The NFC East never seems to disappoint when it comes to competitiveness (relative to the NFC East anyway) or storylines. This season is already building up to be no exception. There are new faces in some big time football cities looking for an opportunity to make a difference in this season. Let’s examine these teams, the factors and the words that epitomize their 2016 campaigns.
Dallas Cowboys- VH1
What would an NFL season be without a Dallas Cowboys subplot? Everything is bigger in Texas, including the spotlight and the controversy. The selection of Ezekiel Elliot (The Ohio State University) brought cheers throughout Cowboy nation. After spending years and millions sculpting a top caliber offensive line, Jerry Jones was in need of a franchise running back to be the centerpiece of an audience. It’s like having a big mansion and finally getting that shiny Cadillac to park out front. Cheesy Texas clichés aside, things were looking bright for dem ‘boys, but just when their fan base was starting their preseason chest beating…tragedy struck. [Cues dramatic music]
An awkward hit on QB Tony Romo sent the Cowboys preseason plan into a tailspin. Rookie Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) went from understudy to the star of the show in one moment. “America’s team’s” hope have tapered from resounding confidence to cautious optimism. In the preseason, Dak lived up to the hype, going 39-50 454 yards passing, two rushing touchdowns and zero interceptions. Could this be a changing of the guard in Dallas in a Drew Bledsoe/Tom Brady kind of way? Let’s not jump the gun just yet, I mean, Dak Prescott may or may not be the second coming of Tom Brady (he’ll need to start throwing the ball downfield at some point), but regardless there is still optimism that the young QB can salvage this season of dreams for Dallas. Well, that is until Dak’s girlfriend gets a reality show.
Philadelphia Eagles- Direction
Since the days of Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens, the Eagles have been considered an upper-middle class organization. Though they have not won anything of real significance since those days, prognosticators cautiously hedge their bets on this year being their year every year…only to be humbled by reality towards the end of the regular season every year. Season after season, the Eagles have been the team that nobody wants to rule out, but they consistently fail to meet expectations. Since 2008 the Eagles have had four double-digit win seasons and have failed to chart a playoff notch in the win column. But it is a new day in The City of Brotherly Love. Carson Wentz, the 6’5” rookie signal-caller from the University of North Dakota is at the helm following the trade of Sam Bradford. While he didn’t come in with the acclaim of other quarterbacks, neither did Joe Flacco or Ben Roethlisberger, both of whom have similar skill sets to Wentz.
This team will need to hang its hat on its offensive line if it wants to really forge ahead in the NFC East. The acquisition of guard Brandon Brooks should sure help secure an already strong line for Philly. Still reeling from the damage incurred by Hurricane Chip, this feels like another rebuilding year for the Eagles as they try to find the right pieces to compliment the team’s new starting quarterback. The Eagles may also be lacking some running power this year with the departure of DeMarco Murray for Tennessee. However, the signing of wideout Dorial Green-Beckham should bring some really excitement to a receiving corps that is short on playmakers.
Philadelphia gave up 401.6 yds/game last season, third worst in the league. With the ink freshly dry on his new contract, we can expect he Eagles to rely heavily on Fletcher Cox to apply pressure to opposing QB’s (you know, unless he slacks off now that his pockets are swollen).
Moral of the story: If you’re a good DB and you talk a lot, somebody will give you $75M.
Washington Redskins- Hands
The instability in the NFC East could really work to the advantage of Washington Redskins. Their aspirations to repeat as division champions rests surely in the hands of three players, Kirk Cousins, Matt Jones and Josh Norman. Kirk Cousins and the Hogs quietly were 10th in the league last year in passing yards per game (256.8 yds/gm…“YOU LIKE THAT!”) Conversely, they also had the ninth lowest interceptions/game ratio in the league and the best completion percentage in the NFL last season. Sure, having a speedster at receiver like DeSean Jackson or a powerhouse like Jordan Reed at tight end certainly helps. Kirk Cousins will need to remain consistent and build upon they momentum they had from last year by making good reads and having enough time in the pocket.
The best way for Washington to fully maximize their vertical game is by having second-year player Matt Jones making fast and intelligent plays that keep defensive coordinators guessing. Jones, being the feature back after Alfred Morris’s departure at the end of the 2015 season. There is some consternation in Washington as Jones only rushed for an average of 3.4 yards per carry last season and had more than his share of fumbles (Redskins were third worst in NFL in fumbles).
The Washington defense left a lot to be desired last season. They were ninth worst in opponent passing yards, per game, top three worst in opponent fourth down conversions per game, and seventh worst in opponent rushing yards per game. Hopefully the addition of shut down corner Josh Norman will raise the overall profile of the Redskin’s secondary, but will it be enough?
New York Giants- Millions
As in 200 of them. The New York Giants had a Giant sized problem last season: their defense was trash. They gave up the most yards in the NFL last season. After their fourth consecutive year of not making the playoffs, heads began to roll in The Big Apple. Enter Coach Ben McAdoo— he walks into an interesting position in New York with a team that has a proven track record of winning and replacing a divisive coach who many loved, but many thought was past his prime. As Coughlin was unceremoniously showed the door, McAdoo was asked to restore a franchise that seemed to have lost its way. With many great pieces already in place on their depth chart, Giants owner John Mara backed up the Brinks truck this offseason to land some heavy duty talent on the defensive side of the ball. In addition to snagging safety Darian Thompson and defensive back Eli Apple in the draft, the Giants went shopping and landed free agents Olivier Vernon, Janoiris Jenkins and re-signed defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. There is a difference between resolving a problem and throwing money at one until it goes away. It remains to be seen if we are dealing with the former or the latter.
Eli Manning still has the reigns of this offense and this two-time Super Bowl champion still has plenty of help. The Giants also have the electrifying tandem of Odell Beckham Jr. and, Victor Cruz, who is returning from injury (and drafted Sterling Shepard to join them). Expect for the passing game to lead the way as the Giants try to replicate the productivity they had gotten through the air this past season. We know what this offense is capable of, but this team will only make it as far as their defense allows. If this was $200 MILLION well spent, we should be looking at our 2016 NFC East divisional champions. However, if this team can’t come together in a hurry and learn to not only be great individual players, but to work as a cohesive unit, then this season is all but lost for the G-Men.
Kenneth’s NFC East Champs: New York Giants
Anthony’s NFC East Champs: Washington Redskins
Justin’s NFC East Champs: Dallas Cowboys