A stacked Eagles roster didn't prevent the NFC East from a poor divisional ranking
Another banner will be hung on opening night. The Philadelphia Eagles will celebrate last February's Super Bowl win. They do so by hosting one of their fiercest rivals, the hated Dallas Cowboys.
These two renew their feud twice per season and throw darts at one another. Those clashes have often determined who will wear the NFC East's crown. That changed this past NFL season. Dallas took a backseat and missed the playoffs as rookie QB Jayden Daniels helped the Washington Commanders become a contender in the National Football Conference.
Philadelphia won the division and another Lombardi Trophy. Their last defeat was a Week 16 collapse vs. those same Commanders. Revenge was sweet as the Birds throttled Washington during a 55-23 win in the NFC Championship Game.
The 2025-26 pro football season should deliver fireworks. The Birds are expected to contend, and Washington is expected to be their biggest obstacle in reaching divisional superiority. We'll see what happens with Dallas and the New York Giants. The NFC East figures to be an interesting watch, but it received a low ranking in a recent take on all eight NFL divisions.
The Eagles' brilliance isn't enough to elevate the NFC East in an NFL divisional ranking.
The adrenaline is flowing as we approach May's end and Eagles OTAs. Every platform is dishing out tons of content as fans, players, coaches, and the media prepare for another NFL season. Pro Football Focus offered an interesting take. They ranked all eight of pro football's divisions as we inch toward the 2025-26 season.
Overall strength and cumulative over/under win totals were the significant factors in the list. The NFC East landed fifth, finishing behind the NFC North, AFC West, NFC West, and AFC North. Philly and company land ahead of the NFC South, AFC East, and AFC South.
Trevor Sikkema is the author of this one. He mentioned his reasoning for making that determination.
"The NFC East sent both representatives to the NFC championship game last January, but those two teams — the Eagles and Commanders — are carrying most of the weight for the division as a whole... The Cowboys were derailed by injuries at quarterback last season, and while the arrival of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach brings some uncertainty, they still have the talent to be competitive...
As for the Giants, their quarterback situation remains unresolved, with three players currently in contention for the starting role. The offensive line hasn't seen meaningful improvement, which raises concerns regardless of who starts under center."
Let's make long stories short. Expect the Birds and Commanders to excel. Expect another mediocre season from Dallas and next to nothing from the Giants.
This season, Birds fans and the division's three other teams will give fans unprecedented access. They'll be featured on Hard Knocks: In-Season With the NFC East. If HBO's behind-the-scenes documentary on the AFC North is any indication, Eagles fans and the fans of their rivals are in for a thrill ride all season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New York Giants' Abdul Carter addresses being decleated vs. Jets
New York Giants rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter has looked otherworldly since entering the league, dominating spring and summer workouts, and making grown men look like boys in both practices and games. But one constant forever remains the same in the NFL: Every rookie will have their "welcome to the league" moment. For Carter, that moment came on Saturday night against the New York Jets when he was completely decleated by tight end Stone Smartt and then buried by offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. It was a humbling yet frustrating moment for Carter, who wasn't interested in discussing it after the game. "It happens, but we got the win. That's all I'm worried about," he told reporters. "(Expletive) just happens on the football field, but we got the win, so we're good." Carter was limited to just 19 snaps in his MetLife Stadium debut, recording only a single tackle. His overall impact was minimal given the Jets' reliance on the run, and his lone highlight was a negative. That left the rookie salivating for a full game. "I didn't get to play a full game. I just can't wait to play a full game, but it was fun," he said. "That's going to come. I'm patient. Right now, in preseason, we've got things that I can't control, so I've just got to control what I can control. When I'm in there, just do what I do best." Carter and the Giants will return to the practice field on Tuesday before wrapping up the preseason on Thursday night against the New England Patriots. After that, Carter will get his wish and finally suit up for a full NFL game, hoping to avoid the same mistakes he made against the Jets on Saturday night. This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Abdul Carter addresses being decleated vs. Jets
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jayden Daniels' deep ball appears to be in midseason form
The Washington Commanders received some good news on Saturday when top wide receiver Terry McLaurin was activated from the physically unable to perform list. The nature of McLaurin's injury is debatable. Remember, he initially held out of training camp due to a contract dispute with the team, before reporting after four days. By reporting, he could no longer be fined, so the Commanders placed him on the PUP list, citing an ankle injury. Now, Washington will ramp up McLaurin's physical activity to get him ready for Week 1. So, while the contract saga continues, McLaurin has returned to practice, which is good news for everyone. Meanwhile, with McLaurin out, quarterback Jayden Daniels has spent that time building a rapport with Deebo Samuel. The former Pro Bowl wideout has looked excellent since arriving in the spring and seems poised for a big season in the burgundy and gold. Samuel is known for his ability after the catch. He immediately turns into a running back once the ball is in his hands and is one of the toughest players in the NFL to tackle. Since arriving in Washington, the Commanders have used Samuel everywhere, and he appears to be on the same page with Daniels in the deep passing game. Check out this gem from Saturday's practice: Daniels is known for his accuracy, specifically with the deep ball. Last season, Daniels and McLaurin frequently connected down the field, and the Commanders hope that connection resumes once McLaurin is back on the field. All appears fine on Daniels's end. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Jayden Daniels' deep ball appears to be in midseason form
USA Today
7 minutes ago
- USA Today
Watch every throw from Rams QB Stetson Bennett's outstanding 324-yard game vs. Chargers
This was unquestionably the best game of Bennett's career It may only be the preseason, but for players like Stetson Bennett, it's the biggest opportunity he'll get to prove he's deserving of a roster spot. On Saturday night against the Chargers, Bennett made his strongest case yet for a place on the 53-man roster. It was not only his best game as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, but it was the most impressive performance by any quarterback in the NFL this preseason. Bennett completed 28 of 40 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, posting a passer rating of 108.8. That came after he had 188 yards and two touchdowns with a 100.7 passer rating the week prior. It wasn't just the stats that made Bennett's performance so strong. He looked comfortable and confident on the field, making almost no mistakes from the pocket. Bennett made accurate throws off of play action with free rushers in his face. He threw a dime to Mario Williams for a 38-yard touchdown where he fit the ball between two defenders on a rope. And when the game was on the line, he delivered with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Tru Edwards with 5 seconds left to take a one-point lead – after a 40-yard bomb on fourth-and-10. It's why they call him the 'Mailman.' If you missed any or all of Bennett's outing on Saturday, the NFL graciously shared a cut-up of every throw and run by the third-year quarterback in the Rams' 23-22 win. It was as good a performance as you'll see by a third-stringer in the preseason, looking like the National Championship-winning quarterback from Georgia again. Bennett is just about a lock for the 53-man roster after his display on Saturday, especially with Matthew Stafford's status very much up in the air. It's possible Bennett will be Jimmy Garoppolo's backup to start the year, putting him one injury away from potentially seeing the field. That's obviously not what the Rams want but having seen his play this preseason, they can at least feel comfortable with his progression this offseason.
