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NFC East

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from NFL Capitol Division)

NFC East
ConferenceNational Football Conference (NFC)
LeagueNational Football League (NFL)
SportAmerican football
Founded1967
No. of teams4
Most recent
champion
Philadelphia Eagles (14th title)
(2025)
Most titlesDallas Cowboys (25 titles)
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
460km
286miles
Giants
Eagles
Cowboys
Commanders
NFC East teams location

The NFC East is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It has four members: the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders.

The division was formed in 1967 as the Capitol Division and acquired its current name in 1970 following the AFL–NFL merger. The NFC East is currently the only division in the league in which all four current teams have not only won at least one Super Bowl, but also at least two.[1][2] With 14 Super Bowl titles, the NFC East is currently the most successful division in the NFL during the Super Bowl era, with the AFC West second with ten titles. The Dallas Cowboys have the most Super Bowl titles in the division, winning five. The New York Giants have won four, the Washington Commanders have three, and the Philadelphia Eagles have two Super Bowl victories.

History

[edit]

The division's original name, NFL Capitol Division, derived from being centered on the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., and the country's birthplace, Philadelphia. In 1967 and 1969, the teams in the division were Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington and the expansion team New Orleans Saints, with the New York Giants swapping divisions with the Saints for the 1968 season. This arrangement had been agreed in advance as a means to ensure all of the NFL's teams would be able to visit New York once in those three years. With the merger in 1970, following contentious negotiations culminating in a random draw, it was agreed that New York (along with the St. Louis Cardinals) would permanently return to the re-branded NFC East.

General information

[edit]

The NFC East teams have combined to be the most successful division in the Super Bowl era with 22 NFC championships and 14 Super Bowl victories, the highest marks of any division in the NFL. The division features a number of prominent rivalries such as the Cowboys–Eagles rivalry, Commanders–Cowboys rivalry and Eagles–Giants rivalry, among others. Because the division's teams are in some of the United States' largest media markets (New York No. 1, Dallas-Fort Worth No. 4, Philadelphia No. 5, and Washington No. 8), the NFC East receives a high amount of coverage from national sports media outlets.[3] In the early 1990s the division claimed four consecutive Super Bowl champions, all against the Buffalo Bills, with the Giants and Washington respectively winning back-to-back in Super Bowls XXV and XXVI; and the Cowboys winning twice after in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII. Those same three teams won seven out of ten Super Bowls, from 1986–87 to 1995–96 (the 49ers won the other three during that span). Meanwhile, the Eagles are the most recent team in the division to win multiple Super Bowls, beating the Patriots 41–33 in Super Bowl LII and the Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX.

The NFC East was the first division since the 2002 realignment to send 3 teams to the playoffs when the 2006-07 NFL playoffs had Philadelphia winning the division and Dallas and New York taking both Wild Card spots. On the other hand, the NFC East became one of three divisions to be won by a team with a losing record (the previous two being the NFC South and NFC West) when the then-Washington Football Team won the 2020 division crown with a 7–9 record.

The NFC East previously held a league record 20-year streak without a consecutive division champion. The Philadelphia Eagles won four consecutive titles from 2001 to 2004, and there was no repeat winner again until the Eagles won in 2024 and 2025.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

The Philadelphia Eagles are the only NFC East team to actually play in the city of the team's naming.[11] The other three teams play in suburbs of the major cities they are named after. The Dallas Cowboys play in Arlington, Texas, and are the only team in this division not based in the Eastern Time Zone (the Cowboys are based in the Central Time Zone).[12] The Washington Commanders play in Landover, Maryland,[13] and the New York Giants play in East Rutherford, New Jersey,[14] where they share a stadium with the New York Jets. Analogously, three of the four AFC East teams do not actually play within the city of their naming. (The Patriots geographical identifier is New England, being named for the region the team plays in.)

As of 2024, all four teams in the division were in the top ten of most valuable NFL franchises (Cowboys #1; Giants #2; Commanders #7; Eagles #9).[15]

Division lineups

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Place cursor over year for division champion.

