More Likely: Worst to First or First to Worst?
The Eagles dropping suddenly to last amidst years of being an annual Super Bowl contender is a tough sell, and the Commanders were in the NFC Championship against said Eagles two years ago. So I’d go worst to first. Step 1: Keep Jayden Daniels intact.
Hottest Seat?
None of the head coaching seats in this division are all that hot at the moment. John Harbaugh is going into year one leading the Giants; Dan Quinn’s abysmal record in 2025 can accurately be chalked up to injuries, Jerry Jones is consistently patient with his head coaches, and Nick Sirianni led a Super Bowl win two years ago. Strangely enough, though, Sirianni could be the most like candidate. There were rumors last year of losing the locker room, but it’s unclear how much of that was actually just losing AJ Brown rather than any of his teammates. If they have a substantially underwhelming season, we’ll find out. (This will be covered further in an upcoming article.)
Likeliest MVP Candidate?
Dak Prescott. Already the runner-up for this award once, the right pieces are in place for him to have a realistic shot again. He leads an explosive offense, and the defense, while potentially improved, is unlikely to be elite. That’s a recipe for gaudy stats, which will get him consideration if they come with a playoff appearance.
Fantasy League Winner?
Either of the Cowboy receivers could qualify for this, to be perfectly honest. But George Pickens is now fully acclimated to this offensive scheme, has proven rapport with Prescott, and is playing for a life-changing payday come March. Pickens is typically going 10-15 picks after CeeDee Lamb, but the two could end up with very similar numbers.
What To Watch:
- Three of the six wide receivers who made the 53-man roster for the Eagles weigh under 180 pounds. Having moved offensively to a schematic family that favors motioning larger wideouts in as lead blockers (think Puka Nacua, Tee Higgins, or Drake London, all 215 pounds or more), I’m curious to see how they will or won’t integrate that particular dynamic.
- Most Cowboys fans will tell you that the position the front office has most consistently neglected over the years is safety. This year, they hired a defensive coordinator who’s likely going to want three safeties on the field at a time on a significant percentage of defensive snaps. Fittingly, they signed two starting-caliber free agent safeties and drafted another in the first-round, investing more resources in the position than they ever have. It should be interesting to see, for better or for worse, how different the Dallas defense looks this season.
- The absence of Laremy Tunsil looms large for the Commanders early in the season. Reports from camp indicated a struggle from the offensive line, and the preseason corroborated that. The success of their season hinges upon giving Daniels the ability to simply function from the pocket. But in the first half of the year, they have two dates apiece with the fierce divisional pass rushes of the Eagles and Giants as well as matchups with the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams. Keeping the QB safe is a big question mark.
- Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers have been billed as a “Big Three” for the Giants, but never played all together in the regular season in 2025. When they’re on the field together, there’s little doubt it will be exciting. But how often will that happen? As of now, Nabers is questionable for Week 1, though he’ll be back sooner rather than later. But with the reckless playing styles of both Dart and Skattebo, it’s unclear if they’ll be able to stay healthy.
All-Division Team:
QB – Dak Prescott
RB – Saquon Barkley
RB – Javonte Williams
WR- CeeDee Lamb
WR – George Pickens
WR – Malik Nabers
TE – Dallas Goedert
TE – Isaiah Likely
LT – Andrew Thomas
LG – Tyler Smith
C – Cam Jurgens
RG – Tyler Booker
RT – Lane Johnson
DL – Quinnen Williams
DL – Jalen Carter
DL – Daron Payne
ED – Jonathan Greenard
ED – Brian Burns
LB – Zack Baun
LB – Jihaad Campbell
LB – Tremaine Edmunds
CB – Quinyon Mitchell
CB – Riq Woolen
FS – Jevon Holland
SS – Jalen Thompson
NB – Cooper DeJean
K – Brandon Aubrey
P – Bryan Anger
RS – KaVontae Turpin
