Forecasting NFC East Win/Loss Records
September 3, 2025
by David Earl
Washington 2025 Prediction Recap: Finish 9-8
If Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels can avoid any major setbacks, he could very easily surpass 4,000 passing yards and approach the 40 passing touchdown mark, while eclipsing a 70% completion rate. There should be improvements in the offensive line from last season, which caused Daniels to face 153 total blitzes last season. He was under pressure 18.5% of the time, hurried 36 times, and hit 28 times. Between the new offensive line and the addition of Deebo Samuel, Daniels’ rushing totals could get him nearly breaking 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns to accompany improved time in the pocket.
Taking advantage of having Samuel, the running game potentially will improve, especially behind this offensive line, but how much improvement with Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bill Croskey-Merritt with Washington will see? While that will remain to be answered. The loss of Brian Robinson Jr will not have nearly a big an impact as some may believe. His 41.7% success rate on runs resulting in the necessary yards for a first down ranked 19th in the NFL with running backs attempting 150 or more carries last season. Robinson was a solid to good running back but he was not the player that truly fit Kliff Kingbury’s offense that well. As for the wide receivers, Terry McLaurin could push for 100 receptions since Daniels should have more time in the pocket; plus, Samuel gives McLaurin a legitimate number two wide receiver to play with.
The defense still holds more questions than answers, in my opinion. The defensive line appears to be stouter against the run, but Washington is banking on a player who has never reached his fullest potential, yet, in Javon Kinlaw, plus two additional journeyman defensive linemen. So yes, I still see Washington as a playoff team and a team that will have every opportunity to win because of Jayden Daniels. I just don’t think the idea of winning the division over the Philadelphia Eagles and a trip back to the NFC Championship game is a forgone conclusion in a very strong conference. These concerns plus the running game are the main reasons for my unpopular 9-8 record prediction. You can read previous columns for the matchup breakdowns of their opponents to get a better in-depth understanding of how I came to this particular win-loss record.
As for the matchups of the division rivals, each team will provide both separate challenges and advantages. Last season the Eagles’ defense surrendered the fewest points per game average (18.1) and allowed only 4.3 yards per carry running the ball. As far as the Eagles’ secondary, they ranked 5th, allowing a 62% completion percentage and 2nd in over 81.6 QBR. The Cowboys struggled to stop the run, allowing 4.8 yards per carry while being uncharacteristically bad offensively, averaging 4.0 yards per rush attempt. The trade of Micah Parsons will not only affect their pass rush, but their already poor run defense could be even worse off as well. The Cowboys offense is a bit of a different story, as obviously, they get back Dak Prescott, who looks very strong and healthy this offseason. While their running game does not look impressive, barring a trade prior to the season, their trade of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens added to CeeDee Lamb will make this team dangerous. The New York Giants drafting one of the best pass rushers in the draft, edge rusher Abdul Carter, to use in a rotation with Brian Burns and/or Kayvon Thibodeaux gives the Giants potentially one of the most explosive pass rushes in the league. Also, don’t forget one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL Dexter Lawrence II. New York’s secondary should benefit even more with this very stout defensive front seven. It is their offense beyond WR Malik Nabers that will be their Achilles heel.
Now, let’s look at the rest of the division and where I feel Washington will finish in the NFC East. As I go through our opponents’ matchups, there is no scientific approach here nor analyzing each of their own opponents. I will leave the detailed breakdown to those not named Adam Rank and whose livelihood is breaking down these schedules to every little detail.
Philadelphia Eagles Finishing 12-5
The Philadelphia Eagles are clearly the best and most balanced team within this division, which is not even debatable. While many will say they will have the typical “Super Bowl Hangover,” I could not disagree more. Nick Siriani and quareterback Jalen Hurts began this offseason with an approach that just feels different from past Super Bowl winners. The feeling I sense from this organization is that they still have maintained that drive and hunger which should fuel a young defense loaded with talent, especially at the first two levels of their defense. There are some concerns about their offensive line depth and whether their safety position could present an exploitable weakness on defense. Regardless, this team is well coached and led by a silent leader in Jalen Hurts, who put this team on his back in the Super Bowl when the Kansas City Chiefs shut down their running game. Hurts is simply a proven winner and whether you feel he is a top 5 quarterback in this league or not, his mentality and drive in big moments are undeniable. Hurts and that defense will result in the Eagles breaking a 21-year stint of no NFC East team winning the division in back-to-back years. Consequently enough, the Eagles were the last to do so winning the division four-straight years (2001-2004), so it’s only fitting they break this trend.
As for their schedule, I have the Eagles 7-1 entering the bye in week 9. Tampa Bay will continue to be a thorn in their side and give them their first loss on the road in Tampa Bay. Week 2 against Kansas City will be a motivating factor for the Chiefs and I will see that game coming down to the last few minutes of the 4th quarter. The Eagles’ front 7 and Jalen Hurts‘ ability to keep crucial drives alive will ultimately be too much for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. Denver will present some problems against them, as they have one of the best a fastest defensive units in the NFL. This matchup will come down to whether quarterback Bo Nix can avoid a sophomore slump. A dialed-in Nix behind that Denver defense could squeak out an upset win here too. I have them 0-3 after the bye week facing Green Bay on the road, a Detroit team with something to prove, and I just don’t see the Eagles sweeping the Dallas Cowboys. They will close out the season strong at 5-1 entering the playoffs, probably as the second seed, but with all the momentum.