NFL Eastern Conference
Capitol Division
NFC East Division[B]
1900s2000s
67[A] 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75[C] 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
N.O. Saints NY Giants N.O. Saints New York Giants
  St. Louis Cardinals[C] Phoenix Cardinals Arizona Cardinals[D]
NFC East Division [E]
2000s
02 03 04 05 06 07[F] 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins Washington Football Team Washington Commanders
New York Giants
  Team not in division   Division Won Super Bowl   Division Won NFC Championship
A The Eastern Conference was divided into the Capitol and Century Divisions. Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington moved in. Also, the New Orleans Saints joined the league.
B The Capitol Division adopts its current name. New Orleans realigned to the NFC West. The Giants and Cardinals are added from the Century Division.
C Although the Cardinals were division champions, the Cowboys won the NFC Championship as a wild card qualifier.
D St. Louis moved to Phoenix in 1988. The team changed its name from Phoenix Cardinals to the Arizona Cardinals in 1994.
E Arizona moved to the NFC West when the league realigned into eight four-team divisions before the 2002 season.
F Although the Cowboys were division champions, the Giants won the Super Bowl as a wild card qualifier.

Total playoff berths since 1967

[edit]
TeamDivision
championships
Playoff
berths
Super Bowl
appearances
Super Bowl
championships
Dallas Cowboys253585
Philadelphia Eagles142852
Washington Commanders101953
New York Giants81654
Arizona Cardinals12400

To sort table above, click button to right of heading.

NFC EastDivision
championships
Playoff
berths
NFC
championships
Super Bowl
championships
Totals (19672024)56972314
1These numbers only reflect the Cardinals' time as a member of the NFC East, as the team realigned to the NFC West after the 2001 season.

