Odds to Win NFC East Division With 2 Weeks Left – Washington Favored, Cowboys Still Alive
- The NFC East remains a wide-open race with two weeks left in the NFL regular season
- The Washington Football Team (6-8) are listed as the -260 favorites
- See updated odds to win the NFC East, along with a betting analysis and our best bet below
There is one factor that has to be acknowledged regarding the NFC East. It’s 14 games into the NFL season, and nothing has changed.
It still appears that this is still the division that no team wants to win.
Going atop the NFC East standings is a recipe for disaster. The 5-9 New York Giants took charge and immediately lost two games in a row. The Washington Football Team, current leaders at 6-8, saw their four-game win streak halted on Sunday.
Despite the setback, Washington maintains as the -260 odds-on favorite to win the NFC East in the NFL Divisional odds. They most recently won the NFC East title in 2015.
2020 NFC East Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Washington Football Team | -260 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +550 |
| New York Giants | +600 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +1400 |
Odds taken Dec. 21 at FanDuel
The 7-9 Seattle Seahawks (2009 NFC West) and the 7-8-1 Carolina Panthers (2014 NFC South) are the only teams in NFL history to win division titles with a losing record.
Washington’s Clear Path
It’s not difficult to comprehend why the oddsmakers are on board with Washington as the NFC East winners. They’re currently atop the division, and they show the easiest finishing slate among the four teams.
Washington is home to the 4-10 Carolina Panthers this week. They finish up at the 4-9-1 Eagles. Washington opened the season with a 27-17 victory over Philly.
This @WashingtonNFL team is just so resilient, gritty, and full of belief. Even in coming up short today, there is still such a sense of momentum. Never out of the game, never acquiescing; true fighters all across the roster and coaching staff, starting with @RiverboatRonHC 💪🏾
— Jason Wright (@whoisjwright) December 20, 2020
The Panthers have lost eight of their last nine games. The Eagles are 1-5 in their last six. Washington currently wins the tiebreaker with the Cowboys and Eagles but loses it to the Giants.
They also currently suit up the NFL’s #4 defense. And if they get quarterback Alex Smith (right calf strain) back, they could be golden. Washington is 10-5 when Smith starts. They are 6-25 when someone else starts instead of Smith.
Eagles Stumble Again
The magic elixir of backup QB Jalen Hurts lasted one game. A 33-26 loss at Arizona halted Philly’s modest one-game winning streak.
At best able to finish 6-9-1, the Eagles will need a lot of help to get over the top and win the NFC East. For starters, Washington must go 0-2.
Jalen Hurts is the first player in NFL history with 500 Pass yards and 150 Rush yards in his first two career starts. — Elias
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) December 21, 2020
They do have two divisional games left to play – at Dallas this week and home to Washington to close out the regular season. Philly’s lone two-game win streak this season was back-to-back home wins over the Giants and Cowboys.
However, the Eagles will need to win on the road in order to sweep these games. Philadelphia is an NFC-worst 1-6 away from home.
It Might Not Be The Giants
Seeking to make a case for the 5-9 Giants, it’s difficult to clear the hurdle that’s in front of them this week. They go to Baltimore to face the 9-5 Ravens. The Baltimore defense has held teams to 19 points or fewer in three of the last four games. The Giants haven’t scored more than 19 points since Nov. 15.
My message to the @Giants football team: Take it one game at a time and believe in yourselves because a Super Bowl can be yours when you least expect it. Trust me I know!!! #TogetherBlue
— Michael Strahan (@michaelstrahan) December 21, 2020
The status of QB Daniel Jones (hamstring) remains unclear. They close out at home to Dallas, but 6-10 isn’t going to get it done.
The Giants need to win out and hope Washington loses once. New York wins a tiebreaker over Washington.
Cowboys Make Late Push
Yes, Dallas has won two in a row. However, the Cowboys did so against teams (Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers) that are a combined 7-19-1 and were both starting second-string QBs.
TP TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ‼️
📺 #SFvsDAL on CBS pic.twitter.com/kzNwHlnx4v
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 20, 2020
Facing the Eagles and Giants, the Cowboys could theoretically win out and still lose the division. Washington has to go 0-2 to give Dallas a chance because they win the tiebreaker from the Cowboys.
It’s Washington’s To Win
No team among this group of four is left with as many paths to victory as Washington. And that starts with a simple one this week.
If the Football Team wins at home against the Panthers, while the Giants lose at Baltimore, it’s all over. Washington clinches the NFC East.
Ron Rivera: “This game we play next week is the most important game we’ve played all year.”
— Tyler (@WFTeamer) December 21, 2020
At the end of last season, Carolina fired current Washington head coach Ron Rivera. There would be something poetic about him punching his ticket to the postseason by beating his old team.
Pick: Washington Football Team (-260)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