| Eagles | |||
| WK | OPPONENT | TIME | W/L |
| 1 |
vs Dallas |
8:20 PM | W |
| 2 |
at Kansas City |
4:25 PM | W |
| 3 |
vs LA Rams |
1:00 PM | W |
| 4 |
at Tampa Bay |
1:00 PM | L |
| 5 |
vs Denver |
1:00 PM | W |
| 6 |
at NY Giants |
8:15 PM | W |
| 7 |
at Minnesota |
1:00 PM | W |
| 8 |
vs NY Giants |
1:00 PM | W |
| 9 | BYE | ||
| 10 |
at Green Bay |
8:15 PM | L |
| 11 |
vs Detriot |
8:20 PM | L |
| 12 |
at Dallas |
4:25 PM | L |
| 13 |
vs Chicago |
3:00 PM | W |
| 14 |
at LA Chargers |
8:15 PM | W |
| 15 |
vs LV Raiders |
1:00 PM | W |
| 16 |
at Washington |
TBD | W |
| 17 |
at Buffalo |
4:25 PM | L |
| 18 |
vs Washington |
TBD | W |
Dallas Cowboys Finish 8-9
The Dallas Cowboys are a bit of an enigma entering the 2025 season. Their passing game with quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and tight end Jake Ferguson could very well lead the entire league. Their passing game makes them a potential frontrunner to lead the league in yards per play and points per game offensively, but there are concerns. Their offensive line is a shell of what they used to be and they lack any true threat in the running game, with veteran running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders leading the way. Their offense looks one-dimensional. Can Prescott survive under the constant pressure he will get in this 2025 schedule? Their defense struggled to stop the run last year, allowing 4.8 yards per carry while their secondary allowed a league-ranked 28th in total QBR of 99.5, giving up a 68.16% completion percentage (ranked 26th). Now they begin the season without All-Pro LB Micah Parsons, which only potentially hurts this secondary even more. I predicted an 8-win season, but this team could also win many high-scoring battles through the air, resulting in a 10 or 11-win season as well.
| Cowboys | |||
| WK | OPPONENT | TIME | W/L |
| 1 |
at Philadelphia |
8:20 PM | L |
| 2 |
vs NY Giants |
1:00 PM | W |
| 3 |
at Chicago |
4:25 PM | L |
| 4 |
vs Green Bay |
8:20 PM | L |
| 5 |
at NY Giants |
1:00 PM | L |
| 6 |
at Carolina |
1:00 PM | W |
| 7 |
vs Washington |
4:25 PM | W |
| 8 |
at Denver |
4:25 PM | L |
| 9 |
vs Arizona |
8:15 PM | W |
| 10 | BYE | ||
| 11 |
at Las Vegas |
8:15 PM | W |
| 12 |
vs Philadelphia |
4:25 PM | W |
| 13 |
vs Kansas City |
4:30 PM | L |
| 14 |
at Detroit |
8:15 PM | W |
| 15 |
vs Minnesota |
8:20 PM | W |
| 16 |
vs LA Chargers |
1:00 PM | L |
| 17 |
at Washington |
1:00 PM | L |
| 18 |
at NY Giants |
TBD | L |
New York Giants Finish 7-10
The New York Giants are in a somewhat fresh rebuild as they moved back up in the first round to draft quarterback Jaxson Dart. Offensively, they have a great young wide receiver in Malik Nabers plus what should be an effective one-two punch at running back in Tyrone Tracey and Cam Skattebo. Their offensive line is still a weakness. They’ll be protecting an aging quarterback in Russell Wilson who is clearly not the player he was in Seattle. It will be a matter of when, not if, they decide to hand over the reigns of the offense to Dart. They will have struggles all year offensively but their defense should not be taken lightly. Adding one of the best pass rushers in the draft, edge rusher Abdul Carter, in a rotation with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux gives the Giants potentially one of the most explosive pass rushes in the league. The secondary should benefit even more with this very stout defensive front seven. It will not surprise me if this front seven is regarded as one of the best in football heading down the stretch and if Jaxson Dart can build on a very good preseason, the Giants could win a few more games than I project and play for a Wild Card spot down the final stretch of the season. I have Washington sweeping this season series, but I’m not confident in that prediction – they could very well split these games at the very least. Do not take this team lightly, as they will bring the fight against Washington and the entire division.
| Giants | |||
| WK | OPPONENT | TIME | W/L |
| 1 |
at Washington |
1:00 PM | L |
| 2 |
at Dallas |
1:00 PM | L |
| 3 |
vs Kansas City |
8:20 PM | L |
| 4 |
vs LA Chargers |
1:00 PM | W |
| 5 |
at New Orleans |
1:00 PM | W |
| 6 |
vs Philadelphia |
8:15 PM | L |
| 7 |
at Denver |
4:05 PM | L |
| 8 |
at Philadelphia |
1:00 PM | L |
| 9 |
vs San Francisco |
1:00 PM | W |
| 10 |
at Chicago |
1:00 PM | W |
| 11 |
vs Green Bay |
1:00 PM | L |
| 12 |
at Detroit |
1:00 PM | L |
| 13 |
at New England |
8:15 PM | L |
| 14 | BYE | ||
| 15 |
vs Washington |
1:00 PM | L |
| 16 |
vs Minnesota |
1:00 PM | W |
| 17 |
at Las Vegas |
TBD | W |
| 18 |
vs Dallas |
TBD | W |