reclaim the NFC East crown.
