Let’s be honest — just like it was last season, and just like it likely will be for the next few seasons, the NFC East is a two-team race.
The question is which of the two teams, the Eagles or Dallas Cowboys, will win it this season.
It was the Eagles that walked away with the crown last year, dealing Dallas essentially the knockout blow in Week 16. The win is one of the main reasons there is some optimism about this season — Carson Wentz looked the part of a franchise quarterback in that win and ended his season on a high note.
Coming into 2020, the Eagles will likely feel like they are fighting an uphill battle to win the division again. First, there has not been a repeat winner of the NFC East since 2004. Second, they enter the season with questions along the offensive line, something they haven’t had to dealt with in years.
Here is my game-by-game prediction for the NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys
Week 1: At Los Angeles Rams…L (0-1)
Week 2: Home vs. Atlanta Falcons…W (1-1)
Week 3: At Seattle Seahawks…L (1-2)
Week 4: Home vs. Cleveland Browns…W (2-2)
Week 5: Home vs. New York Giants…W (3-2)
Week 6: Home vs. Arizona Cardinals…W (4-2)
Week 7: At Washington…W (5-2)
Week 8: At Eagles…L (5-3)
Week 9: At Pittsburgh Steelers…L (5-4)
Week 10: BYE WEEK
Week 11: At Minnesota Vikings…L (5-5)
Week 12: Home vs. Washington…W (6-5)
Week 13: At Baltimore Ravens…L (6-6)
Week 14: At Cincinnati Bengals…W (7-6)
Week 15: Home vs. San Francisco 49ers…L (7-7)
Week 16: Home vs. Eagles…W (8-7)
Week 17: At New York Giants…W (9-7)
Prediction: 9-7
Analysis: Lots of national analysts are really high on the Dallas Cowboys, and I can see why — the upgrade at head coach is significant. There might not be a more significant upgrade in the entire sport, regardless of position, from Jason Garrett to Mike McCarthy. Garret was one of the worst coaches in the league last season, actively hurting the team’s chances of winning each week. The poor coaching job showed as the Cowboys went 1-6 in one-score games.
McCarthy might not be an elite-head coach, but he is a Super Bowl winning one that helped develop Aaron Rodgers. He will help Dak Prescott and get more of the Cowboys’ talents on offense than Garrett did.
The addition of CeeDee Lamb is a significant one, and combined with Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys have some of the best skill position players in the NFL. McCarthy, unlike Garrett, will help get the most out of the Cowboys' weapons on offense.
Like the Eagles, the Cowboys are dealing with issues along their offensive line. Their right tackle is Cameron Erving, who is a borderline starting-caliber player. They have downgraded at center from Travis Frederick to Joe Looney. It is fair to be just as concerned about the Cowboys’ offensive line as it is the Eagles, although they arguably have better depth.
The Cowboys defense finished 11th in the NFL last season in points allowed, and 9th in yards-per-play. They lose of Byron Jones doesn’t concern me, especially with the addition of Trevon Diggs in the draft. The Cowboys defense won’t be a top-five unit, but they should be good enough.
The backup quarterback spot is also noteworthy for the Cowboys. Dak Prescott projects to have a big season, playing for a contract and surrounded by talent. If Prescott were to go down, however, the Cowboys have the best backup in the NFL in Andy Dalton to go to, a luxury the Eagles do not have.
I don’t think the Cowboys will be a dominant team. But I would be very surprised if they didn’t have a winning record, and they seem like a lock to be in the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles
Week 1: At Washington…W (1-0)
Week 2: Home vs. Los Angeles Rams…L (1-1)
Week 3: Home vs. Cincinnati Bengals …W (2-1)
Week 4: At San Francisco 49ers…L (2-2)
Week 5: At Pittsburgh Steelers…L (2-3)
Week 6: Home vs. Baltimore Ravens…L (2-4)
Week 7: Home vs. New York Giants…W (3-4)
Week 8: Home vs. Dallas Cowboys …W (4-4)
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10: At New York Giants…W (5-4)
Week 11: At Cleveland Browns…W (6-4)
Week 12: Home vs. Seattle Seahawks…L (6-5)
Week 13: At Green Bay Packers…L (6-6)
Week 14: Home vs. New Orleans Saints…L (6-7)
Week 15: At Arizona Cardinals …W (7-7)
Week 16: At Dallas Cowboys …L (7-8)
Week 17: Home vs. Washington …W (8-8)
Prediction: 8-8
Analysis: A prediction of 8-8 feels right for this Eagles team. Yes, they likely won’t lose three-straight games twice. They will win one we didn’t expect. They will lose one we all thought was a win.
Overall, however, when you look at this team, 8-8 feels the best way to describe them.
For every positive about the Eagles, there seems to be an equally big negative.
The defensive tackles look like they could be dominant, but the defensive ends are a concern. The skill position players have looked good at times in training camp, but the Eagles still enter the season with one of the worst sets of receivers in the NFL. Miles Sanders seems set for a huge season — but missed all of training camp with a hamstring injury and could be running behind a bad offensive line. Darius Slay is the best cornerback the Eagles have had in years, but Avonte Maddox struggled throughout camp and is a major question mark. Jalen Mills has looked great in camp, but is still being asked to take on the humungous task of replacing Malcolm Jenkins. The offensive line projects as a major issue.
It is hard to see what they team will be really good at, or what unit they can count on each week. In years past you knew with 100% certainty the Eagles would have a strong offensive line and a strong pass rush. You can’t say that this year.
At quarterback, the Eagles should feel good about Carson Wentz heading into the season. He had a very strong training camp and is healthy heading into the season, something he hasn’t been since — wait for it — 2017. That is a positive. There is no getting around the fact that Wentz is going to need to be very, very special this season for the Eagles to make the playoffs. He was at the end of last year, but the competition this time around projects to be much tougher. Being mostly an average quarterback for 3/4ths of the season like Wentz was last year isn’t going to cut it. The Eagles need Wentz to be the top-five quarterback so many already view him as. The Eagles won’t be a playoff team is Wentz has the 13th best passer rating in the NFL like he did last season.
The backup quarterbacks are an issue. As much potential as Jalen Hurts has, he has yet to take a snap in the NFL. Nate Sudfeld has been on the team for three seasons and has thrown one meaningful pass.
For a team that has traditionally suffered plenty of injuries, the depth on this roster is a concern. Last year, the duo of Wentz and Doug Pederson were the difference in helping the Eagles capture the division title. This year, the gap between Wentz/Pederson and the Cowboys’ duo of Prescott/McCarthy is much smaller, and it is arguably a toss up.
The main difference, like it was last season, could be the location of the Week 16 matchup. The Eagles got that crucial game at home last season. This year that game will be in Dallas. I think the two teams will be even heading into the game. The winner will take the division.
In my season predictions last year, because of Dallas’ head coach and the location of the game, I picked the Eagles to win that game and to win the NFC East.
In 2018, the Eagles fell to 5-6 before fighting their way back into the playoffs. In 2019, they were 5-7, and needed four-straight wins against bad teams to get in. you can only live on the edge for so long before your last-second attempt to save the season fails.
It will be close, but I am picking Dallas to win that crucial Week 16 game and as a result, to win the division.
As for the Eagles, I don't think an 8-8 record will get them in the playoffs. Even with an extra playoff spot, the NFC is too strong, with too many good teams. With so many questions, and no unit they can really count on to be elite, I think the team's streak of making the playoffs comes to an end -- and a very interesting offseason will await them.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!