In less than a month, teams are the league will begin reporting for Training Camp and the new NFL season will be upon us. It was a great 2025 season filled with tons of memorable games, new teams vying for spots at the top, and the emergence of new superstars. We are previewing every division and what you need to know. Here is our 2026 NFC East preview.
Last Year
The NFC East was a major disappointment in 2025. The Philadelphia Eagles, with 11 wins, were the only team that even sniffed a winning record. The Cowboys, who finished second, were 7-9. Philly went to the postseason but were quickly knocked out by a beat up and injured San Francisco 49ers team. Philly, and the drama it brings, was thinking about a change at head coach but stuck with the guy who won a Super Bowl two years ago. The Cowboys were downright ugly under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The Commanders regressed big time and that has Dan Quinn on the hot seat after a great start in Washington and the Giants were so bad that they canned Brian Daboll midseason.
Favorite to win in 2026
You can’t really list another team but the Eagles here. They have run the division for a few years now and the other teams just didn’t show any promise this past season. A.J. Brown is gone and I wonder if that will cause less headaches on the offensive side of the ball. I don’t have faith in Dak Prescott to make a meaningful run, and the Dallas defense didn’t improve enough in the offseason. I do expect the Giants to take a leap forward with John Harbaugh taking over as the head coach in New York, but not enough of a leap to make them favorites.
Offensive Player to Watch: Jayden Daniels
He was the player I listed last year in this spot, and I’ll do it again this year. He was able to play in just seven games last year. A QB of his size was likely to get injured at some point and it happened last year in a big way when dislocated his left elbow. Some things are unavoidable, but when you are a smaller QB that likes to run around, it happens. I wonder if he can regain his rookie form and put up dazzling numbers again.
Defensive Player to Watch: Arvell Reese
Last year, I had Abdul Carter in this spot. I thought his rookie season was a bit underwhelming so I am curious to see how Arvell Reese adjusts to New York and see if he can have a better year. This was a productive player in college that the Giants were lucky to snag at 5. He was the best linebacker in the draft and now has a chance to make an immediate impact as a rookie and impress his new coach Harbaugh.
Prediction
It’s the Eagles and it really isn’t very close. They still have Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, and a talented defense that can shut down their opponent. While everything might not be kept under wraps or done in a drama-free way, the Eagles will win the division again. Record (12-5)