NFC East
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Odds and Analysis
2012
Last year, the regular season for the New York Giants was full of ups and downs, but it did not matter as they got hot in the playoffs and ended the year with the ViNCe Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl XLVI champions. They started out hot, going 6-2 in their first eight Games but went on to lose five of their next six. With their backs against the wall, they were then forced to win both of their final two regular-season Games to win the NFC East and qualify for the postseason at 9-7.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for a career-high 4,933 yards and wide receiver Victor Cruz enjoyed a breakout season, finishing third in the league in receiving yards with 1,536. They followed a similar script to their run to the Super Bowl XLII title Four years earlier Giants, upsetting the favored Green Bay Packers on the road and then beating the New England Patriots as underdogs in the NFL’s championship Game. Still, New York is not getting enough respect from oddsmakers and bettors as the defending league champs at +200 to win the NFC East, 10/1 to win the NFC Championship and 18/1 to repeat their Super Bowl title run.
The Philadelphia Eagles were deemed by many as the single biggest disappointment in the NFL last season, going 8-8 and failing to even make it to the postseason after backup quarterback ViNCe Young coined them “The Dream Team” before the season had even started. All the pressure was on them from training camp on, and a 1-4 start put the team into an early hole. The Eagles finished the regular season strong, winning seven of their last 11 Games, iNCluding Four in a row to close out the season, but their poor start cost them the division title. Many football betting experts expect Philadelphia to come back strong this season as the +150 favorite to win the division, 6/1 to win the NFC Championship and 12/1 to win the Super Bowl.
The Dallas Cowboys were also a league-wide disappointment last year after going 8-8 and also missing the playoffs. The Cowboys were 7-4 through their first 11 Games and were looking like the team to beat in the NFC East. However, they collapsed down the stretch, losing Four of their last five Games to end the season. One of the biggest coNCerns in Dallas is the continued off-the-field actions of talented yet controversial wide receiver Dez Bryant, who was arrested recently on domestic violeNCe charges after reportedly hitting and pushing his mother. If Bryant can stay out of trouble and quarterback Tony Romo stays healthy, this team could rebound and get back to the playoffs. The Cowboys are +250 to win the division, 11/1 to win the NFC Championship and 18/1 to win the Super Bowl.
The Washington Redskins do not need to make the postseason to have a successful year after posting a 5-11 record and finishing in last place in the NFC East. The Redskins surprisingly started 3-1 before dropping 10 of their last 12 Games overall. The key to a potential turnaround will be rookie QB Robert Griffin III, who was selected No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft out of Baylor after winning the Heisman Trophy. Griffin is a duel threat as both a great pocket passer and an outstanding runner who previously won the Big 12 Conference Championship in the 400-meter hurdles. Washington is hoping he will have the same impact Cam Newton did for the Carolina Panthers last year as an immediate starter. The Redskins are +750 to win the division, 30/1 to win the NFC Championship and 60/1 to win the Super Bowl.