Washington’s Odds to Win NFC East Improve to +250; Eagles Still Favored, Dallas Fades to +460
- The 4-7 Washington Football Team moved into first place in the NFC East via their 41-16 rout of the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving
- Despite the shift, the 3-6-1 Philadelphia Eagles remain the +145 favorites to win the division title
- Washington (+250) is the second choice in this betting market – read below to see who we think captures the NFC East
The Washington Football Team drilled the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, and the NFL’s worst division grew even more confusing.
Washington (4-7) jumped into the lead in the NFC East, but the bookmakers aren’t banking on them maintaining that lofty position. The 3-6-1 Philadelphia Eagles are still getting the +145 favorite’s nod to capture the division title.
Washington is the second betting choice at +250 in the NFL divisional odds. They were the longest shot on the board at +375 entering Thursday’s action.
Philly’s odds actually are improving. The Eagles were the +150 chalk prior to Thursday.
2020 NFC East Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | +145 |
| Washington Football Team | +250 |
| New York Giants | +330 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +460 |
Odds taken Nov. 26 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 Makes Statement
Walking into Dallas and walking away with a crushing 41-16 triumph over the Cowboys, Washington extended its winning streak to two games.
Sure, those wins were against the Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. Regardless, two straight wins equal the best by any NFC East team this season.
Antonio Gibson is the first rookie to score 3 TDs in a game on Thanksgiving since Randy Moss in 1998 🤯 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/t80p6WIkZQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 27, 2020
Washington’s Antonio Gibson ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Washington’s defense, ranked sixth in the NFL (315.8 yards per game), held Dallas to 247 yards and forced a pair of turnovers.
Just here to say we're thankful for Alex Smith's return to play 🙌
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/nTieRpR0ry
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 26, 2020
Perhaps the best performance of all was that of quarterback Alex Smith. Making just his third start after missing nearly two years with a horribly fractured leg, Smith was his usual game-managing self.
He finished up completing 19 of 26 passes for 149 yards and a TD. An interesting stat to keep in mind. When Smith starts and finishes a game, Washington is 8-4.
Eagles Have Landed . . . With A Thud
While Washington appears to be finding cohesion, there’s chaos in the land of the Liberty Bell. Eagles QB Carson Wentz is both shaken and stirred.
Wentz has been sacked a league-high 40 times. He’s thrown 14 interceptions, most of any NFL QB.
Most turnovers in NFL this season:
1. Broncos: 23
2. Cowboys: 21
3. Carson Wentz: 18*
4. 49ers: 17
4. Football Team: 17
6. Vikings: 16
6 Jaguars: 16
8. Rams: 15
8. Patriots: 15
8. Giants: 15*Eagles have 20 overall pic.twitter.com/hpChGbdC82
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 24, 2020
There were published reports this week that the Philly coaching staff is dumbing down the playbook. They want Wentz to go with his first read when passing. The sense is that he has happy feet in the pocket due to the pass rush pressure he’s facing and that’s why he’s throwing so many picks.
Giants A Curious Option
One thing the 3-7 New York Giants have going for them is that they’ve beaten Washington twice and Philly once. True, those are their only wins but in terms of potential tiebreakers, they could loom large.
So if the Giants beat the Bengals on Sunday and the Eagles lose to the Seahawks on Monday, the Giants will be in first place in the NFC East going into Week 13…. 🤭
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) November 27, 2020
They are also riding a two-game winning streak but wins could be hard to come by for the Giants the rest of the way. They go to Seattle, Baltimore and Cincinnati, while playing host to Arizona, Cleveland and Dallas.
Optimistically, it’s difficult to see them getting more than two wins from that group.
The Last Place Cowboys
Dak Prescott is lost for the season. Ezekiel Elliott simply looks lost. And in Cowboys country, the losses are mounting.
Dallas has perhaps the best schedule remaining of any NFC club. They’re at Cincinnati, Baltimore and the Giants and get San Francisco and Philly at home.
The Cowboys entering and exiting the playoff conversation this week like pic.twitter.com/XjEU7dAiJ4
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 27, 2020
However, if you’re still of a mind that 3-8 Dallas can rally and get this done, you really haven’t been paying attention. This team is 1-5 over the past six games. The Cowboys have given up at least 20 points in every game and over 30 six times.
And The Winner Is . . .
The Washington Football Team. They have the best defense in the division, and at this point, arguably the steadiest QB.
Of their remaining games, they won’t beat the Steelers or Seahawks, but should take Carolina. Smith will be fired up to win at San Francisco, his first NFL home.
Just having fun out here 😈#ProBowlVote » https://t.co/8KutwdGPxD pic.twitter.com/Osal1efQ3V
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 27, 2020
It may all come down to Week 17, when Washington travels to Philadelphia, for all the marbles in the NFC East.
Watching him play this season, are you really willing to wager money on Wentz coming through in the clutch?
Pick: Washington Football Club (+250).
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.
