***Official NFC EAST THREAD*** (1 Viewer)

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

I don't remember seeing a division thread, I thought it would be fun to throw some banter back and forth throughout the season between division foes since this division looks to be so competitive.

I'm going to post my preseason rankings as to how I think things will shake out in the division.

1. Dallas Cowboys- The boys have a lot of talent on the team, but still have yet to excel in the playoffs with this group. Still, they'll be tough to top after going 13-3 last year and a team that looks on paper like they've improved some.

2. New York Giants- The Super Bowl Champs proved that they know when to play their best football. Their young QB is the real deal and can play very well under the most dire of circumstances. I haven't been more impressed with any playoff run than what the Giants turned in last year. The loss of Strahan will hurt some but they're still talented on the line. They proved you don't have to win the division to win it all, the ultimate I'll lose the battle to win the war.

3. Washington Redskins- Campbell looks to be coming into this own. He'll need to make the next step for Washington to get into the playoffs. He may have some big targets to throw to but ultimately they'll need to be able to rush the ball well and play a little better defense than last year. I expect another two good games versus the Cowboys this year.

4. Philadelphia Eagles- I have them last, but wouldn't be shocked to see them first. These rankings are of the slimest of margins but ultimately, the lack of offensive weapons in a tough division is a tough way to start. I like some of the improvements they've made on defense but some guys will have to step up and if they do, they certainly can move up this list.

Look forward to someone from the East winning the SB again this year.

How many rings do we have, 10?

 

[Lowen1]

This NFC East looks very tough this year. Even though I'm a big Skin's fan, I have them last. I haven't really crunched any numbers, but here is my gut expectations for win/loss:

Dallas 11-5

Philly 10-6

NYG 8-8

Skins 7-9

Even with the injury to Kevin Curtis, I see good things from the Eagles this year. The defense is always tough. McNabb seems healthy, confident, and not as heavy as in the past few years, which I believe will keep him healthier throughout the season.

Dallas is good all over. If TO can keep his mouth shut (reports are he is now questionning the game plan in the playoff game against the Giants), Dalls has to be considered a near lock for the NFC Championship game.

NYG - I see coming back to earth. I see the superbowl loser curse actually hitting the superbowl winner. I don't think Eli has improved, and I'm worried about Plex's ankle injury. The defense was outstanding in the superbowl, but that was one game. For this year, I find it hard to see them replicating that effort for 16 weeks.

As for my Skins, I really like what Zorn has done thus far. But, he has yet to call plays and manage a team during the regular season. He is trying to be head coach, offensive coordinator and qb coach (although Sherman Smith has the title of O coord, Zorn will do most of that job I think). The defense will be decent if Landry can return healthy. The offense is a question mark. I can see the Skins beating up on bad teams, but struggling against the good. Best case is probably 9-7, but for a first year coach and new offensive system, I think 7-9 is more realistic.

 

[Wooderson]

E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!!!!!!

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

as a division outsider here is my rankings:

1 - Dallas - best of the bunch, lets see if wade has his team ready to play in January

2 - Philly - I think the addition of a.samuel will be big and Dono McFro stays healthy

3 - NYG - can you say fluke? perfect storm to the title, they have it, but they dont even make the playoffs

4 - Was - new coach, Im not sold on Campbell

 

[Bankerguy]

This NFC East looks very tough this year. Even though I'm a big Skin's fan, I have them last. I haven't really crunched any numbers, but here is my gut expectations for win/loss:

Dallas 11-5

Philly 10-6

NYG 8-8

Skins 7-9

Even with the injury to Kevin Curtis, I see good things from the Eagles this year. The defense is always tough. McNabb seems healthy, confident, and not as heavy as in the past few years, which I believe will keep him healthier throughout the season.

Dallas is good all over. If TO can keep his mouth shut (reports are he is now questionning the game plan in the playoff game against the Giants), Dalls has to be considered a near lock for the NFC Championship game.

NYG - I see coming back to earth. I see the superbowl loser curse actually hitting the superbowl winner. I don't think Eli has improved, and I'm worried about Plex's ankle injury. The defense was outstanding in the superbowl, but that was one game. For this year, I find it hard to see them replicating that effort for 16 weeks.

As for my Skins, I really like what Zorn has done thus far. But, he has yet to call plays and manage a team during the regular season. He is trying to be head coach, offensive coordinator and qb coach (although Sherman Smith has the title of O coord, Zorn will do most of that job I think). The defense will be decent if Landry can return healthy. The offense is a question mark. I can see the Skins beating up on bad teams, but struggling against the good. Best case is probably 9-7, but for a first year coach and new offensive system, I think 7-9 is more realistic.

It's just ESPN trying to get a story by taking his comment out of context yet again. He simply stated that he as a premier WR, he wants more looks when the chips are down as any leader would. The story headline then becomes........TO questions game plan.The world wide leader in BS.

