NFL Predictions: Odds of Each NFC East Team Winning the Division

The NFC East is usually a toughly-contested division, and this year should be no exception.

A different team has won the division in each of the past three years. It was the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010, the Dallas Cowboys in 2009 and the New York Giants in 2008. In the last six years, the NFC East has had 13 team appearances in the playoffs.

Last year was the first year since 2004 in which only one NFC East team made the playoffs. There should have been two, but the Giants' punter couldn't kick the ball out of bounds, and any sports fan knows what happened.

This year, I can't see how a team from the NFC East gets a Wild Card berth. This means that the contest for the division title will be a winner-take-all battle, which might not be decided until the New Year's Day game between the Giants and the Cowboys. We wouldn't want it do be any different.

So let's look at each team's prospects of winning the division based on the current standings. (I will update this next month).

Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins

The Redskins got off to a fast start, but they will not be able to sustain it through the rest of the season.

The Week 6 game against the Eagles convinced the coaching staff that they cannot contend with Rex Grossman at quarterback. The issue was not the number (four) of interceptions that he threw, but the way they happened. There was no tipped ball, not a lot of pressure and no defensive back jumping a slant route. The interceptions were the result of balls being thrown into double coverage or poorly targeted. So for now the Redskins will be breaking in a new quarterback, John Beck.

For the remainder of the season:

• They should win against the Dolphins and Vikings.

• They should win two of the games with the Cowboys, Jets and Panthers

• They will probably lose to Bills, 49ers, Seahawks, Giants and Eagles.

So that means that the Redskins would finish at 7-9. They cannot realistically win the NFC East, but they certainly can be a spoiler since they have one game left with each of the teams that could be in contention to win it.

The probability that the Redskins win the NFC East is 5 percent, or 19-1 odds.

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have the best set of receivers in the division but a quarterback that the coaching staff can't trust to throw to get a first down to run out the clock at the end of the game.

 For the remainder of the season:

• They should win home games against the Redskins, Eagles, Giants, Rams and Seahawks.

• They will win one or two of the these three:
  • Redskins and Cardinals away
  • Bills at home

• They will probably lose away games at the Eagles, Giants and Bucs.

So that means that the Cowboys would finish at either 9-7 or 8-8. They have a Christmas Eve game against the Eagles and then a New Year's Day game against the Giants, so their fate might not be decided until these last two games.

The probability that the Cowboys will win the NFC East is 20 percent or 4-1 odds. It can't be much better than that with Tony Romo at quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles got off to the worst start of the four teams, primarily due to a lot of bone-headed plays and a porous defense. After the bye week they have three consecutive home games to try to right the ship.

If the Eagles can get the defense fixed, and this is a big "if," then for the remainder of the season:

• They should win home games against the Cowboys, Bears, Cardinals and Redskins, as well as the away game at Miami.

• They will win one or two of
  • Jets at home
  • Giants and Seahawks away

• They will probably lose the home game against the Patriots and the away game against the Cowboys.

So that means that the Eagles would finish at either 9-7 or 8-8. Their key games could be against the Giants and the Jets.

• The Eagles already lost to the Giants once, and a second loss could give the Giants the edge if the teams end the season with the same record.
• The Eagles and Jets could both possibly be on the fringe of getting into the playoffs when they meet in mid-December. The loser of that game could be eliminated from contention.

The probability that the Eagles will win the NFC East is 30 percent or 7-3, but only if they can get the defense turned around.

New York Giants

New York Giants.

The game against the Buffalo Bills could have been a pivotal game for the Giants. They beat a good team without three important players: Justin Tuck, Brandon Jacobs and Chris Snee. All of these three plus Prince Amukamara should be available after the bye week and help the team considerably in the tough schedule ahead.

Here is how I see the Giants finishing the year:

• They should certainly win the home games against the Dolphins, Cowboys and Redskins.

• They will probably lose away games against Saints, 49ers, Patriots and Cowboys.

• They will probably win one or two of the three games against Eagles, Packers and Jets.

So that means that the Giants will finish at either 9-7 or 8-8. Their two key games will be against the Eagles and Jets.

• They already beat the Eagles once, and beating them a second time could break a tie between the two teams.
• Both the Jets and Giants could be fighting for a playoff spot when they meet, and that game at their shared field could be a highlight of the season.

But the season could come down to the New Year's Day game against the Cowboys.

The probability that the Giants will win the NFC East is 45 percent, or 11-9 odds, pretty close to even money. 

The Giants are the favorites to win the NFC East.