The Dallas Cowboys had a worse opening weekend to the 2022 NFL season than anyone. They were held out of the end zone in a 19-3 prime time loss, at home, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Worse yet, they lost Jayron Kearse, Connor McGovern and most importantly Dak Prescott to injury.
That’s knocked the Cowboys from a -110 favorite to win their division to a +474 underdog — only slightly better odds than a Washington Commanders squad that went 7-10 the previous year. If that holds true, we’ll have a new champion in the NFC East.
Just like we’ve had every season since 2004.
It’s been nearly 18 years since someone won the NFC East crown in back-to-back seasons, a stretch dating back to the Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb Eagles. Here’s how those titles have been parceled out in the years since:
- Dallas Cowboys: 6 division championships
- Philadelphia Eagles: 5
- New York Giants: 3
- Washington Commanders: 3
That parity hasn’t been great for the division’s postseason performances. 11 NFC East champions went one-and-done before dropping out of the playoffs. The Giants and Eagles both won Super Bowls as division champs, while New York added another Lombardi Trophy to its mantle as a Wild Card participant in 2008. Coincidentally, all three of the division’s Super Bowl victories came over the New England Patriots.
Here’s each winner, along with how they fared in the postseason since 2005.
2005: New York Giants
- Lost in the Wild Card round, 0-23, to the Carolina Panthers
2006: Philadelphia Eagles
- Beat the Giants in the Wild Card round, 23-20.
- Lost to the Saints in the Divisional Round, 24-27.
2007: Dallas Cowboys
- Lost to the Giants in the Divisional Round, 17-21.
2008: New York Giants
- Lost to the Eagles in the Divisional Round, 11-23.
2009: Dallas Cowboys
- Beat the Eagles in the Wild Card round, 34-14.
- Lost to the Vikings in the Divisional Round, 3-34.
2010: Philadelphia Eagles
- Lost to the Packers in the Wild Card round, 16-21.
2011: New York Giants
- Beat the Falcons in the Wild Card round, 24-2.
- Beat the Packers in the Divisional Round 37-20.
- Beat the 49ers in the NFC Championship, 20-17.
- Beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17.
2012: Washington
- Lost to the Seahawks in the Wild Card round, 14-24.
2013: Philadelphia Eagles
- Lost to the Saints in the Wild Card round, 24-26.
2014: Dallas Cowboys
- Beat the Lions in the Wild Card round, 24-20.
- Lost to the Packers in the Divisional Round, 21-26.
2015: Washington
- Lost to the Packers in the Wild Card round, 18-35.
2016: Dallas Cowboys
- Lost to the Packers in the Divisional round, 31-34.
2017: Philadelphia Eagles
- Beat the Falcons in the Divisional round, 15-10.
- Beat the Vikings in the NFC Championship, 38-7.
- Beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII, 41-33.
2018: Dallas Cowboys
- Beat the Seahawks in the Wild Card round, 24-22.
- Lost to the Rams in the Divisional round 22-30.
2019: Philadelphia Eagles
- Lost to the Seahawks in the Wild Card round, 9-17.
2020: Washington Football Team
- Lost to the Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, 23-31.
2021: Dallas Cowboys
- Lost to the 49ers in the Wild Card round, 17-23.
