The next up is the NFC East where we haven’t had a repeat division winner since the 2004 Eagles – that’s right 20 years. Let’s dig into it.

NFC East Preview

Philadelphia Eagles

The Birds Should Bounce Back in 2024
  • Coaching Staff: HC Nick Sirianni had to shuffle the deck after an end of year collapse, so he welcomes 2 new Coordinators in OC Kellen Moore, the former DAL OC (and LAC) who proved to be inventive but perhaps too creative at times. The DC is NFL stalwart Vic Fangio who is well respected and has had success on most of his stops. So, the schemes effectively change from last year to this year. Not sure the personnel will meet the scheme, but there were some changes that matter.
  • Key Departures: C Jason Kelce and DT Fletcher Cox were 2 huge loss to retirement, DE Hassan Reddick (to NYJ), RB D’Andre Swift (to CHI),
  • Key Additions: The Eagles added a lot of depth in the draft with CB Quinyon Mitchell (1st Rd, Toledo) and late round guys for Offense: WRs Ainias Smith (5th Rd., Texas A&M) and Johnny Wilson (6th Rd., FSU), O-Linemen Trevor Keegan (5th Rd., Michigan) and Dylan McMahon (6th Rd., NC State). In Free Agency, the Birds picked up RB Saquon Barkley (from NYG), WR Parris Campbell (from NYG), and QB Kenny Pickett (traded from PIT) as a backup on Offense. DE Bryce Huff (from NYJ), LB Zack Baun (from NO), S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (from DET), LB Devin White (from TB), .
  • Team Outlook: The Eagles crumbled down the stretch with internal issues. The talent is there, and with new schemes (especially on D), they should be back on top. However, DAL will not just lay down. I’m mostly picking PHI to win the division because no one repeats in this division.
  • Prediction: 12-5 – Win NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Can Dak Do It With Less Weapons?
  • Coaching Staff: HC Mike McCarthy makes a surprising return after one of the worst playoff losses in team history. Still, McCarthy has led DAL to double digit win seasons every year. OC Brian Schottenheimer returns to organize the offense, but it is really McCarthy calling the plays. At DC, McCarthy calls in Mike Zimmer who was the head coach of the Vikings, but his defenses in CIN were pretty damn good. I like that hire a lot, as the talented D was terrible on the road last year and in that playoff loss.
  • Key Departures: RB Tony Pollard (to TEN), CB Stephon Gilmore (not signed) – big loss in my view, OT Tyron Smith (to NYJ), DT Johnathan Hankins (to SEA), and LB Leighton Vander Esch (not signed).
  • Key Additions: DAL mainly tried to reload in the Draft with OT Tyler Guyton (1st Rd., Oklahoma), DE Marshawn Kneeland (2nd Rd., Western Michigan), LB Marist Liufau (3rd, Notre Dame), C Cooper Beebe (3rd, K State), CB Caelen Carson (5th Rd, Wake Forest) and WR Ryan Flournoy (6th Rd., SE Missouri State). Free Agency yielded a couple key names – RB Zeke Elliott (from NE) and LB Erik Kendricks (from LAC).
  • Team Outlook: DAL is still a really good team. WR CeeDee Lamb is holding out, but he will get paid. Dak may get something more, too. However, I will never believe in Mike McCarthy to get this team to the Super Bowl. They can win a playoff game or even two, but even Mike Zimmer can’t solve the Jerry curse.
  • Prediction: 12-5 – Wild Card playoff spot

New York Giants

Daboll May Not Be Smiling After 2024
  • Coaching Staff: HC Brian Daboll runs it back with OC Mike Kafka on Offense, which with some new faces may look different. On D, they have turned to former TEN DC, Shane Bowen. Bowen had a very aggressive, but disciplined style in TEN, so I would think that would be an upgrade over Martingale’s all out blitzing.
  • Key Departures: Huge loss in RB Saquon Barkley (to PHI), WR Parris Campbell (to PHI), S Xavier McKinney (to GB), QB backup Tyrod Taylor (to NYJ), DT A’Shawn Robinson (to CAR), LB Jarrad Davis (not signed), CB Adoree’ Jackson (not signed)
  • Key Additions: The Draft led to WR Malik Nabers (1st Rd, LSU), S Tyler Nubin (2nd, Minnesota), and CB Dru Phillips (3rd, Kentucky). and Free Agents include the big fish, LB Brian Burns (from CAR), OG Jon Runyan (from GB), OG Jermaine Eluemunor (from LVR), RB Devin Singletary (from HOU) and QB Drew Lock (from SEA).
  • Team Outlook: The Giants may be better, but I’m not a Daniel Jones believer and he is coming off of an injury. Drew Lock may start the season as the starter, and he is not good. The loss of Saquon has to hurt the Offense, but Nabers could be a big upgrade on the outside. Perhaps the addition of Burns and the young draft picks will help make the D a lot better. It’s a tough division, so I think another poor record is in the cards.
  • Prediction: 6-11 – pretty harsh for sure. They will probably be closer to .500, but I do not see them as a playoff team. In the NFC, it is always possible, however.

Washington Commanders

Daniels Has A Bright Future, but 2024 Will Be Tough
  • Coaching Staff: The Ron Rivera era ends after some up and down seasons. WAS turns to Dan Quinn who was successful in ATL and led the DAL D to some great regular seasons. So, a 2nd chance makes sense, but it will be an uphill battle with the worst talent in the division. Quinn hired OC Kliff Kingsbury, another former HC, and with a young QB, he can implement his system. DC is Joe Whitt Jr. follows Quinn from DAL – where he was the secondary coach. He will run the Quinn system, but you need players for that.
  • Key Departures: TE Logan Thomas (to SF), RB Antonio Gibson (to NE), WR Curtis Samuel (to BUF), QB Jacoby Brissett (to CLE)
  • Key Additions: WAS’s Draft has some promise with Heisman winner QB Jayden Daniels (1st Rd, LSU), CB Mike Sainristil (2nd Rd, Michigan), DT Newton Jer’Zhan (2nd Rd, Illinois), TE Ben Sinnott (2nd, K State), LT Brandon Coleman (3rd Rd, TCU), WR Luke McCaffrey (3rd, Rice), Free Agents include: RB Austin Ekeler (from LAC), C Tyler Biadasz (from DAL), LB Franki Luvu (from CAR), OG Nick Allegretti (from KC), DE Clelin Ferrell (from SF), DE Dorance Armstrong (from DAL), LB Bobby Wagner (from SEA) – more of a leadership signing.
  • Team Outlook: There will be a culture change in WAS with Quinn. They may even have some flashes with Daniels and Kingsbury, but I just don’t think they have enough dudes to compete week in and week out. They may not be the worst team in the NFC, but near the bottom. I like their outlook more in 2025 after Daniels has a year under his belt in a pro-style system.
  • Prediction: 3-14 – Rough year for sure, but I’m probably pretty low on the wins, but they will struggle for sure.

We move to the AFC North next.

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.