Odds of Division

By Thomas Rende

Fans dissect it. They look at the schedules, calculate the difference in percentage points, and figure out various ways in which their team can make the playoffs. Look no further than the NFC East as a place of stress-filled weeks for fans hoping that their team will make the playoffs. The three-team tie atop the division has caused analysts to question who has the best team but I’d rather go the fan perspective. I’ll put on my bookie hat and take a variety of factors into consideration in determining what teams have the best chance of winning the division.

AP Photo/ Sharon Ellman

Ohhh, those Dallas Cowboys. It’s amusing to consider them a possibility for the playoffs considering they are the contradiction to the Giants’ strong finishes. They lose big games down the stretch and always seem to be a great punch line for ESPN during the last couple weeks of the season. The team is built slightly differently this year with a stronger secondary, even with lapses from Brandon Carr. They have developed a more stable running game with the return of a healthy DeMarco Murray.

Their game on Sunday will be against the New Orleans Saints and the most interesting matchup for the Cowboys will be their ability to shut down (slow down) the Saints’ aerial attack. Morris Clairborne, their rookie starting cornerback, should be back from a concussion, which would be a huge improvement for the secondary. Ultimately this game and season will come down to the enigmatic Tony Romo. If he can continue to put up the numbers that he’s posted over the past four weeks, 9 touchdowns and an average of 338.1 passing yards, the Cowboys will be in a great position to win the division. Odds of winning the division: 4/1

The New York Giants are my horse. They are struggling and instilling fear into their own fans by playing inconsistently. Playing the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday will force the Giants to play much better against the run. Ray Rice is having another stellar year for a running back but his own personal numbers have dropped due to an offensive system that is questionable at best. If the Ravens fail to pound the rock against a Giants team that is struggling to defend the run, look for the Giants to escape Baltimore with a victory. I’ll increase their odds of winning the division because of their “sneak into the playoffs” ability. Odds of winning the division: 3.5/1

They’ve gotten this far and I think every Washington Redskins fan is becoming proud of donning a ‘Skins jersey on Sunday. I get more nervous when a team engages in any divisional game, especially two because even if a season is over for a team, they bring a little something extra for these types of games. I am a believer in the one they call RGIII but I’m not a believer in what people know as the Swiss-cheese pass defense. Constantly surrendering big games to QB’s will come back to haunt them, especially against Tony Romo in week 17. Odds of winning the division: 7:1