Updated Odds to Win the NFC East After Week 6 – Dallas Still Favored After Awful Showing from Dalton
- The 2-4 Dallas Cowboys remain the +115 favorites to win the NFC East
- Not one team in the division shows a winning record for the 2020 season
- See below for updated odds and analysis on the NFC East
Whoever coined the phrase it can’t get any worse than this was probably watching NFC East teams play football.
During the 2020 NFL season, this division is lowering the bar on dismal. Even the Detroit Lions think the NFC East is an embarrassment to the league. The New York Jets are petitioning to get transferred to the division.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that 6-10 could win the NFC East.
Currently, the 2-4 Dallas Cowboys are the frontrunners. Taking into consideration the term dirty jobs, imagine being the oddsmaker deemed the task of setting the betting lines for the NFC East.
The Cowboys remain the favorites at +115 in the NFL Divisional odds, even after losing quarterback Dak Prescott for the season and being drubbed 38-10 by the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. The NFC East is the only one among the NFL’s eight divisions where the favorite isn’t being offered at negative odds.
Odds to Win NFC East
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | +115 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +130 |
| New York Giants | +900 |
| Washington Football Team | +900 |
Odds as of Oct. 20 at DraftKings.
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.
Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?
The Cowboys are dubbed with the title of America’s team and considering the tire fire that 2020 has proven to be for the country, it’s a fitting handle.
Dallas has surrendered an NFL-high 218 points. And the Cowboys are in first place. Let that thought rattle around in your brain for a moment or two. They’ve coughed up on average 39.6 points per game over their past five games.
Cowboys QBs not named Dak Prescott or Tony Romo have a combined 10-24 record in last 15 seasons. pic.twitter.com/NCUibq2vmW
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 20, 2020
Dallas has the #1 passing offense in the NFL (359 yards per game) and the #32 defense in the league (440 ypg). The Cowboys run defense coughs up 5.1 yards per carry.
Andy Dalton, replacing Prescott (broken ankle) on Monday, was 34-of-54 for 266 yards. He threw for one TD and was picked off twice. Over the past 15 seasons, when Dallas starts a QB other than Prescott or Tony Romo, the team is 10-24.
NFC Least
To paraphrase ZZ Top, it’s bad. It’s nationwide. The NFC East redefines stink from top to bottom.
The three worst point differentials in the NFC reside in the division. Division-leading Dallas is -45.
https://twitter.com/seeintaylor/status/1317913521049522176?s=20
The 1-5 New York Giants are -54 and the 1-5 Washington Football Team (isn’t calling Washington a football team also qualify as an offensive nickname?) are -54.
The 1-4-1 Philadelphia Eagles, at -34, are slightly better than the 1-5 Minnesota Vikings (-37) the NFC North basement dwellers. Otherwise, the NFC East would have all four worst spots locked up.
A Betting Nightmare
NFC East teams are also a betting disaster – well, unless you’re betting against them, that is. As favorites, they’re a combined 3-4-1 straight up and 0-8 against the spread. Overall, they’re 8-16 ATS.
The Eagles were favored in each of their first three games and went 0-2-1 SU and 0-3 ATS.
The Eagles now lead the NFC East with a point differential of -34.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) October 20, 2020
Philly’s only win was against an injury-riddled 49ers team down to their third-string QB.
Washington’s only win was against the Eagles. The Giants’ only win was against Washington. The Cowboys beat the Giants and the 1-5 Atlanta Falcons.
Eagles Will Land It
Remember last season, when 9-7 Philly outlasted 8-8 Dallas to win the division? Who knew those would be the salad days?
As bad as Dallas and Philadelphia are, they aren’t Giants or Washington dreadful.
The 6-9-1 Eagles hosting Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears in January. What a time!
— Bleeding Green Nation (@BleedingGreen) October 20, 2020
In terms of difficulty of schedule, the Cowboys get the softer touch. Seven of their remaining 10 opponents are currently one-win teams.
By contrast, the Eagles must still play Cleveland, Seattle, Green Bay, and New Orleans. Still, the Eagles posted 57 points in back-to-back weeks against the Ravens and Steelers, the 1-2 scoring defenses in the NFL
Sticking with my prediction: the NFC East champions will be the 6-9-1 Philadelphia Eagles.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) October 20, 2020
Four of the NFL’s 11 worst defenses reside in the NFC East. Dallas is second in the NFC with 173 points scored but got just 10 in the first game with Dalton at the helm.
Philly is playing with just two healthy offensive starters. The Eagles are the only NFC East team with any sort of potential for upside.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles (+130)
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.
