NFC East Could Produce Super Bowl Winner This Season
It was not long ago that the NFC East was seen as the laughing stock of the NFL. All four teams were struggling to finish .500 at the end of the regular campaign. However, things are much different this season.
Here is a look at each of the NFC East sides and why they will be dreaming of lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles invested heavily in their defense in the offseason, and it is paying off, as they have been fantastic on that side of the ball this year. They held several official visits to their camp in the offseason and that looks to be paying off as they have acquired well.
Keep climbin’ #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/hdyGB40CVj
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 5, 2022
After 12 games into the campaign, Philadelphia was 11-1. No side in either conference had a better record following the opening 12 matches. As well as being strong defensively, the Eagles are also putting up a lot of points. They scored 40 points in a victory over the Green Bay Packers in week 12, while in week 13, they prevailed 35-10 against the Tennessee Titans.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts is one of the contenders for the MVP award this season. In what is just his third year in the league, the Eagles QB is continuing to impress. He had already recorded 20 passing touchdowns 12 games in, as well as 2,940 passing yards. Although the first goal will be to win their first NFC East title since 2019, Philadelphia will have far bigger aspirations. As of the 5th of December, they are +400 in the sports betting to win the Super Bowl in February. However, there are plenty of top teams looking to stop them, with one of the main obstacles potentially being division rivals the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys
With a 9-3 record after their opening 12 matches, the Dallas Cowboys are entitled to feel a little unlucky to be sat in second place in their division. They have the third-best record in the NFC behind the Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, but they have made their stadium a fortress with only one loss all season, so they will be hoping to use that as far as they can if they reach the playoffs.
Even if Dallas is unable to win the division for the second straight year, they are still on course for the playoffs, and no team will fancy playing them based on what they have shown this season.
Like Philadelphia, Dallas is also very strong on both sides of the ball. Their defense is now elite, with the likes of Demarcus Lawrence, Leighton Vander Esch, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs all delivering big performances consistently.
The Cowboys now have their franchise QB Dak Prescott fully fit again following an injury scare in the early stages of the season. He helped his side put up over 50 points in a 54-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in week 13. That result and many others this year gives fans of America’s Team a lot of hope that their franchise can finally get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1996.
New York Giants
Whatever happens this season, New York Giants have made clear progress on the field. Quarterback Daniel Jones has answered his critics and he is likely to be the man who remains the franchise’s QB for years to come.
The Giants have been helped by the return of Saquon Barkley this season. The former first-round pick has shown he is one of the best RBs in the NFL. There was talk about the New Jersey-based franchise looking at replacing their star player due to injuries, but he has stayed fit this season and he is a strong contender for the Comeback Player of the Year.
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 4, 2022
Brian Daboll’s influence can already be seen on the team as they have significantly surpassed expectations, so it’s an exciting time for Giants fans considering what he could accomplish over a longer period.
Washington Commanders
The tie with the New York Giants in week 13 left the Washington Commanders on 7-5-1. If they were in any other division in the NFL, they would not have been bottom of the standings with a record like that.
Washington is a team who should continue to improve over the next few years. They have now settled on a quarterback, despite rumors of a possible trade earlier this year. Taylor Heinicke has delivered in the position this season and he looks set to continue in the role.
The Commanders are the team most likely to miss out on the playoffs in the NFC East, however, there is still time for them to secure a spot. With seven teams now qualifying for the postseason from each conference, that helps their chances.
The 2023 Super Bowl takes place on February 12 in Arizona. There is a very good chance one of the NFC East teams will be the NFC representative in this season’s showdown and it would be no surprise to see them capture the trophy at the end of it.
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