Season results

[edit]
(#) Denotes team that won the Super Bowl
(#) Denotes team that won the NFC Championship
(#) Denotes team that qualified for the NFL Playoffs
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th5th
NFL Capitol
1967 Dallas (9–5) Philadelphia (6–7–1) Washington (5–6–3) New Orleans (3–11)
1968 Dallas (12–2) N.Y. Giants (7–7) Washington (5–9) Philadelphia (2–12)
1969 Dallas (11–2–1) Washington (7–5–2) New Orleans (5–9) Philadelphia (4–9–1)
NFC East
1970 Dallas (10–4) N.Y. Giants (9–5) St. Louis (8–5–1) Washington (6–8) Philadelphia (3–10–1)
1971 Dallas (11–3) Washington (9–4–1) Philadelphia (6–7–1) St. Louis (4–9–1) N.Y. Giants (4–10)
1972 Washington (11–3) Dallas (10–4) N.Y. Giants (8–6) St. Louis (4–9–1) Philadelphia (2–11–1)
1973 Dallas (10–4) Washington (10–4) Philadelphia (5–8–1) St. Louis (4–9–1) N.Y. Giants (2–11–1)
1974 St. Louis (10–4) Washington (10–4) Dallas (8–6) Philadelphia (7–7) N.Y. Giants (2–12)
1975 (3) St. Louis (11–3) (4) Dallas (10–4) Washington (8–6) N.Y. Giants (5–9) Philadelphia (4–10)
1976 (2) Dallas (11–3) (4) Washington (10–4) St. Louis (10–4) Philadelphia (4–10) N.Y. Giants (3–11)
1977 (1) Dallas (12–2) Washington (9–5) St. Louis (7–7) Philadelphia (5–9) N.Y. Giants (5–9)
1978 (2) Dallas (12–4) (5) Philadelphia (9–7) Washington (8–8) St. Louis (6–10) N.Y. Giants (6–10)
1979 (1) Dallas (11–5) (4) Philadelphia (11–5) Washington (10–6) N.Y. Giants (6–10) St. Louis (5–11)
1980 (2) Philadelphia (12–4) (4) Dallas (12–4) Washington (6–10) St. Louis (5–11) N.Y. Giants (4–12)
1981 (2) Dallas (12–4) (4) Philadelphia (10–6) (5) N.Y. Giants (9–7) Washington (8–8) St. Louis (7–9)
1982^ (1) Washington (8–1) (2) Dallas (6–3) (6) St. Louis (5–4) N.Y. Giants (4–5) Philadelphia (3–6)
1983 (1) Washington (14–2) (4) Dallas (12–4) St. Louis (8–7–1) Philadelphia (5–11) N.Y. Giants (3–12–1)
1984 (2) Washington (11–5) (5) N.Y. Giants (9–7) St. Louis (9–7) Dallas (9–7) Philadelphia (6–9–1)
1985 (3) Dallas (10–6) (4) N.Y. Giants (10–6) Washington (10–6) Philadelphia (7–9) St. Louis (5–11)
1986 (1) N.Y. Giants (14–2) (4) Washington (12–4) Dallas (7–9) Philadelphia (5–10–1) St. Louis (4–11–1)
1987 (3) Washington (11–4) Dallas (7–8) St. Louis (7–8) Philadelphia (7–8) N.Y. Giants (6–9)
1988 (3) Philadelphia (10–6) N.Y. Giants (10–6) Washington (7–9) Phoenix (7–9) Dallas (3–13)
1989 (2) N.Y. Giants (12–4) (4) Philadelphia (11–5) Washington (10–6) Phoenix (5–11) Dallas (1–15)
1990 (2) N.Y. Giants (13–3) (4) Philadelphia (10–6) (5) Washington (10–6) Dallas (7–9) Phoenix (5–11)
1991 (1) Washington (14–2) (5) Dallas (11–5) Philadelphia (10–6) N.Y. Giants (8–8) Phoenix (4–12)
1992 (2) Dallas (13–3) (5) Philadelphia (11–5) (6) Washington (9–7) N.Y. Giants (6–10) Phoenix (4–12)
1993 (1) Dallas (12–4) (4) N.Y. Giants (11–5) Philadelphia (8–8) Phoenix (7–9) Washington (4–12)
1994 (2) Dallas (12–4) N.Y. Giants (9–7) Arizona (8–8) Philadelphia (7–9) Washington (3–13)
1995 (1) Dallas (12–4) (4) Philadelphia (10–6) Washington (6–10) N.Y. Giants (5–11) Arizona (4–12)
1996 (3) Dallas (10–6) (5) Philadelphia (10–6) Washington (9–7) Arizona (7–9) N.Y. Giants (6–10)
1997 (3) N.Y. Giants (10–5–1) Washington (8–7–1) Philadelphia (6–9–1) Dallas (6–10) Arizona (4–12)
1998 (3) Dallas (10–6) (6) Arizona (9–7) N.Y. Giants (8–8) Washington (6–10) Philadelphia (3–13)
1999 (3) Washington (10–6) (5) Dallas (8–8) N.Y. Giants (7–9) Arizona (6–10) Philadelphia (5–11)
2000 (1) N.Y. Giants (12–4) (4) Philadelphia (11–5) Washington (8–8) Dallas (5–11) Arizona (3–13)
2001 (3) Philadelphia (11–5) Washington (8–8) N.Y. Giants (7–9) Arizona (7–9) Dallas (5–11)
2002 (1) Philadelphia (12–4) (5) N.Y. Giants (10–6) Washington (7–9) Dallas (5–11)
2003 (1) Philadelphia (12–4) (6) Dallas (10–6) Washington (5–11) N.Y. Giants (4–12)
2004 (1) Philadelphia (13–3) N.Y. Giants (6–10) Dallas (6–10) Washington (6–10)
2005 (4) N.Y. Giants (11–5) (6) Washington (10–6) Dallas (9–7) Philadelphia (6–10)
