Are the Dallas Cowboys Back on Top? Way-Too-Early NFC East 2026 Predictions
After years of a new team taking the top spot in the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles broke the streak by going back-to-back as winners of the division in 2025.
But following a disappointing defense of their Super Bowl crown and other teams in the East looking to have improved, are the Eagles still the cream of the crop and ready to three-peat?
Here are my early rankings of the teams in the NFC East heading into training camp.
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1. Philadelphia Eagles
Even if odds say there should be a new king of the castle in the NFC East, I’m sticking with Philadelphia for the upcoming campaign.
They might be ready to trade away A.J. Brown, but Makai Lemon is a star in the making and might bring a much-needed energy to an Eagles offense that was stagnant last year.
2. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have improved their defense, yet is it enough?
I’m intrigued by Dallas and am confident Dak Prescott will once again do well in the regular season, but there are still so many questions surrounding this team, including the future of star wideout George Pickens.
3. New York Giants
The Giants might not win the division or even make the postseason, but they are set up to be one of the more exciting teams in football.
It will come down to health, though, as Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers are all offensive dynamos that throw their bodies with reckless abandon across the gridiron.
4. Washington Commanders
Two years ago, the Commanders were a game away from making it to the Super Bowl with Jayden Daniels as a rookie.
Now, Daniels is having trouble staying healthy, the once-exciting offense has regressed, and it seems like they’ve turned into a pumpkin instead of a perennial contender.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 9:47 PM.