Continuing right along with these NFL Preview thingies, today...it's the NFC East. Arguably the toughest division in all of Football features four teams fully capable of snatching the Division title and/or making a deep post-season run. Oddly enough, the defending Super Bowl Champs reside in this division and they aren't even the favorites. That distinguished honor goes to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys are loaded. The Redskins are running with a new ball coach. The Giants are still celebrating winning the Super Bowl and they Iggles, well they're ready to give McNabb and Andy one more go of it. So, let's not waste my time or your time any longer. Getting right to it, in projected/predicted order of finish set to a theme lyric for each squad. Follow me...
1. Dallas Cowboys – “I’ve got to run to keep from hiding and I’m bound to keep on riding, but I ain’t gonna let ‘em catch me no. Ain’t gonna let ‘em catch the Midnight Rider.”
Ah yes, to be the hunted one is no fun. However, it's a position the Cowboys envy. Why else would they carry the moniker of "America's Team" for all these years and/or let HBO film the circus they call training camp. Get your popcorn ready is right, because this team is the show. They are loaded with talent and personality to say the least. And they have only one expectation and that's WIN the Super Bowl. Anything else for this team would be considered a failure. How's that for pressure?
You better not let them catch you Wade Phillips, because you're gone if they do.
2. Philadelphia Eagles – “Shame you left my life so soon you should have told me. But you left me far behind. Now maybe I didn't mean to treat you oh so bad. But I did it anyway.”McNabb is still bitter about T.O. He recently went on record to say just how special things could've been. Fair is fair, but dude it's time to move on Donovan...he left you and Andy Reid...far, far, behind. That said, you've gotta feel for the steam pile of feces the Eagles have given McNabb over the years at WR. And just to throw another wrinkle at McNabb, his best WR (who is average at best), Kevin Curtis will be out "for a while." Hmm, so how can anyone possibly look bright upon this season for the Iggles?
Well, consider me a believer that McNabb really is just that good and that Westbrook is just that much better than you think. Finally, this is probably McNabb's last straw in Philly...he wins or he's gone. He stays healthy or it's adios. The gut reaction here is that the Iggles and McNabb still have something to prove and one solid run in them before they blow this thing up from top to bottom. Their defense is strong enough to keep them in any game, while McNabb struggles to find capable WR's. Put a stamp on this one, the Iggles are going back to the Playoffs.
3. New York Giants - "And I can't fight this feeling anymore. I've forgotten what I started fighting for. Its time to bring this ship into the shore. And throw away the oars, forever"
The feeling was so damn euphoric after last season's "surprise" Super Bowl that Michael Strahan threw away his oars and called it a career. Eli Manning is no longer worried about fighting the hype/expectations or having to live in the shadow of his big brother. In essence, there is a peaceful calm over the Giants organization coming into this season. It's certainly going to be a hard to ask to get past any Super Bowl hangover. For if the Giants at all come out relaxed or complacent, a division like this one will eat them alive. Make no mistakes about it, the defending Super Bowl Champs are hardly hearing the level of respect they should be getting. Really what can't you like about this team?
Eli is wiser. Shockey is gone. The front four (despite losing Strahan) are still fully prepared to swallow QB's for lunch. The mounting pressure has been erased. If you think about it, this team should very well find themselves right in the thick of the hunt, yet again. It'd be a real shocker if they don't pinch out one of the wild cards. However, claiming the division seems like a tall drink of water, considering the Cowboys just have their number in the REGULAR season, sans the playoffs of course.
4. Washington Redskins - "Take a look at me now, 'cause there's just an empty space. And you coming back to me is against all odds and that's just what I've got to face."
Joe Gibbs is gone and he ain't coming back after leaving this team high and dry. It's now Jim Zorn's team and he's facing some pretty stiff odds in arguably the toughest division in Football. It's not as though this Redskins team lacks talent. In fact, they've made the playoffs in two of the past three seasons. However, they seldom get mentioned in the same breath as the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants when royalty in the NFC East is spoken for. Don't let their pegging in these rankings fool you, this team is fully capable of pushing aside their arch rivals and staking a claim at this division crown. However, realistically do I see it happening? Short answer, no.
The youth movement is settling in for the Skins and Jason Campbell just seems about one year with this new offense away from the "breakout" season everyone in DC is praying for. Despite snatching Devin Thomas and Malcom Kelly, the WR core is still practically midgets. The ever-so goofy Clinton Portis should continue to anchor the running game and the defense is "supposed" to be improved. Look for this team to hang around, but just not be quite interesting enough to snatch enough victories from the jaws of defeat.
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