Where is the NFC East ranked among the NFL's eight divisions?

[ASFN Admin]

There was no NFL division quite like the NFC East in the 1980s. Every year, the NFC East had a Super Bowl contender in the division. While that dominance trailed off for years, the NFC East again looks like it could be on the way back.

The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. They still have the NFL's most talented roster and figure to be the favorite again in 2025. While Philly went 14-3 last season, the Washington Commanders, behind sensational rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, had their best season in 33 years, going 12-5. The NFC championship game featured the Commanders and Eagles.

The Dallas Cowboys look to be better next season. The Cowboys looked like a mess after losing quarterback Dak Prescott last season. Prescott is back in 2025, and Dallas should immediately improve.

Finally, there is the New York Giants. GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are fighting for their jobs in 2025, but the Giants have a rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart.

So, where is the NFC East ranked against the rest of the NFL? Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus ranked all eight divisions. Where are the Commanders?

Sikkema ranked the NFC East at No. 5 with the following explanation:

The NFC East sent both representatives to the NFC championship game last January, but those two teams — the Eagles and Commanders — are carrying most of the weight for the division as a whole.

Philadelphia lost key talent in free agency, but reloaded effectively enough to remain one of the favorites to return to the Super Bowl in 2025. Washington, meanwhile, struck gold with Jayden Daniels, who earned PFF’s Rookie of the Year honors. The offense looks promising, but the defense must improve after ranking 29th in team grade (60.0), including a 54.2 run-defense grade and just 258 total pressures (21st). Upgrades in the front seven are a step in the right direction.

The Cowboys were derailed by injuries at quarterback last season, and while the arrival of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach brings some uncertainty, they still have the talent to be competitive — especially if the run defense, which graded out at a league-worst 49.3 in 2024, can bounce back.

As for the Giants, their quarterback situation remains unresolved, with three players currently in contention for the starting role. The offensive line hasn’t seen meaningful improvement, which raises concerns regardless of who starts under center. However, the additions of Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland should help bolster a secondary that ranked 26th in coverage grade (52.5) last season.

The NFC North was ranked No. 1. That's fair. The Lions won 15 games last season, with the Vikings (14) right behind them, while the Packers finished in third place with a record of 11-6. The Bears were in last place, but will be much better in 2025. The AFC West was ranked second, which also seems fair. The NFC West ranked third, followed by the AFC North.

It's noteworthy that "Hard Knocks" will feature the NFC East in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: The NFC East is back: Where does it rank against the rest of the NFL?

Continue reading...