Washington’s Odds to Win NFC East Division Still +150 After Beating Steelers, Giants Favored

• The Washington Football Team remains the second choice to win the NFC East despite knocking off the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers
• The New York Giants are still the favorites following their upset win over the Seahawks in Seattle as 11-point underdogs
• Washington and the Giants are both 5-7 but New York holds the tiebreaker because it won both head-to-head meetings this season

The Washington Football Team became the first team to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, but the win did not make them the favorite to win the NFC East.

Washington pulled off a 23-17 upset as a 5.5-point underdog Monday evening, dropping the Steelers to 11-1. That improved Washington’s odds of winning the division from +210 to +150.

However, the NFL divisional odds still have the New York Giants as the favorites to win the NFC East. After stunning the Seattle Seahawks 17-12 on the road Sunday as 11-point dogs, the Giants’ odds went from +200 to -143.

2020 NFC East Championship Odds

Odds taken Dec. 7 from DraftKings

Tied at The Top

Washington and the Giants are tied for first place in the division with 5-7 records. New York holds the tiebreaker, though, by virtue of beating Washington in both head-to-head meetings this season.

The Giants won 20-19 at home in Week 5 then 23-20 on the road four weeks later.

The Philadelphia Eagles are in third place at 3-8-1 and the Dallas Cowboys are in the basement with a 3-8 mark. The Cowboys visit the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday night.

If you happen to be counting, the four teams in the NFC East have a combined 16-30-1 record for a paltry .351 winning percentage.

#NFCleast Power Rankings update (after week number 13)

Yahoo Sports (current standings in Division) –
20 @WashingtonNFL (2nd place)
25 Eagles (3rd)
26 Giants (1st)
29 Cowboys (last)@NFL (record)-
24 Giants (4-7)
25 #WashingtonFootball (4-7)
26 Cowboys (3-8)
27 Eagles (3-6-1)

— Jimmy Overholt (@jimmy_overholt) December 4, 2020

The four teams in the NFC East have a combined 16-30-1 record for a paltry .351 winning percentage.

No wonder the division has been tabbed as the “NFC Least.” It could send a team with a losing record to the playoffs for the first time since the Seattle Seahawks reached the postseason in 2010 after going 7-9.

Underdog Barking

The Week 13 wins by Washington and the Giants were two of the most surprising results in the NFL this season as evidenced by the point spreads.

Going sheerly by those numbers, the Giants’ victory is a tad more impressive considering the Seahawks were double-digit favorites.

New York also won despite veteran backup Colt McCoy filling in at quarterback for the injured Daniel Jones. It was McCoy’s first win as a starter since 2014.

Wayne Gallman took some of the pressure off McCoy by rushing for 135 yards on 16 carries.

Wayne Gallman 60 yards!!!! pic.twitter.com/cGEN3xO9Jx

— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) December 6, 2020

The Giants defense harassed Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson throughout. While Wilson threw for 265 yards and a touchdown, he completed just 27 of his 43 passes, was sacked five times and intercepted once.

Ruining Perfection

Meanwhile, Alex Smith threw for 296 yards to help Washington upend the Steelers. He completed 31 of 45 attempts with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Dustin Hopkins’ 45-yard field goal broke a 17-17 tie with 2:04 left. He added another field goal, also from 45 yards, after Washington linebacker Jon Bostic intercepted Ben Roethlisberger’s pass with 1:59 remaining.

INT @JonBostic ‼️#GatorMade

📺: #WASvsPIT on FOXpic.twitter.com/f6z5pGOnVc

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 8, 2020

Washington trailed 14-0 in the second quarter. The last time it came back from that far down to win a game was in 1991, which was a Super Bowl-winning season for Washington.

The Road Ahead

The Giants and Washington are done with their season series but still have four games remaining.

The Giants play three of their four games at MetLife Stadium, hosting the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Cowboys. Big Blue also visits Baltimore.

The Meadowlands have been kinder to the Giants than the 0-12 Jets this season.

It may have taken 13 weeks, but the Giants have emerged as a respectable team in the NFC East, @mackenziesalmon says. As for their MetLife Stadium mates all we have to say is LOL JETS ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?

The Week 13 overreactions: pic.twitter.com/hpfXjsyjXg

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) December 7, 2020

Washington also has only one true road game remaining when it finishes the regular season at Dallas. Washington plays the San Francisco 49ers in a neutral-site game at Glendale, Ariz., this week and hosts the Seahawks and Carolina Panthers at FexEd Field.

Giants and Washington Team Schedules

The Giants have the more difficult schedule as their opponents have a combined 24-22 record for a .522 winning percentage. The Redskins opponents’ winning percentage is .427 with a 20-27-1 record.

Both teams are also playing well going into the final quarter of the season.

Following an 0-5 start, the Giants have won five of their last seven games. Washington is on a three-game winning streak after starting 2-7.

Despite their terrible records, the Eagles and Cowboys cannot be totally counted out.

In addition to Washington, the Eagles also host the New Orleans Saints (10-2). Philadelphia plays the Cardinals and Cowboys on the road.

After Tuesday night’s game with the Ravens, the Cowboys are home against the 49ers and Eagles while playing at the Cincinnati Bengals (2-9-1) and Giants.

However, the NFC East race is looking like it will be neck and neck between the Giants and Washington right down to Week 17.

Buoyed by the victory over an 11-0 team, Washington represents the better value play with its +150 odds.