Inside The Star
Last year at about this time, I posted my way-too-early, pre-draft prediction post for the NFC East.
As I did last year, I will mention that there are still a lot of variables in play that can, and will, change these predictions.
We have the rest of free agency, contract negotiations, and the draft in three weeks. Then we have more free agency, camps, preseason football, trades, injuries…
So many things that will change how the teams look going into the season.
We even have the possibility of the Eagles losing their gimmick play.
That’s a loss that will impact where they finish this year. Mainly because while the rest of the league has three plays to get 10 yards, the Eagles only need to get nine to avoid punting.
Last year, when I did this, most of you lost your minds.
That’s okay, some of the staff here did too. Most of them came around as it turned out I was right.
So let’s do a quick review. Here’s the predicted finish with records from that first version on April 3, 2024:
Now, by the time the season started, I had downgraded Dallas to 8-9 based on how the rest of the year had played out up to the opening kickoff.
Here’s how the NFC East actually finished:
Last year, I started out slightly hopeful but somewhat pessimistic. That pessimism grew as the summer passed and landed on full dread by the end of August.
So, how does 2025 look at this point?
Here’s my current prediction (subject to change as the summer plays out so do not consider this final):
As a whole, the NFC East is facing a slightly tougher slate of opponents in 2025. Thus, the overall downgrade in wins as well as the records for the top two teams.
Still, as the rosters stand now, it will be the Commanders and the Eagles duking it out for the NFC East title again this year.
Unlike last year, the Commanders will not fade down the stretch.
Even if Philadelphia keeps its garbage “Tush Push” play for another season, the Eagles will be playing teams looking to knock off the champs every single week.
Saquon Barkley will not be looking to prove a point, thus he won’t be running with the same purpose that he did last year. Assuming he avoids the injury bug and defies age.
Philadelphia won’t be as hungry and that will cost them this year.
Washington, on the other hand, is a hungry team. And they’ve already done a solid job loading up for the 2025 season.
The Commanders nearly swept the Eagles last year.
This year they’ll get the job done and that will seal the division for...
