NFC East Preview
DALLAS COWBOYS
Prediction: 11-5 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Last year, the Cowboys tied a franchise record 13 regular season victories, led the NFL with most players named to Pro Bowl (13) and extended their playoff victory drought (longest in team history - 1996). While the NFC East is clearly the most competitive division in the NFC and arguably in the NFL, the Cowboys are generally regarded as the best team in the NFC. No arguments here. With the addition of Adam (don't call me "Pacman") Jones and 1st-round rookie Mike Jenkins to the secondary, the Cowboys have one of the Top 5 secondaries in the NFL. Anthony Spencer, once declared the toughest opponent Joe Thomas had to block when both were playing Big Ten Football, is poised to have a breakout year. The Cowboys lack depth at WR and that weakness is glaring heading into Cleveland week 1 with Miles Austin and Sam Hurd out and Isaiah Stanback to play with a harness to protect his separated shoulder. The 'Boys will win the NFC East again in 2008 and might even win a playoff game (or more) to boot.
Interesting Stat/Fact: The Cowboys had no 1,000-yard receivers from 2000-2004 yet have had 2 1,000-yard receivers in both of the past 2 seasons.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 134-122 (.523)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (8): at Green Bay, vs Washington, vs Tampa Bay, at Giants, at Washington, vs Seattle, at Pittsburgh, vs Giants
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 31 wins (10.3 per season)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Prediction: 10-6 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Donovan McNabb finished 2007 strongly when he was finally healthy (816 passing yards in his final 3 games of season). With Asante Samuel added to the group of CBs, the Eagles have arguably the best trio of CBs in football with Sheldon Brown and Lito Shepard. They should easily exceed their league-worst (tied with Houston and Pittsburgh) 11 INTs in 2007. The offensive line is a little bit of a question mark with Shaun Andrews battling depression and Tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan battling Father Time. Many are predicting the Eagles as a sleeper team to win the East, but I think that's going a little too far. A 10-win season with a playoff berth isn't unreasonable though.
Interesting Stat/Fact: The Eagles were the only team in the NFL to not score a defensive TD in 2007.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 133-123 (.520)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (8): at Dallas, vs Pittsburgh, vs Washington, at Seattle, vs Giants, at Giants, at Washington, vs Dallas
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 24 wins (8.0 per season)
NEW YORK GIANTS
Prediction: 8-8 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey had the potential to be big problems for the defending Super Bowl champs. However, Burress just got a contract extension tonight and Shockey was traded to the Saints. The 2 question marks for this team is Eli Manning's ability to continue to progress from his post-season run and the effectiveness ofl the Giants pass rush. The Giants lost Osi Umenyiora for the season due to injury and tried (unsuccessfully) to talk Michael Strahan, now Fox Sports analyst, out of retirement. Justin Tuck was expected to take on a bigger role in 2008, but now he's going to be asked to carry the DL. The Giants lost 22 of their league-leading 53 sacks with Strahan's retirement and Osi's injury. With defenses having to contend with those two, how many of Tuck's 10 sacks would he have had if he faced consistent double teams? I guess we'll find out in 2008.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Eli Manning has thrown 42 TDs to 23 INTs in 25 games played during weeks 1-8, but has thrown 35 TDs to 41 INTs in 31 games during weeks 9-16.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 133-123 (.520)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): vs Washington, vs Seattle, at Pittsburgh, at Dallas, at Washington, at Dallas
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 29 wins (9.7 per season)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Prediction: 8-8 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Jim Zorn was hired as the Redskins Offensive Coordinator early in the pre-season. In fact, he was named OC before the 'Skins selected their Head Coach. Then, in a surprising move, Zorn was promoted to HC in the shortest tenure of an OC promoted to HC in NFL history. In another surprising move, the Redskins signed Jason Taylor, when they lost Phillip Daniels to injury. The Taylor move will give the Redskins a much-improved ability to put pressure on the QB. However, their WR corps is average and the rookies they drafted have been banged up. In a division as talented as the NFC East, I can't see the Redskins making the post-season in 2008.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Ladell Betts finished 2006 with 666 rushing yards on 132 carries in December only. Last season, he was only given 93 carries and finished with 335 yards.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 134-122 (.523)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at Giants, at Dallas, vs Pittsburgh, vs Dallas, at Seattle, at Giants
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 24 wins (8.0 per season)
Check back for other 5 division previews (see AFC East Preview, AFC North Preview), playoff predictions and post-season award predictions to be released this week...
