Winner of the NFC East has been a foregone conclusion for so long, we forgot what competition looks like. But the real drama is actually for second place.
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As NFL minicamps get under way and the preseason inches closer, there are tons of stories around the league to monitor. From position battles to new coaching regimes to rookies in important spots, a laundry list of questions will find data in these next couple months before Week 1. They all will go toward answering the ultimate, overarching question: who is going to win.
To preview the 2026 season, we are going to go division-by-division and answering just one question about how that division is going to shake out. Next up is the NFC East. The question is: Who is going to finish in second place?
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It is not a foregone conclusion anymore that Philadelphia is going to win the NFC East. They have cycled through a number of roster constructions, have lost important pieces on both sides of the ball, and have questions surrounding their head coach and quarterback. Having said all that, they are probably going to win the NFC East.
Second place, though, is quite up for grabs. Last year, Dallas finished second at just 7-9-1 with a -40 point differential. The year prior, Jayden Daniels’ rookie season, Washington came out of nowhere to have a spectacular second-place showing. In 2025, with Daniels hurt for much of the season, the Commanders crashed. Either one of these teams could bounce back to second place. So, too, could the New York Giants. In the first season under John Harbaugh, the Giants enter with high hopes of contention. Will anyone catch Philadelphia? Who finishes second?
NFC East Battle for 2nd Place
Todd Salem: Dallas Is Still A Bridesmaid
As far as offensive fire power, the Cowboys have to be considered the best of the second-place bunch. They have what should be a good offensive line, are okay at tight end and running back, are great at quarterback, and have the best wide receiver duo in the entire conference.
Defensively is another story. After trading away Micah Parson and trading for Quinnen Williams, the best thing about this unit is probably the secondary. A lot of that ceiling hinges on rookie Caleb Downs, though. I expect Downs to be an elite safety, but if he isn’t right away, Dallas could again struggle on this side of the ball.
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Washington is most certainly going to struggle on that side of the ball. They, too, are putting a lot of weight on a rookie on defense. In their case, it’s middle linebacker Sonny Styles. The unfortunate part for the Commanders is that the offense also feels lacking. This team caught lightening in a bottle in 2025, but the roster is just not good enough to challenge in a competitive division, and that’s assuming perfect health for Daniels.
The Giants will have a quarterback with health concerns too in Jaxson Dart. They, at least, have some game-changers on the roster. A lot hinges on the health of Malik Nabers certainly. But New York also has potentially the best pass rush in the sport on defense. This feels like a stars-and-scrubs fantasy lineup almost, with Nabers health being the biggest variable. And, in the category of not great news, Nabers is not even going to be healthy to begin the season.
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I cannot reasonably slide the Giants up to second place when so much hinges on one guy who has never been healthy. It’s not like the team can win with defense either. Despite the elite pass rush, the interior defensive line and secondary will both be terrible.
I also cannot slide the Commanders up. This feels like a clear last-place team in a normal division. If the Giants get very injured, maybe Washington can sneak into third. That only leaves Dallas. The bridesmaid once again, the Cowboys are a second-place finisher in the NFC East.
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Dan Salem: Eagles Fall To Second Place
There’s a scenario where Jayden Daniels is once again excellent and the Commanders rise to his level, but its highly unlikely. Washington has been here before, wishing their young quarterback could replicate the performance of his rookie season while ignoring the fact that he is now coming off an injury and the team is worse around him. I’m not saying Daniels is a flameout and won’t be great again, but I am saying you are right about the Commanders. They are an average team and will easily fall into last place in the NFC East.
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Personally, I believe the true question for this division surrounds the New York Giants. Can Harbaugh elevate his roster above the Dallas Cowboys? Dart is not on Dak Prescott’s level just yet, but the teams are fairly even otherwise. Nabers’ likely absence to begin the season will be a major setback, but it immediately places this question into center focus. How much better will the offense be under Harbaugh? Can the defense finish games, hold leads, and dominate with a strong pass rush and lackluster secondary? Are the Giants truly improved, or merely heading in the right direction?
Unfortunately for us and the majority of football fans, New York is merely heading in the right direction. Without Nabers at full strength, I don’t see the Giants overtaking Dallas or Philadelphia in the division. If he returns before Halloween, New York will be in the playoff discussion, but will likely fall shy of a spot this year. That leaves us with the Cowboys and Eagles once again.
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Smart money says Philadelphia wins the NFC East, because they are still very good. But it also suggests the team is not quite as good on both sides of the ball. Do I dare pick the Eagles to finish second behind the Cowboys? Dallas will need a strong improvement on defense, meaning Downs is in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year. My gut says Dallas improves by several wins, putting them in the 9 or 10 win category. I’m just not sure the Eagles will fall off by a similar number, but what the hell. Philadelphia falls to second place and a .500 record, signaling the need for a soft reset heading into next season.
Meet our Sports Writers:
Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.
Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.
NFC East Preview – This Is The End
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