As we approach another NFL season, it is time to take a look at the season ahead of us. This is the first of eight parts in my preview of the upcoming season.
I start with the NFC East, probably the most difficult division to predict. This season any of the four teams could come out with a division crown.
1. The Dallas Cowboys. Last Season: 13-3. Off-season Grade: B+ Predicted Record: 12-4
The obvious key additions are in the secondary, with Mike Jenkins and Adam "Pacman" Jones. The Cowboys secondary now becomes one of the best in the league. By drafting Felix Jones, the Cowboys have a very good, young duo at running back with Marion Barber and the Arkansas product. The better running game should open up the pass and we will likely see less pressure on Romo, and thus a much better passing game. The Cowboys filled their major needs and will return this season as a highly successful team in the regular season. They will be very good, but not as dominant against a much better division this season. Whether or not the can finally come through in the playoffs will be interesting.
2. The New York Giants. Last Season: 10-6. Off-season Grade: C Predicted Record: 9-7
The Giants had an okay draft day. They got a highly overrated safety in Kenny Phillips and a good cornerback in USC's Terrell Thomas. The wide receiver they got, Mario Manningham, is also highly overrated. They lose Michael Strahan which will hurt Osi Umenyiora because he will be double teamed more often and produce less sacks and less pressure on the quarterback. Ahmad Bradshaw's off the field issues could also hurt the team greatly. They lose Gibril Wilson and, quite frankly, they lost too much to be the team they were last post-season. We will see flashes of that greatness, but not the same team.
3. The Washington Redskins. Last Season: 9-7. Off-season Grade: C+ Predicted Record: 7-9
The Redskins lose a great coach in Joe Gibbs, which hurts them, but they got an offensive minded coach in Jim Zorn. The biggest loss was Brandon Lloyd, and he was replaced by Michigan State WR Devin Thomas. The team got better on the offensive line by adding OT Jason Fabini and C Ethan Albright. They also added Malcolm Kelly from Oklahoma and Fred Davis from USC. Their passing game should be significantly improved from last season. They also picked up QB Colt Brennan in the draft. If Brennan turns out to be more than just a system quarterback the Redskins could have a huge steal in this draft. Before the Sugar Bowl, some scouts and analysts had Brennan going in the second or third round. The team is installing a west coast offense, and it could take a while for the team to work out the kinks. Once the team does, they should be successful.
4. The Philadelphia Eagles. Last Season: 8-8. Off-season Grade: A- Predicted Record: 12-4
The Eagles shored up their secondary by adding Asante Samuel and improved their offense by adding the talented wide receiver from Cal, in Desean Jackson. Assuming Donovan McNabb stays healthy, the Eagles will be the team that they were a few years ago, before the T.O. days. The team was good last season, and if they avoid distraction this year they should be the best in the division. A big part of their off-season was making sure that McNabb was able to stay healthy. The quarterback is apparently in the best shape of his career and has never felt better. Brian Westbrook should, again be the great RB that he was last season. Watch out for the Eagles in the regular season, as well as the playoffs.
Hudson Belinsky
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3 months ago
From my profile picture you can tell im a redskins fan but i have to disagree with you, this is a veteran laden team but they're installing the west coast offense which takes at least 2 years to install so no way they are improving on last years record...also, im going to commit blasphemy and say Gibbs was good but the game had passed him by, his over regimented system was detested by players and he simply would not let good, young quarterbacks develop, he learned his lesson after ruining Patrick Ramsey and only last year did he give Jason Campbell an honest shot.
3 months ago
I didn't know that they were implementing the west coast offense, but if they are, then I agree with you. The west coast offense fits their team nicely. With a decent offensive line, a good running back, and a quarterback who can move (assuming Campbell is the same) the team should be very good under the new system in a few seasons. Noting that, I have changed my prediction on them.
3 months ago
good article. go eagles.
who do you think will win the tiebreaker between the eagles and 'boys? you got em both finishing 12-4.. who wins out?
from 3 months ago
It all depends on injuries. With everyone on the Eagles healthy, they should take the division. The offense has potential to be as good as it was when T.O. was in Philly. They have the quarterback, running back, offensive line, and some good receivers.
from 3 months ago
Just asking, how are the Eagles WRs? That has always hurt them in years past. I respect McNabb and Westbrook, but to me the receivers have been pretty weak. Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are they good enough to be the #1 and 2 receivers?
This division always seems to be knock out, drag out fight every year. I see another one this season. I think this is the best division in the NFL. Teams seem to be matched up pretty well.