2006 (3) Philadelphia (10–6) (5) Dallas (9–7) (6) N.Y. Giants (8–8) Washington (5–11)
2007 (1) Dallas (13–3) (5) N.Y. Giants (10–6) (6) Washington (9–7) Philadelphia (8–8)
2008 (1) N.Y. Giants (12–4) (6) Philadelphia (9–6–1) Dallas (9–7) Washington (8–8)
2009 (3) Dallas (11–5) (6) Philadelphia (11–5) N.Y. Giants (8–8) Washington (4–12)
2010 (3) Philadelphia (10–6) N.Y. Giants (10–6) Dallas (6–10) Washington (6–10)
2011 (4) N.Y. Giants (9–7) Philadelphia (8–8) Dallas (8–8) Washington (5–11)
2012 (4) Washington (10–6) N.Y. Giants (9–7) Dallas (8–8) Philadelphia (4–12)
2013 (3) Philadelphia (10–6) Dallas (8–8) N.Y. Giants (7–9) Washington (3–13)
2014 (3) Dallas (12–4) Philadelphia (10–6) N.Y. Giants (6–10) Washington (4–12)
2015 (4) Washington (9–7) Philadelphia (7–9) N.Y. Giants (6–10) Dallas (4–12)
2016 (1) Dallas (13–3) (5) N.Y. Giants (11–5) Washington (8–7–1) Philadelphia (7–9)
2017 (1) Philadelphia (13–3) Dallas (9–7) Washington (7–9) N.Y. Giants (3–13)
2018 (4) Dallas (10–6) (6) Philadelphia (9–7) Washington (7–9) N.Y. Giants (5–11)
2019 (4) Philadelphia (9–7) Dallas (8–8) N.Y. Giants (4–12) Washington (3–13)
  • 2020: The Washington Redskins temporarily became the Washington Football Team.
2020 (4) Washington (7–9) N.Y. Giants (6–10) Dallas (6–10) Philadelphia (4–11–1)
2021 (3) Dallas (12–5) (7) Philadelphia (9–8) Washington (7–10) N.Y. Giants (4–13)
2022 (1) Philadelphia (14–3) (5) Dallas (12–5) (6) N.Y. Giants (9–7–1) Washington (8–8–1)
2023 (2) Dallas (12–5) (5) Philadelphia (11–6) N.Y. Giants (6–11) Washington (4–13)
2024 (2) Philadelphia (14–3) (6) Washington (12–5) Dallas (7–10) N.Y. Giants (3–14)
2025 (3) Philadelphia (11–6) Dallas (7–9–1) Washington (5–12) N.Y. Giants (4–13)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. Polacek, Scott (February 5, 2018). "NFC East Becomes 1st Division in Which Each Team Has Won a Super Bowl". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  2. Dubow, Josh (February 12, 2025). "Eagles' roster overhaul between two Super Bowl titles is an NFL rarity". AP News. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  3. "Local Television Market Universe Estimates" (PDF). TVB.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  4. Hladik, Matt (January 7, 2024). "The NFC East's New Division Winner Streak Has Now Reached 19 Years". AthlonSports.com | Expert Predictions, Picks, and Previews. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  5. Richman, Jacob (January 9, 2024). "When was the last NFC East repeat champion and why is the streak so long?". lonestarlive. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  6. Frank, Reuben (August 28, 2023). "A look at every NFC East winner since 2004 and why they didn't repeat". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  7. Maaddi, Rob (October 17, 2022). "Analysis: NFC East goes from least to beast in 2 years". AP News. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  8. Gordon, Grant (January 7, 2024). "Cowboys win second NFC East title in three seasons with win over Commanders". NFL.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  9. "NFC East Has No Repeat Champions For Two Decades". fantasyindex.com. December 31, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  10. Gordon, Grant (December 20, 2025). "Eagles repeat as NFC East champions; snap 21-year streak without consecutive division winners". Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  11. "Lincoln Financial Field - Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  12. "AT&T Stadium - Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  13. "FedExField". Redskins. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  14. "Met Life Stadium - Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  15. Sullivan, Tyler (August 9, 2023). "NFL team valuations rankings for 2023:Cowboys again tower over every franchise, Giants exceed $7 billion". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 11, 2023.