The Washington Football Team shouldn't feel bad if it ends up winning the NFC East with a losing record. In fact, it might feel encouraged. The past two teams to win their divisions with sub-.500 marks followed those seasons with greater success.
The Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record in 2010; four years later, Carolina won the NFC South with a 7-8-1 mark. Both teams won playoff games and both coaches remain active: Pete Carroll is still with Seattle and Ron Rivera, who guided the Panthers to an unlikely division title six years ago, is now Washington's coach.