2023 NFC East Division Preview

The 2023 NFL Season is almost upon us and the Chefs are always excited this time of year. We kickoff our NFL Season Preview as we give our NFC East Division Preview. This is one of the better divisions in the league and we have our picks who will come out on top.

Philadelphia Eagles

Photo Credit: USA Today

Key additions: QB Marcus Mariota, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Rashaad Penny, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Dan Arnold, QB Tanner McKee

Key departures: RB Miles Sanders, QB Gardner Minshew, WR Zach Pascal

Biggest Strength

QB Jalen Hurts and a loaded receiver room provide this offense with high powered explosiveness. But the real reason why the Eagles have one of the best offenses in the league is their offensive line. Time and time again, they prove they are the best unit in the NFL. Cam Jurgens, Lane Johns, Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson form the best line that dominates the line of scrimmage. Getting Jason Kelce back for another season only adds to their claim as the best line in the league.

Biggest Question Mark

The defense that was one of the best in the league has to replace key starters at linebacker and safety. They returned their key cornerbacks in James Bradberry and Darius Slay which was a surprise move. While they had one of the better drafts of the offseason (first round picks in Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith), they're still questions on replacing new linebackers and safeties. This defense was the first team to sport 5 pass rushers with 10 or more sacks. They will need to generate that much pressure and more to protect the back end.

Will make the playoffs if…

The Eagles dominate both sides of the line of scrimmage and can generate a run game.

Season Prediction

Jalen Hurts went from an afterthought in his rookie season to an MVP candidate in his second. He will need to keep ascending the ladder for this team to stay in Super Bowl contention. But I've seen nothing to state that Hurts will not be one of the elite quarterbacks in this league. Getting him weapons like AJ Brown did wonders for him and I don't see this offense slowing down. However, the run game is a question after losing Miles Sanders and a RB room with D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny. Swift hasn’t rushed for more than 600 yards in a season and Penny is injury prone. However, this offense should still be able to score at will. They should make the NFC Conference Championship game.

Record: 14-3

Dallas Cowboys

Photo Credit: USA Today

Key additions: WR Brandin Cooks, RB Ronald Jones, TE Luke Schoonmaker

Key departures: RB Ezekiel Elliott, TE Dalton Schultz, WR T.Y. Hilton

Biggest Strength

Dallas has one of the best defenses in the league spearheaded by Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. This unit was opportunistic and forced a league high 33 turnovers and had a +10 turnover differential (2nd in the NFL). This defense will need to do so this season to keep pace with the Eagles. They addressed their interior rush defense with first round draft pick Mazi Smith. But that was their only vulnerability was being able to be run on inside the tackles.

Biggest Question Mark

The health of Tony Pollard is one of the bigger question marks on this Cowboys team outside of the quarterback. Coming off a devastating knee injury in the playoffs. Last year, Tony Pollard was brought back on this team on a franchise tag. The Cowboys also moved on from Ezekiel Elliott as they released him in the off season. This puts the pressure squarely on Tony Pollard to be the lead back and Rico Dowdle as the 2nd string back. Being the lead back is something Pollard hasn’t been asked to do in the pros. He hasn’t averaged more than 12 carries per game for his career and has a career average of 8 carries per game. Pollard will not only be looked upon to be the lead back but also be healthy enough to be that lead back.

Will make the playoffs if…

Dak Prescott plays like an elite quarterback and cuts down on the turnovers.

Season Prediction

Make no mistake about it, this is one of the more talented teams in the NFC. Top to bottom this Cowboys team can play with anyone in the league. But they will need to do a better job of taking care of the football if they want to move on to the next level. Stopping the run will be key and a healthy Pollard for a full season. Bringing in WR Brandin Cooks was a huge win for the Cowboys to get another receiver on the other side of CeeDee Lamb. Only thing for the Cowboys to do is to meet expectations, something they haven't done in years.