But, as a Cowboys fan, I say the Cowboys could take the division. Just see if they can finish better.
from 3 months ago
Well, the WR they picked up in the second round, Desean Jackson, is an absolute steal where they got him. Jackson will make an immediate impact. He's only 6'0'', but he can jump as high as anyone in the league. He will be a great player and he gives the team depth at WR. The running game will open up the passing game. In the end, this division could go to either of the four teams.
from 3 months ago
you are all homers. No way the Eagles finish 12-4. In the draft I wanted Kelly or Sweed. An actual, non reminder of Freddie Mitchell, reciever who is big. jackson is what 5 10 max with 175 pounds. he aint gonna make an impact at reciever. And to answer your question David. There screwed at WR and MCNabb is not anything special.
Dallas 13-3
Giants 9-7
Redskins 8-8
Eagles 6-10
from 3 months ago
you're crazy if you think the eagles win 2 less games than last year. McNabb's nothin special? are you serious? he's the 3rd winningest quarterback in the past decade behind Brady and Manning. first quarterback to EVER have over 30 TD's and less than 10 INT's (31/8), and he is BY FAR the best quarterback in this division. Plus, the young LB's and that star-studded secondary will finish top 5 in defense. Kevin Curtis is on the edge of becoming a true number 1 receiver with 70 some catches and 1100 yards receiving to go along with i believe 8 TD's. Reggie is a good number 2 and Jackson will come into his own. 5'10 175? hmmm sounds like another WR, arguably the best in the league in Steve Smith.
from 3 months ago
i dont care what the guy did. He won nothing. Im looking at now. He's injury prone who throws the ball 30 yrds over the guys head or in the dirt, and if you disagree your not a good eagles fan because you obviously dont watch the games
3 months ago
nice article.. only thing i disagree with is brandon lloyd being a "big loss". the guy was a complete bust and rarely ever played, let alone make any sort of impact.
Unfortunately, i have to agree that the skins will be a .500 team at BEST, even though i'm a big time skins fan. New offenses take time to develop. Nice work though!
3 months ago
True. I don't think I meant to put it like that, but I see that I did. Considering Lloyd is probably the team's biggest loss, they had an okay offseason. I like what they have done with the offense and if they continue to build a deep team, they should be very tough in a year or two.
3 months ago
Nice work!
3 months ago
Wow, if you believe the writers on Bleacher Report then Vegas will probably have the Eagles at 2-1 to win the Superbowl. 12-4 is ridiculous, they were 5-8 last year for a reason before they pulled their act together in the last three meaningless weeks. Their secondary has always been good so I don't see how adding Samuel is such a big deal (unless you're counting his cap hit). Their LBs are average at best, their WRs below average AGAIN, and McNabb always one hit away from the IR. Stop Westbrook and you stop their whole team. 9-7 maybe.
3 months ago
While I disagree with the majority of the Eagles bashing on here, I think my Birds can expect around 11-5.
If anyone thinks the Redskins are going to make the playoffs, they're fooling themselves. How many new offenses has the already slow-starting Jason Campbell had to learn? The team is aging and without the Sean Taylor tragedy holding them together, they'll go back to the zero team chemistry that's defined them in recent seasons.
The Giants have lost too many key players. Yeah, I know they won the Super Bowl, but I see them suffering the same fate as the '05 Steelers. Too many teams will be gunning for them, and they've lost too many integral parts of their defense.
3 months ago
Believe me. No one is better at bashing the Eagles and not giving the Eagles a chance than Eagles fans. We've seen great teams with stacked talent do absolutely nothing. We've seen our probowl QB choke and, literally, puke during the biggest game of his life.
But they have a shot this season to do well. You have to take a look at their schedule. They easily have 10 wins, and more if they can stay healthy. Wins: Rams, Bears, Skins (1), 49ers, Falcons, Bengals, Ravens, Cardinals, Skins (2). I believe they're going to take the home game against the Giants. That's 10 wins. They'll have good matchups and could easily take either or both games against Seattle and Cleveland. That could be 11 or 12.
And I'd pick them to beat the Boys in Philly any day. The fans at the Linc for the last game of the regular season against their rivals possibly for the division or home field in the playoffs? Yeah, I'll take the Birds + the 12th, 13th, and 14th men at the Linc.
By my count thats anywhere between 10-13 wins.
3 months ago
Is it just me or did you say that Jim Harbaugh, the coach of the Stanford Cardinal, is the new head coach of the Washington Redskins?
Jim Zorn, who was the QB coach for the Seahawks, is the head coach of the Redskins.
from 3 months ago
Yea my bad on that one. I don't know what I was thinking, but I think he was interviewed. Sorry about that. I recognized it a couple days ago and was wondering if anyone was going to pick up on it. Bad work on my part and I apologize. Jon Harbaugh might be who I was thinking of. He took the Ravens job over the Redskins job. I'm going to edit it right now.
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