The NFC East is fascinating. Each team is coming off a losing record, including last year’s division champions, the Washington Football Team. I’ll be honest, there is no great team in the NFC East. However, I am excited to see who comes out on top and makes the playoffs. We’ll start with Washington and then go through the rest.
Washington is the Most Stable NFC East Team?
What I love the most is how Washington is their front office. Over the past several years, owner Daniel Snyder has been relinquishing control of his team. He’s been hiring highly qualified people like Ron Rivera, Jason Wright, and Marty Hurney to help run the franchise and, it’s why they made the playoffs last season. As a result, this team is my favorite to win the NFC East in 2021.
Washington’s notable addition this offseason is Ryan Fitzpatrick. Earlier this week, Fitz said that this “is the best situation I’ve ever gone into as the guy” when asked about his time with the team so far. Finding the full-time starter is key for WFT as they rotated between Dwayne Haskins, Alex Smith, and Taylor Heinicke last season. Look for Fitzmagic to get every opportunity to be the full-time starter.
The strength of Washington is their top-tier defense. Last season, Washington’s defense was third in Total DVOA at -18.3%, which was better than the LA Rams and the Buccaneers. Chase Young is back, after finishing 2020 with seven and a half sacks and 42 total sacks. Look for cornerback William Jackson III to shine after signing a three-year, $40.5 million contract with WFTin March. This defense is so good and is going to be fun to watch all season.
New Year, New Giants in 2021?
Next up is the New York Giants, who are looking to improve on their 6-10 record. It’s the second season for Giants Head Coach Joe Judge, who won five of their last eight games last year. There are plenty of questions ahead of Judge’s second season, but he shouldn’t be fired this season. You can find quality players all over the roster so let’s start with this offense.
Making his return this season is Saquon Barkley, who played two games last season before tearing his ACL. He is starting Training Camp on the physically unable to perform list but is eligible to be activated at any point. I, for one, am excited to see a healthy Barkley as he is one of the best running backs in the league. He is arguably the most valuable running back and is a good candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.
This is also a big season for Daniel Jones, who is under tremendous pressure entering his third year. He needs to step up his game (ie; reduce turnovers, sacks, etc), and if he can’t do it in 2021, he might get moved. Personally, what I enjoy most about this team is their defense. They have a solid group of linebackers and defensive backs that makes them tough to play against. The name to know is Xavier McKinney, who should play the whole season at safety for the Giants if he’s healthy.
Cowboys Coming to Run NFC East?
This is a big season for Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliot. Both have secured the bag, and it’s time to produce. You can say stuff like “(this year) is going to be very, very special for us…” but it doesn’t mean anything unless you win. Coming off a 6-10 record with a third-place finish in the division last year, you know the Cowboys want to do well.
If the Cowboys are going to contend for a division title, they’ll need their defense to perform better. Last season, Dallas gave up 29.6 points per game, the fifth-worst mark in the NFL. They gave up 30+ points in eight games last season, and that’s just too many if you want to be a successful team. It’s why they added for Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn to be the team’s new Defensive Coordinator. It seems like a solid fit, but we’ll see how it goes in their first two games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers.
A player I’m keeping my eye on is Tyler Biadasz. A second-year player from Wisconsin, Biadasz started four games at center for the Cowboys last season before missing four games due to a hamstring injury. This season, he is starting at center and is responsible for running one of the best offensive lines in the league. It’s a big ask but one that he seems up for. He is going to be a name you’ll hear constantly watching Cowboys games.
It’s Not Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Finally, we have the Philadelphia Eagles. They are coming off a tumultuous 4-11-1 season (even just writing that looks terrible) and have made some significant changes. First, quarterback Carson Wentz is not on the team as they shipped him out to Indianapolis in March. Also not around is Doug Pederson, who got fired eight days after Philly’s regular-season dumpster fire finale against Washington.
Replacing Wentz as Philadelphia’s starting QB is Jalen Hurts, who is still quite a raw product. There is no doubt he has the arm strength and scrambling ability to be a full-time quarterback. It’s just a matter of finding the right coach and offensive scheme to maximize his abilities. I hope that new Head Coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles are the right fit because it could be a great connection for both men should things go well.
Speaking of Sirianni, he is getting his first NFL coaching gig after spending the last three years as Indy’s Offensive Coordinator. Entering this season, he is one of the youngest coaches at age 40 but is one of six coaches who was hired without prior NFL head coaching experience. While everyone is discussing his introductory press conference, there is more to be seen. There is a chance the Eagles are good this season, but it’s more likely they struggle and rebuild to get good in a few years down the road.
Conclusion
Washington and Dallas are the teams to watch in the NFC East. Daniel Jones is going to make or break the Giants. Philadelphia is building for the future. All of this is going to make for a wild ride. So buckle up and grab your popcorn because it’s going to get crazy.
Be sure to check out more of our SYP content, including our NFC and AFC South division previews. Next week, we’ll dive into the AFC East and which teams/players to watch. Thanks very much for reading and be sure to look out for our blog next week!