The reigning NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys are 2-0 to start the year, but they have paid a steep price with the loss of both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant for an extended period of time due to injury. The big question that remains is if they can hang on in what appears to be a pretty weak division until they get two of their top players back on the field.
Each and every week of the NFL season I will briefly preview all the games in the NFC East as well as highlight my top "pick of the week"with the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System and betting odds from BetOnline. The ultimate goal is to generate another solid profit with my picks.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets (Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m.)
Everything that could go wrong for the new-look Eagles has in the first two weeks of the season, and the result is a 0-2 start with two losses as favorites. This Sunday becomes a crossroads game for third-year head coach Chip Kelly, who decided to reshape his entire starting lineup this past offseason. The Boo Birds were out in force in last week's dismal showing against Dallas, so the only positive in this matchup is that Philly is playing on the road.
The Jets turned a few heads with a 31-10 win over Cleveland in Week 1 as 3.5-point home favorites, but new head coach Todd Bowles may be onto something after his team pushed Indianapolis around on Monday night in a 20-7 win as six-point underdogs on the road. Despite the Eagles' poor start, this game will be a true test to see if New York is really going to turn things around and once again become a thorn in the side of New England in the AFC East title race.
New York has been listed as a slight one-point home favorite in this matchup, with the total set at 46.
Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m.)
The Falcons continue an early-season trip through the NFC East after posting SU victories against both Philadelphia and New York in their first two games after closing as slight underdogs. The biggest turnaround in Atlanta has been its defense under the direction of new head coach Dan Quinn, but the biggest question in this matchup is if anyone can slow down wide receiver Julio Jones, who has already caught 22 passes for 276 yards and two scores in his first two games.
Dallas will now have to figure out how to stay on top of the NFC East while both Romo and Bryant are on the mend. The one positive takeaway from these devastating losses is a Cowboys' defense that is ranked third in the NFL in total yards allowed. Dallas has also gotten a solid effort from Joseph Randle running the ball (116 yards on 34 carries) and Terrance Williams catching it (nine receptions for 144 yards). The big question here is how Branden Weeden will hold up as Jerry Jones' new starting quarterback.
Atlanta comes into this game as a slight one-point road favorite, and the betting odds for the total have been set at 45.
NFC East 'Pick of the Week'
Washington Redskins at New York Giants (Thursday, Sept. 24, 8:25 p.m.)
Washington was beyond being a long shot to win the NFC East before the season started, but it may actually be in the best position of all four teams right now to make a legitimate run. That is mainly because of the Redskins' offensive line and their ability to run the ball behind both Alfred Morris and Matt Jones. Through two games, Washington is averaging 171.5 yards on the ground, which is tops in the NFL. Kirk Cousins is not going to scare anyone throwing the ball, especially with his biggest playmaker DeSean Jackson still on the mend, but he has done a good job managing this offense so far.
The Giants are a couple of plays away from being 2-0 as opposed to their 0-2 record, but that is what happens when you forget how to win games. Costly mistakes against both Dallas and Atlanta have taken their toll in two blown fourth-quarter leads, and for the third season in a row New York has dug itself into an early hole. This really dials up the pressure in this game, and the one main positive is that the Giants' defense has been excellent at stopping the run in allowing an average of just 68 rushing yards in their first two games.
This one is too close to call in my book given the four-point spread, but I do like a play on the "under". You already know that Washington is going to try and slow things down with its running game, and the past trends in this matchup are favorable with the total staying under in six of the last seven meetings.
4-Unit Play Take Washington at New York UNDER 44
YTD: 0-2 ($-660)
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