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While much of the focus of the lackluster NFC East has revolved around the New York Giants, it is the Washington Football Team that appears to have the best shot of winning the division title and could even prove to be a threat come the Playoffs. They are now the -300 favorites.
Ahead of Week 15, all four NFC East teams can still make the Playoffs. Only three - the Washington Football Team, Philadelphia Eagles and Giants - have a probable shot.
For the most part, Philadelphia (5-1 odds to win the NFC East) gets in if they win their last three and the other aforementioned teams lose their last three.
The Washington Football Team and Giants (paying $300 for every $100 bet to win the NFC East) have a little more wiggle room but it is the former that leads the division and has won four straight. They also managed to hand Pittsburgh their first defeat of the season and win on the road against San Francisco.
Versus the 49ers, rookies Chase Young and Kamren Curl scored defensive touchdown. No small feat for sure. Washington is the first team to get defensive touchdowns from two rookies in the same game since the Rams against the Texans in 2013.
Game of the Week: Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints
Sunday Night Football Preview: Cleveland Browns @ New York Giants
Alex Smith has played a key role in Washington's resurgence, but there are questions as to whether he will play this Sunday after leaving the Week 14 game during the second half with soreness in his knee. Smith was at practice on Wednesday, but he reportedly only went through limited work with second-year QB Dwayne Haskins taking the first-team snaps. In 2018, the Washington starting quarterback suffered a compound fracture injury to his right leg during a game against the Houston Texans, which required 17 surgeries to prevent amputation.
The Giants do have an opportunity to share the lead with Washington once again should they somehow beat a gritty Cleveland Browns team that is very much in the hunt for a Playoffs spot. The Washington Football Team will be hosting a 9-4 Seattle team that did manage to lose at home to the Giants but is also 3-1 in their last four games overall.
Smith is presumed not to be playing and is worth three points in the oddsmakers eyes. His team went from being +3 dogs to +6.
New York also faces a monumental task of overcoming an impactful Covid-19 positive finding. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday night's game against the Browns. Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens will assume playcalling duties against his former team less than a calendar year after the Browns fired him. Oddsmakers have tacked on another 3.5 points to the Browns line as a result, making them the -6.5 favorites in New York Sunday night.
There is also uncertainty as to whether Daniel Jones will start as quarterback for the Giants. Jones missed a day of practice and evaluation of his ankle and hamstring. A final decision is anticipated Saturday.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
