NFC East Preview
It’s obviously not going to be as cut and dry as I’m gonna make it sound, but if things go as I, and probably everyone else expects, this is what I believe will happen (based on teams I hate from most to the Giants):
1. Philadelphia Eagles: Donavan McNabb thinks this is a Super Bowl team. How? I don’t know. Donavan McNabb when healthy is one of the best quarterbacks in football. He is surrounded by nothing though. Tom Brady is a Hall of Famer that can make the most out of whoever he has. McNabb is good, but not that good. Plus, he can’t play an entire season. Kolb will start at least 3 games this season, I guarantee it. And once again, they have zero receivers. The one thing the Eagles do have is Brian Westbrook. He may be the most underrated player in all of football. Every defense can put 7 men in the box because they have no receivers, yet he still puts up tremendous numbers, receiving and rushing. Again, he’s an injury risk as well, but played a full season last year, so I have no reason to believe he can’t do it again. Without looking at schedules ratings, I think the Eagles do have a favorable out of division schedule, so that works in their favor, but ending the season against the Giants, Browns, Skins and Cowboys is a tough final 4 games. They better hope they are 8-4 going into that game. Prediction: 8-8 (3rd in the division)
2. Dallas Cowboys: I really can’t say much about the Cowboys that I haven’t already said. Don’t even look at the schedule, because it doesn’t matter. This team is stacked with Pro Bowlers, and has some of the best coaching in the league with the two Garretts and Campo. Forget Wade Phillips, he does nothing but look jolly. They will win the division, but the one hope the other teams in the NFC have to cling to is that Tony Romo is yet to win a playoff game, so it’s possible we could have another early Peyton Manning on our hands. Do I think so? No. Is it possible? Yes. Prediction: 13-3 (1st in the division)
3. Washington Redskins: I feel bad for this team. I have the utmost respect for the owner, he is willing to do whatever it takes (monetarily) to get this team to contend. Snyder’s only problem is that he thinks short term by trading picks for veterans and spends a ton on them. I give it to him for thinking in ‘the now’ though. As far as this season goes though, it doesn’t look very bright for them. Clinton Portis is a 4 game a year player who should not have been traded for since running backs are a dime a dozen, and Champ Bailey isn’t. LaBetts is another underrated player in this league, so they have a very serviceable backup at least, but they just don’t have the pieces. Santana Moss is an explosive player, but takes more plays off than a hockey player. Like the Eagles, they are lacking at receivers, but do have Chris Cooley who is a top 5 TE in my book. The positive for this team is that they have a ton of very solid defenders who I think will keep games close for them. Unfortunately for them, their schedule works against them. They play 3 of their last 4 on the road and 4 of the last 6. Unless you are the 2007 New York Giants, that is not a good thing. Prediction: 7-9 (4th in the division)
Honest unbiased assessment of the Giants to follow tomorrow…..
3 years ago