The last three seasons the NFC East Division title went right down to the wire with a head-to-head showdown for the crown in a Week 17 matchup. There is no such drama this time around as Dallas has finally come through with a strong December performance to clinch the division at 11-4 on the year. I am happy to say that I got back to my winning ways in my NFC East 'pick of the week' with the correct call in New York's win over St. Louis in last Sunday's action.

Each and every week of this year's NFL regular season I previewed all the games in the NFC East, while releasing my free "pick of the week"with the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System. All picks usedNFL betting odds as provided by BetOnline. My ultimate goal throughout the season has been to provide a solid return with my free weekly picks. Heading into the final week of games, I have been slightly successful with a modest $230 return for the $100 bettor following my unit plays. I am looking for a big score in the Week 17 finale with a bold 5-unit holiday play.

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins (Sunday, Dec, 28, 1 p.m.)

Dallas could be the most dangerous team in the NFC right now and is riding a wave of confidence and momentum from three consecutive victories both straight up and against the spread. The biggest came in Week 15 with a convincing 38-27 beatdown of Philadelphia as a 3.5-point road underdog. The Cowboys are now 9-6 ATS this season, including a very profitable 6-1 record ATS on the road. While they have locked up the East Division title, the only way they can get a first-round bye is if the Detroit vs. Green Bay game ends in a tie. That means both Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray could see limited action this Sunday.

The Redskins would have to be considered the biggest disappointment in the NFC East this season (although there are probably some Eagles' fan that would disagree). Not only because of their current 4-11 SU (5-10 ATS) record, but for the way the team managed the situation at quarterback. Washington basically mortgaged its future to draft Robert Griffin III three years ago as the savior of the franchise, but first-year head coach Jay Gruden decided to go with Colt McCoy as his starter after hitting some bumps in the road. It remains to be seen how this whole situation plays itself out this offseason, but for Sunday's game it could be RG III's turn to shine back in the starting role for the injured McCoy.

BetOnline has opened the Cowboys as seven-point road favorites in this game with the betting odds on the total set at 49.

NFC East Week 17 'Pick of the Week'

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (Sunday, Dec.28, 1 p.m.)

Following Philadelphia's 31-10 romp over Dallas on Thanksgiving as a three-point road underdog, the future looked extremely bright for Chip Kelly in his second season as head coach. Unfortunately, the reality that his team was just slightly better than average set in with three straight losses both SU and ATS to knock the Eagles out of playoff contention. It will be next to impossible for Kelly to get his team up for this game after such a disappointing collapse. I fully expect the Eagles to sleep walk their way through this Sunday's game to finish 9-7 on the year both SU and ATS in the midst of a four-game slide.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are the New York Giants. In what is becoming an all-to-familiar pattern for Giants' fans, this team is trying to salvage a second straight season with seven wins after overcoming disastrous starts. The Giants have won their last three games both SU and ATS while averaging 32.3 points a game. Defensively, they have been able to tighten things up by allowing an average of just 15.7 points during this run. Even if Philly was still in the playoff hunt, it would be a tall task to get a win this Sunday, so given their current situation there is no way the Eagles are getting out of MetLife Stadium on the winning end of this bitter rivalry as a three-point underdog.

5-Unit Play: New York (-3) over Philadelphia

Year to Date Record: 9-7 (+$230)

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