NFC East 2016 Season NFL Odds & Picks Analysis

NFC East 2016 Season NFL Odds & Picks Analysis

Written by on June 29, 2016

In many ways, the NFC East is the most popular division in the NFL. By that I mean has the most total fan support with the Dallas Cowboys, who are America’s Team, the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles. It also was probably the worst overall division in 2015. This year? It looks wide open again. Here are each team’s odds to win on NFL betting lines.

NFL Odds & Picks for NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (+160)

A team that was 4-12 last year is a division favorite? That’s all you need to know about the NFC East in 2016. And to be fair, Dallas only had QB Tony Romo for four games last year due to a twice-broken collarbone and the Cowboys won three of those. In the 10 years that Romo has been the starting quarterback for the Cowboys, he’s engineered many fourth-quarter heroics to bring the Cowboys to victory. Since 2006, no quarterback has had more fourth-quarter comeback victories, 25 to be exact, than Romo. His passer rating in the final quarter of football is 102.9, five points higher than the number two guy Aaron Rodgers. Romo also holds the mantle of most game-winning drives among active quarterbacks (29) as well as passer rating in the final two minutes (93.1). So, yeah, he was missed.

New York Giants (+225)

The absence of Tom Coughlin in New York will be a huge difference for the Giants to adjust to. He was fired this offseason. But, thanks to a defensive spending spree, they might be able to start their season on a good note. The Giants expect their defensive line starters to be among the league’s best. The Giants are in love with their four defensive line starters — Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, Jason Pierre-Paul and Johnathan Hankins. Vernon and Harrison were part of that offseason spending spree. And if you are looking for a dark-horse Offensive Rookie of the Year contender, check out Giants WR Sterling Shepard. He’s expected to earn a starting job opposite superstar Odell Beckham Jr.

Washington Redskins (+380)

The Skins were surprising division champions a year ago but were dominated in the playoffs by Green Bay. Kirk Cousins had a breakout season and Cousins has spoken several times this offseason about how much more confident he feels compared to this time last year. The Washington Commanders, who used their franchise tag on Cousins, will pay him $19.95 million this season, unless the two parties strike a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. Cousins has stated multiple times this offseason that he’s not concerned with his contract situation. Washington also added one of the best free-agent defensive players this offseason in former Panthers Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman.

Philadelphia Eagles (+500)

The Eagles fired coach Chip Kelly and replaced him with Doug Pederson. Seems like a step backward. The QB is still Sam Bradford, however. Only Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman have a worse QBR since 2010 (among 29 qualifiers) than Bradford. He was better late last season, leading the Eagles to give him $22 million guaranteed on a two-year deal. The Eagles drafted Carson Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick this year’s draft, but most believe he will sit the entire season. New addition Chase Daniel is a favorite of new coach Pederson and is making $7 million per year to serve as Philly’s No. 2.