3 Bold Predictions for each NFC East team for 2023

The NFL 2022 Season has ended, and the 2023 season is about to kick off here in the next month. The NFC East’s return to relevancy after having multiple seasons with lackluster performances in previous seasons brings more optimism to all four teams as they look to build on the successes they had in 2022. Each team has areas they need to work on and rosters positions that need to be filled before the season beings if they want to make a deep run much like the Eagles did making it to the Super Bowl this season.

For that to happen they are going to need a bit of luck and also a solid plan heading into free agency and the draft. So let’s just say the teams are able to get the things they believe are of the most importance done this offseason, how would that work out for them in 2023? Well, we have a few predictions for each team, some dealing with moves they are going to make and how it will affect the team, the performances of players, and how the division will end up looking heading into the playoffs in 2023.

Without further ado, here are our 2023 predictions for the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys

1. A significant wide receiver move will pay off

The Cowboys know that if they want to become a legitimate threat in the NFC they need to field a more productive offense, specifically at the wide receiver position. CeeDee Lamb proved that he can be the team’s number one receiver but behind him, the team couldn’t find anyone that could help when teams doubled Lamb in games. In order to fix that the Cowboys do something that they haven’t done in some time, make a major move in the offseason on the offensive side of the football.

Dallas isn’t going to trade for anyone because of this team’s affinity for draft picks, instead, they are going to be spenders in free agency. We know that they have been courting Odell Beckham Jr. and I believe he will be a Cowboy in 2023, but that’s not the only receiver they are going to land in free agency, the Cowboys are going to take another that has been linked to the Cowboys at times during the 2022 season in Darius Slayton. These two receivers paired with Lamb give quarterback Dak Prescott three receivers with the ability to win off the line of scrimmage making throws much easier for Prescott to make and allowing him to hit his receivers in stride and create more explosive plays in 2023

2. Tony Pollard leads the NFL in all-purpose yards

Dallas isn’t going to let Tony Pollard leave in free agency and will most likely franchise-tag him in 2023 if they can’t work out a deal. Franchise tagging Pollard will turn out to be a great move for the Cowboys thanks to the motivation it will give Pollard to show how much he’s worth to the team, much like he did in 2022. The thinking behind this move by the front office will be for Pollard to show he can do it two years in a row and he will do that and some in 2023 for this offense.

With the moves made at wide receiver and their ability to spread out defenses, Pollard is going to be able to carve up defenses running the football and making plays in the passing game as well. His ability to be a dual threat will end up allowing Pollard to lead the league in all-purpose yards in 2023 and in doing so will solidify himself as one of the top running backs in the NFL.

3. Micah Parsons breaks an NFL sack record

The Cowboys struck gold by drafting Micah Parsons after being wiped out in a draft where they really wanted to take a cornerback. Since then teams have game-planned how to make Parsons less of a factor in games, in 2023 they are going to be dealing with an entirely different animal when it comes to Parsons. After losing the Defensive Player of the Year award to Nick Bosa, Parsons is going to be even more determined to show the league how much of a game-wrecker he can be.

Parsons in 2023 is going to be a man on a mission, a one-man game wrecker for the Cowboys, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. His mission to prove just how dominant he can be will end with him breaking the single-season sack record held by TJ Watt and Michael Strahan. Parsons will end the season with 23.5 sacks, one more than the current record.

2023 Final Division Standing: Second in the NFC East (12-5)

New York Giants

1. Daniel Jones turnover issues surface again

The New York Giants are in a tough position this offseason, they must decide whether to pay their Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley or bet their future on Daniel Jones. In this prediction, they decide to give Barkley the money and place the franchise tag on Jones, a move that will prove to be costly in the long run.

In 2022 Daniel Jones did a great job of protecting the football, going from a quarterback who was known for turning the football over, to one that was able to take care of the football better than most. In 2023 though things aren’t going to play out the same way they did in 2022 for Jones and the Giants with his turnover issues surfacing once again thanks in part to a new receiving group around him and playing on a franchise tag that will add more pressure on him to make plays. Jones will do a nice job holding onto the football in the pocket, but his throws downfield are going to be more risk/reward throws, with him coming out on the losing end of more of those throws.

2. The Giants’ investment in the offensive line pays off

The Giants have been investing a lot lately in draft capital along their offensive line over the past few years, they’ve also tried to bring in players in free agency to shore up deficiencies as well. Those moves along with the drafting of more offensive linemen will finally start to prove beneficial in the running game for this offense in 2023. Barkley behind this offensive line will become one of the better running teams in the NFL in 2023 thanks to that offensive line.

