NFC East 2024 Division Preview

Philadelphia Eagles win NFC East (-110)

The NFC East has been historically one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions, but if you’re making a 2024 NFC East prediction it’s only worth considering two NFL teams.

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles have finished atop the NFC East standings nine times over the past 11 seasons dating back to 2013, including each of the past three. The Eagles have represented the NFC in the Super Bowl twice in that span, even though the Cowboys have failed to even advance to the NFL’s final four.

The Cowboys are the reigning division champs after the Eagles dropped five of their final seven games following a 9-1 start. Philadelphia is again the favorite to win the East, with Dallas boasting the second-shortest odds.

Dallas has not won consecutive division championships since its heyday in the mid-1990s, and despite an explosive offense and dominant defense, the Cowboys are just a notch behind the Eagles, who upgraded their offense and defense in free agency and the draft.

The NFC odds aren’t as enticing as Dallas’, since the defending champs at plus-money is super-compelling. But as long as their offseason moves righted a ship that started veering in 2023, the Eagles winning the division is the 2024 NFC East prediction.

NFC East Betting Pick: Dallas Cowboys (+150)

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NFC East Betting Preview

The Eagles still boast a dominant offense, led by MVP candidate Jalen Hurts and his embarrassment of offensive weapons, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. But Philadelphia also added a pair of players from the division-rival New York Giants in running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver Parris Campbell.

Barkley should add an explosive element to the Eagles running game, since he has three 1,000-plus-yard seasons, though he will need to stay healthy to have an impact on Philadelphia’s offense. Barkley has missed at least three games in four of his six NFL seasons, including last year when he missed Weeks 3-5 with a high-ankle sprain.

There is always intrigue and drama coming from the Jerry Jones-owned Cowboys, but Dallas has stabilized its organization, at least in the regular season. 

Dallas has led the NFL in points per game in two of the past three seasons, and despite losing lead running back Tony Pollard in free agency, it brought back mainstay Ezekiel Elliott, who should be its lead back. 

The New York Giants and Washington Commanders are both rebuilding, with Washington introducing a new coach in former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn after going 4-13 last season. The Giants went 6-11 after qualifying for the playoffs in 2022 but will be breaking in a new defensive coordinator in Shane Bowen.

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2024 NFC East Odds Breakdown

The Cowboys defense was exposed a bit in their 48-32 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers last January. Plus, they lost Quinn, who was their defensive coordinator and was an extremely effective schemer, to one of their biggest rivals.

The Eagles defensive personnel is young but extremely talented, led by 2023 first-round picks Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith. Plus, first-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio should be a huge upgrade from Sean Desai and Matt Patricia, who were clearly in over their heads last season.

If you’re making NFL preseason picks, the Eagles are a legitimate favorite to win their division and should again be on the short list of contenders to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
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2024 NFC East Prediction

Philadelphia Eagles (-110)

The division race could be decided by the Eagles and Cowboys defense. Dallas has elite players, led by a pair of All-Pro cornerbacks, DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year favorite Micah Parsons.

But the Eagles also addressed their 30th-ranked defense by adding Fangio and picking the top-ranked cornerback in the 2024 draft, Quinyon Mitchell, who could be a Day 1 starter. They also added linebackers Oren Burks and Devin White in free agency.

Between those upgrades, plus that of Barkley, the Eagles finishing first is the 2024 NFC East prediction.

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