Odds of the Redskins Winning the NFC East in 2014: Eagles Have Tough Schedule

The odds of the Redskins winning the NFC East in 2014 were actually shorter this season than that of the Dallas Cowboys.  Sportsbook.ag was offering Washington at 4-1 odds to win what is expected to be a weak division.

“It's the Eagles division to win, but they have a difficult schedule this year," said LVH SuperBook manager Ed Salmons in an interview with the Sporting News. "I look for Dallas to implode this year. They did nothing to help one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and as usual, Sean Lee is out for the year. The Giants can't possibly get worse quarterback play than last year but seem like an aging defense and figure to be around .500 this year.

"The Redskins are a team that I believe should be a real player this year. They remind me of the Eagles from this time last year -- a new coach (Jay Gruden) and Griffin was injured all last year. I look for Washington to win the division with Philly second Giants third and Dallas a miserable dead last-place finish.”

Whether the Eagles schedule proves to be truly tough remains to be seen.  They will only play in five teams where the opponent went on to last season’s playoffs.

The Eagles do face every team from the NFC West and AFC South, and the first-place finishers from the NFC North and NFC South.

Two positives coming into this season for the Skins: New head coach Jay Gruden and Robert Griffin III, who will be in better health and should thrive under Gruden’s system.

Offensive coordinator Sean McVay had this to say about Griffin, who suffered a devastating knee injury in the 2012 playoffs: “He looks like he is exactly what he was in the 2012 season. I think people underestimate when you have a brace on your knee how much that truly restricts you… So I think being able to take that off, he looks extremely explosive.”

- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com