Prediction: 11-5 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Last year, the Cowboys tied a franchise record 13 regular season victories, led the NFL with most players named to Pro Bowl (13) and extended their playoff victory drought (longest in team history - 1996). While the NFC East is clearly the most competitive division in the NFC and arguably in the NFL, the Cowboys are generally regarded as the best team in the NFC. No arguments here. With the addition of Adam (don't call me "Pacman") Jones and 1st-round rookie Mike Jenkins to the secondary, the Cowboys have one of the Top 5 secondaries in the NFL. Anthony Spencer, once declared the toughest opponent Joe Thomas had to block when both were playing Big Ten Football, is poised to have a breakout year. The Cowboys lack depth at WR and that weakness is glaring heading into Cleveland week 1 with Miles Austin and Sam Hurd out and Isaiah Stanback to play with a harness to protect his separated shoulder. The 'Boys will win the NFC East again in 2008 and might even win a playoff game (or more) to boot.
Interesting Stat/Fact: The Cowboys had no 1,000-yard receivers from 2000-2004 yet have had 2 1,000-yard receivers in both of the past 2 seasons.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 134-122 (.523)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (8): at Green Bay, vs Washington, vs Tampa Bay, at Giants, at Washington, vs Seattle, at Pittsburgh, vs Giants
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 31 wins (10.3 per season)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Prediction: 10-6 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Donovan McNabb finished 2007 strongly when he was finally healthy (816 passing yards in his final 3 games of season). With Asante Samuel added to the group of CBs, the Eagles have arguably the best trio of CBs in football with Sheldon Brown and Lito Shepard. They should easily exceed their league-worst (tied with Houston and Pittsburgh) 11 INTs in 2007. The offensive line is a little bit of a question mark with Shaun Andrews battling depression and Tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan battling Father Time. Many are predicting the Eagles as a sleeper team to win the East, but I think that's going a little too far. A 10-win season with a playoff berth isn't unreasonable though.
Interesting Stat/Fact: The Eagles were the only team in the NFL to not score a defensive TD in 2007.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 133-123 (.520)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (8): at Dallas, vs Pittsburgh, vs Washington, at Seattle, vs Giants, at Giants, at Washington, vs Dallas
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 24 wins (8.0 per season)
NEW YORK GIANTS
Prediction: 8-8 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey had the potential to be big problems for the defending Super Bowl champs. However, Burress just got a contract extension tonight and Shockey was traded to the Saints. The 2 question marks for this team is Eli Manning's ability to continue to progress from his post-season run and the effectiveness ofl the Giants pass rush. The Giants lost Osi Umenyiora for the season due to injury and tried (unsuccessfully) to talk Michael Strahan, now Fox Sports analyst, out of retirement. Justin Tuck was expected to take on a bigger role in 2008, but now he's going to be asked to carry the DL. The Giants lost 22 of their league-leading 53 sacks with Strahan's retirement and Osi's injury. With defenses having to contend with those two, how many of Tuck's 10 sacks would he have had if he faced consistent double teams? I guess we'll find out in 2008.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Eli Manning has thrown 42 TDs to 23 INTs in 25 games played during weeks 1-8, but has thrown 35 TDs to 41 INTs in 31 games during weeks 9-16.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 133-123 (.520)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): vs Washington, vs Seattle, at Pittsburgh, at Dallas, at Washington, at Dallas
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 29 wins (9.7 per season)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Prediction: 8-8 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Jim Zorn was hired as the Redskins Offensive Coordinator early in the pre-season. In fact, he was named OC before the 'Skins selected their Head Coach. Then, in a surprising move, Zorn was promoted to HC in the shortest tenure of an OC promoted to HC in NFL history. In another surprising move, the Redskins signed Jason Taylor, when they lost Phillip Daniels to injury. The Taylor move will give the Redskins a much-improved ability to put pressure on the QB. However, their WR corps is average and the rookies they drafted have been banged up. In a division as talented as the NFC East, I can't see the Redskins making the post-season in 2008.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Ladell Betts finished 2006 with 666 rushing yards on 132 carries in December only. Last season, he was only given 93 carries and finished with 335 yards.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 134-122 (.523)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at Giants, at Dallas, vs Pittsburgh, vs Dallas, at Seattle, at Giants
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 24 wins (8.0 per season)
Check back for other 5 division previews (see AFC East Preview, AFC North Preview), playoff predictions and post-season award predictions to be released this week...