 

[renesauz]

I honestly believe this is the toughest overall division in the NFL (Sorry AFC south), but the division will be hard pressed to have all four end .500 or better and place three teams in the playoffs again with the AFC North draw. Besides 6 tough division games, they'll also face some difficult AFC games.

I see Dallas and Philly sluggin it out. My heart says Philly takes it with a late season win over Dallas, but my head sees Dallas finishing one game up. NYG and Washington both end up in the 7-8 win area and miss the post-season. For the G-men, the defense takes a small step backwards the offense can't overcome. For Washington, a slow start with a new coach/system dooms them, but once again a late-season win streak renews the eternal hope of their faithful.

 

[CentralPA]

I can easily see the Eagles being first or dead last. It's going to be hard to read this team until their first real test against Dallas or Pittsburgh (I forget who comes first, I don't think STL should be a problem but you never know). If DeSean Jackson breaks out, and that's a big if, I think the Birds have a shot at Dallas but until then it's Dallas' division to lose. Can't count out the Giants, especially since they won the SB. I know I should give more respect to them but all I see was an above avg team get hot at the right time and won it all, I think they could finish 1st through 3rd, kind of the same boat the Birds are in. Redskins I think are over-rated, they are a good team on the rise but with a whole new coaching staff and QB that I think is suspect in Campbell, I just don't see how they finish better than 4th this year, they'll be tough though, Jason Taylor will help the D out immensly.

 

[Sylira21]

Dallas - best team on paper in the NFC, maybe the NFL. How much does Jones improve their secondary/return game? How much better is Felix than Julius? Does TO stay healthy? Pick: 12-4.

Philly - Low expectations in general. Does their D improve? They need more sacks and turnovers this year. They also need LJ Smith to improve and all their key offensive stars to stay healthy. I think they do well this year. Pick: 10-6.

Washington - Lack of depth could kill this team along the O and D lines. Early season schedule (road games against all the NFC East in the first five weeks) designed by Marquis de Sade. They could easily start 1-4...but goodness, I like Zorn.

Pick: 9-7.

NY Giants - I can't see them winning all their road games again this year. They do have great O and D lines, though, which covers a multitude of sins at other spots. I think they'll miss Shockey when Plax goes ultra-gimpy. I dunno, they just don't impress me as a first rate team...I've never been a Tom Coughlin fan. Pick: 7-9.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

I don't care how good the Cowboys look against Cinci this afternoon, they won't impress me anymore than the Giants and Washington today.

Wow, what a division. Washington is the most surprising to me, playing very strong on the road in the NFC East.

 

[Moe Green]

I don't care how good the Cowboys look against Cinci this afternoon, they won't impress me anymore than the Giants and Washington today.Wow, what a division. Washington is the most surprising to me, playing very strong on the road in the NFC East.

This win today was huge for them -- may get them into the playoffs.Have all teams from a Division ever made it to the playoffs before in the same season? Is it even possible, if three of the NFC East teams have the best records of all the potential wild card teams?

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

I don't care how good the Cowboys look against Cinci this afternoon, they won't impress me anymore than the Giants and Washington today.Wow, what a division. Washington is the most surprising to me, playing very strong on the road in the NFC East.

This win today was huge for them -- may get them into the playoffs.Have all teams from a Division ever made it to the playoffs before in the same season? Is it even possible, if three of the NFC East teams have the best records of all the potential wild card teams?

Only two wild cards, so it's impossible now. Would've been possible when there were only 3 divisions.Last year the NFC East sent 3 teams to the playoffs.

 

[Moe Green]

I don't care how good the Cowboys look against Cinci this afternoon, they won't impress me anymore than the Giants and Washington today.Wow, what a division. Washington is the most surprising to me, playing very strong on the road in the NFC East.

This win today was huge for them -- may get them into the playoffs.Have all teams from a Division ever made it to the playoffs before in the same season? Is it even possible, if three of the NFC East teams have the best records of all the potential wild card teams?

Only two wild cards, so it's impossible now. Would've been possible when there were only 3 divisions.Last year the NFC East sent 3 teams to the playoffs.

Eh, yeah. I should've known this.

 

[thayman]

I don't care how good the Cowboys look against Cinci this afternoon, they won't impress me anymore than the Giants and Washington today.Wow, what a division. Washington is the most surprising to me, playing very strong on the road in the NFC East.

This win today was huge for them -- may get them into the playoffs.Have all teams from a Division ever made it to the playoffs before in the same season? Is it even possible, if three of the NFC East teams have the best records of all the potential wild card teams?

Only two wild cards, so it's impossible now. Would've been possible when there were only 3 divisions.Last year the NFC East sent 3 teams to the playoffs.

Year before as well.