The Dallas Cowboys could follow up an early exit in last year's playoffs with a disappointing 2022 season. That's at least what a large portion of NFL fans seems to think, considering how the betting public is placing preseason wagers.

Since opening as -120 favorites at BetMGM to win the NFC East, the Cowboys' odds have moved to +130 to finish the 2022 NFL season in first place. The Philadelphia Eagles odds to win the NFC East have shrunk from +300 to +170 this summer. No team has received more bets to win their division than the Eagles.

Other sportsbooks have reported similar betting patterns. In late June, Caesars Sportsbook said that the Cowboys received the least number of bets to win the NFC East.

Some of that can be explained by Dallas' odds. Because the Cowboys are favored, bettors have to risk more money on Dallas to win the NFC East than any other team. Injuries and recent history are also working against the Cowboys and their bid to win repeat as NFC East champions.

No team has won back-to-back NFC East titles since the Philadelphia Eagles did it in 2004. Dallas followed up its 2014 division championship by going 4-12 in 2015. The Cowboys missed the playoffs in the season after winning the 2016 NFC East title, and the same happened following their 2018 divisional championship.

The Cowboys went 12-5 in the 2021 season on the strength of the NFL's No. 1 offense. Dallas led the league with 407 yards and 31.2 points per game. Significant changes at wide receiver could make it difficult for Dallas to approach those numbers in 2022.

Three of Dak Prescott's top four receivers from last season aren't expected to be on the Week 1 roster. Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns in the offseason. Cedrick Wilson signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Michael Gallup is recovering from a torn ACL and is likely to miss the start of the season.

James Washington was acquired to help fill in some of that missing production. The former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver suffered a fractured foot in training camp and could be out for up to 10 weeks.

There will be a lot of pressure on Prescott and No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb to carry the offense early in the season. Prescott threw a career-high 37 touchdown passes last season. Lamb led Dallas with 79 receptions for 1,102 yards.

Philadelphia, Dallas' biggest threat in the NFC East, improved its roster this offseason. The Eagles traded for A.J. Brown, giving Jalen Hurts the No. 1-caliber receiver he missed a season ago. The Eagles went 9-8 to earn a wild-card berth before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wild-Card Weekend.

The Washington Commanders (+500) and New York Giants (+750) are both long shots to win the NFC East.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys throws a touchdown pass to Blake Jarwin #89 during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in the game at AT&T Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images