The NFC East is a division that surprisingly has a lot of nuance to who might win it this season. All four teams have a legitimate stake, and while a couple of the teams are more likely to take it than others, some unexpected surprises might be the winning formula for any team to take the division. 

Philadelphia Eagles: Keep doing what worked.

The Eagles dominated the league last season, en route to a 13-4 record and NFC Championship. They were led by a stout defense and explosive offense under quarterback Jalen Hurts. The formula they have is their, trust the pieces they have, and use what they’ve added in the offseason to replace what they lost. The Eagles lost defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to free agency in the offseason, but ninth overall pick Jalen Carter will do well to replace his production and thensome. Otherwise, they’ve kept most of their pieces that got them to the Super Bowl last time, it’s a matter of running it back again. 

New York Giants: Daniel Jones make that contract worth it.

The New York Giants didn’t expect to do anywhere close to as well as they did last season. Under new head coach Brian Daboll, the offense experienced a Renaissance and running back Saquon Barkley returned to his previous form. So, the answer to winning the NFC East this season is to build on those pieces and keep developing what you have. Namely, Daniel Jones needs to get better and prove why he’s making as much money as he is. His quarterbacking style helped the Giants get to the playoffs, but most of their effort in the success was off the back of Barkley’s rushing performance. Their pieces need to continue to develop and keep doing what worked to get the Giants back to the playoffs this season. This development combined with a new dynamic dimension of Daniel Jones’s play will help the Giants get themselves to sustained success moving forward. 

Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons DPOY.

The Cowboys’ defense gets better and better with every passing offseason, able to tame even the greatest of offenses while putting up their own major points themselves. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has been in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year honors since his rookie year, and for the Cowboys to be able to win this division, Parsons’s performance as a quarterback of this defense and a huge producer on this defense will be a driving force. Him alongside Trevon Diggs, DeMarcus Lawrence, and first round rookie Mazi Smith will give the other teams in the division fits. 

Washington Commanders: Eric Bienemy is the real deal.

With this series, we’ve more been looking at the players on the teams rather than their coaching and coordinating situations, but this diversion is necessary. Despite a mildly lackluster offensive line throughout the past few seasons, the Commanders have still put up a consistently mediocre offense. The quarterbacking of Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke doesn’t assist with that, but their offensive scheming hasn’t been able to take another step. Enter Eric Bienemy, former Chiefs offensive coordinator, to take the job of offensive coordinator in the nation’s capital. Bienemy’s goal in DC is to truly prove himself as head coaching material in the NFL, and that his coordinatorship and success in Kansas City wasn’t simply because of Andy Reid. If he is able to rejuvenate this offense and have them keeping pace with the Cowboys, Giants, and Eagles in the division, there is an argument to be made that he might be the one to succeed Ron Rivera as the next head coach for the Commanders. 

The NFC East is expected to be a two horse race between the Cowboys and Eagles this season, but don’t count out the other two teams in the division, they could very easily make some noise and cause issues for the frontrunners.