Daniel Jones will benefit from the extra time in the pocket and the improvement in the running game. The Giants’ determination to rebuild their offensive line will be the reason they once again are able to make the playoffs in 2023, though they won’t make a deep run.

3. The Giants’ offense will carry the defense

Last season for the Giants early on in the season it was their defense that was keeping them in games and allowing the offense to make plays and win games. This time around the offense will be the unit carrying this team early in the season as teams adjust to their offensive line improvements and their running game. The defense will not be far behind in terms of where they were last season but will have to deal with early injuries along the defensive line that will hamper their ability to get pressure on quarterbacks.

The offense on the other hand will stay healthy throughout much of the season and with the improved running game and offensive line, they will be able to wear down opposing defenses. That extra time on the sidelines will benefit their defense as they will have more time to rest in games and lessen their chances of sustaining more injuries.

2023 Final Division Standing: Third in the NFC East (10-7)

Philadelphia Eagles

1. The Offense takes a step back without Jason Kelce

The Eagles’ offense was dominant last season along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football. On the offensive side they really have center Jason Kelce to thank, his leadership and toughness inspired the rest of his teammates to play at a high level just like him. In 2023 though Kelce isn’t going to be on the team, instead deciding to retire after reaching his second Super Bowl. The loss of Kelce is going to deal a big blow to the Eagles’ offense, especially in the running game.

Miles Sanders won’t be the only person to suffer from the loss of Kelce, quarterback Jalen Hurts will also suffer in third and short situations and in the red zone where he did most of his damage running for goal-line touchdowns. The Eagles aren’t going to have an answer for the loss of Kelce in 2023 but will look to find one before the trade deadline, though they will fail.

2. Jordan Davis proves his first-round potential

The Eagles in the 2022 draft took one of the most dominant players in college last season in Jordan Davis. His season didn’t go the way many had expected with him dealing with nagging injuries that kept him off the field and forced the Eagles to look outside for help along the defensive line. In 2023 Davis will be back with a vengeance and out to prove that the Eagles’ decision to take him in the first round was a good one.

The Eagles will most likely have moved on from Fletcher Cox opening the way for Davis to start. His strength and freakish speed on the snap are going to be a real problem for centers and guards in 2023 and that ability to make him a pro bowler in his second season.

3. Back-to-Back NFC East championships

The NFC East has been a division that hasn’t seen a back-to-back winner since the Eagles did it back in the 03-04 seasons. The division once again looks like one that could come down to the final games of the season to determine who will come out on top but it will be the Eagles that once again come out on top. Despite losing their offensive coordinator the Eagles’ offense still has the firepower to go up against any team in the NFL and they will be able to do that in 2023.

The Cowboys and Giants will be in the hunt but they won’t be able to catch them the Cowboys will even beat the Eagles in 2023 but it won’t be enough to help them win the division.

2023 Final Division Standing: First in the NFC East (13-4)

Washington Commanders

1. Quarterback woes continue to hinder the team

The Commanders thought they had their quarterback of the future when they traded for former first-round pick Carson Wentz but that proved to be a bad decision in the end. Taylor Heinicke is a free agent and there’s a chance he doesn’t return in 2023 if he receives a better offer in free agency. Then you have Sam Howell who started one game last season and still has a lot of growing to do if he wants to become a full-time starter in this league.

The Commanders will look to draft another quarterback but not many rookie quarterbacks are able to add wins to the record they had the previous season. This means the struggles this team has had finding a quarterback will continue, they will win games but those wins will be because of their defense playing well once again.

2. Ron Rivera will be fired mid-season

It’s one thing to find out during a post-game press conference that your team has been eliminated but it’s a whole different story when your team fails to have a winning record during your tenure as head coach. Most teams when they have a coach with that type of record let him go during his third season, the Commanders didn’t with Rivera, but they will in 2023 after another slow start for the team. Rivera has done the best he could with the issues at quarterback and the offensive line but in this league, your best isn’t good enough.

The Commanders will elect to move on from Rivera mid-season and will look to find a new offensive-minded head coach to mentor their quarterback of the future. This move will prove to help the team later in the season on offense but the defense will suffer.

3. Will have the only losing record in the division

The issues with the quarterback and the firing of their head coach will lead this team to yet another losing record for the Commanders. A record that will make them the only team in the NFC East with a losing record. The team will not be able to get over the hump in 2023 but the moves they make next season will help them in the long run.

2023 Final Division Standing: Last in the NFC East (8-9)