Bold Boast: Commanders Better Than Cowboys & Eagles, Will Win NFC East
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a pulsating, three-point loss in the Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys have won 24 regular-season games the last two seasons, behind only the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. The New York Giants made the NFC Playoffs last season.
That leaves the Washington Commanders, who were 8-8-1 in 2022 and have won the NFC East only once in the last seven years ... with Taylor Heinicke at quarterback.
In a division that sports Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott and Daniel Jones, common logic and the quarterback competition between Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett says Washington is more likely to finish fourth than first. In fact, the oddsmakers are making the Commanders by far the longest shot to capture the NFC East.
But other than Ron Rivera, there are those that believe up is down and that they are indeed the division's best team.
A prediction by USA Today's Wright Way Network, in fact, has the Commanders topping last year's three playoff teams and winning the East.
"The Commanders have one of their most talented rosters in the last decade," the site says. "This gives an opportunity for the youngest team in the NFC East to come out on top. With Washington’s roster gaining more and more experience every year, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ron Rivera and the Commanders come out on top of the NFC East in 2023."
There are methods to this seeming madness. The story points to Howell's rushing ability, the addition of former Kansas City Chiefs' play-caller Eric Bieniemy, the potential for receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson to have 1,000-yard seasons and productive running back Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson.
Writes TWSN, "Washington’s offense has the potential to be top-10 at some point next season."
But it's not just the Commanders' improvement fueling the bold prognostication, but also the expected regression of its divisional foes.
"The Cowboys lost one of the best up-and-coming young coaches in football, Kellen Moore," the story reasons. "The Eagles, in addition to losing both of their coordinators to head coaching positions, lost both T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White from their defense. And with questions surrounding Saquon Barkley’s contract, the Giants won’t be in contention for a playoff spot next season."
If history continues, the prediction has a decent chance of being correct. Because the NFC East hasn't had a repeat champion since 2003-04.
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