Record: 11-6

New York Giants

Photo Credit: USA Today

Key additions: TE Darren Waller, WR Jamison Crowder, WR Parris Campbell, WR Jalin Hyatt, C John Michael Schmitz, CB Deonte Banks

Key departures: WR Kenny Golladay, WR Marcus Johnson, TE Nick Vannett

Biggest Strength

Returning coaching staff of Brian Daboll, Wink Martindale, Mark Kafka to lead this Giants team. Stability has been something that the Giants have sorely lacked for the last few years since Tom Coughlin retired as head coach. Daboll is the right man for the job, and the Giants lucked out by bringing back Martindale and Kafka after teams interviewed them for head coaching positions. Daniel Jones gets 2 years in the same offense with additional weapons. The defense added key pieces at linebacker and in the secondary to boost the defensive scheme.

Biggest Question Mark

It seems like a broken record every year, is if the offensive line can hold up for Daniel Jones. While Andrew Thomas is one of the best tackles in the league, there are question marks at the interior offensive line and right tackle. Last year, Evan Neal struggled in pass block situations, ranking near the bottom at the tackle position. But he slimmed down and should improve in his second year. Rookie center John Michael Schmitz is thrust into the starting position but was graded as the best center in this year's draft. He’s passed all the tests so far in preseason and going against All-Pro Dexter Lawrence will make you grow up quickly.

Will make the playoffs if…

TE Darren Waller plays a full season and the offense proves to be more explosive as last year.

Season Prediction

The Giants overachieved last year and will not take anyone by surprise. While they have more talent than they had last year thanks to GM Joe Schoen, the schedule is much harder this season. They addressed the Saquon Barkley contract issue and now have no distractions this season. Facing the AFC East and NFC West will not be an easy task. The Giants are a better team than last season and may have finally found their quarterback. Chances are the Giants will fight for a playoff spot but fall just short.

Record: 9-8

Washington Commanders

Photo Credit: USA Today

Key additions: OT Andrew Wylie, C Nick Gates, WR Byron Pringle, QB Jacoby Brissett, LB Cody Barton, CB Emmanuel Forbes, S Jartavius Martin

Key departures: QB Carson Wentz, QB Taylor Heinicke, WR Cam Sims

Biggest Strength

Out of all the off season acquisitions, the biggest one was bringing in offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. He brings a winning attitude and a great offensive scheme to a commander's offense that has skill position players but lacks explosiveness. The enemy gets to work with Terry McLaurin, who is one of the better receivers in the league that no one talks about. Add second year receiver Jahan Dotson, RBs Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson to the mix and you've got something. Offensive line will need to hold up, especially in the interior, but the only thing stopping this team has been the only thing stopping them for years: Quarterback. Now if they can only figure out that quarterback situation…

Biggest Question Mark

They have two question marks on defense and at QB. But to me, the biggest question is if the defensive line can carry this team to the playoffs. The Commanders defense was better than people gave them credit for as they were 3rd in the league in total yards, 7th in points allowed and their sack totals went from 38 sacks in 2021 to 43 sacks in 2022. However, they were only able to generated 18 turnovers last year (26th in the NFL) and were not able to get off the field on 3rd down. Chase Young was to be one of the best defensive ends when he was drafted out of Ohio State. But injuries have slowed him down and he needs to be healthy for this defense to really take off. Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat must continue to get after the QB. The weakness on defense was always the secondary, but they addressed the needs in the secondary with No. 16 overall pick CB Emmanuel Forbes.

Will make the playoffs if…

Sam Howell proves he is a franchise quarterback and the defense rebounds from last year.

Season Prediction

The offense will benefit from Eric Bieniemy’s offensive schemes and possibly a new QB. Same Howell has looked good in preseason but is he the answer at QB? He holds the ball way too long which drives up his sack rate. If he can’t improve and get the ball out quicker, we will see Jacob Brissett take over at QB. The defense will keep them in games, but i just don’t see a path forward in a loaded division. They are the 4th best team in the East.

Record: 7-10