So yesterday I posted my overview of how I think the NFL season would go. Since I try to keep from having posts go on for too long I didn't get too in-depth with each team, deciding to create individual division breakdowns, which I'll start with now.
First up: The NFC East
So there's no way around this, the NFC East was a dumpster fire last year. The Team Formerly Known as the Racial Epithets (no you will NOT get me to stop calling them that) took the division at 7-9... which is utterly laughable.
Thankfully, it looks like most teams in the division will be heavily improved this season. So let's take a look at them alphabetically.
Dallas: Ok, first things first, disclaimer, I am a WFT fan and thus a Cowboys hater. But I'm putting that aside and looking at this as objectively as my fandom will allow me to.
Record Predicition: 9-8, 2nd in the NFC East
Offense: So the biggest offseason change is simply getting Dak Prescott back on the field healthy. Dallas was primed to have a really solid season last year until Prescott got knocked out. The captain of their ship is back, which will have an immeasurable impact on the offense.
The Cowboys offense is explosive, anyone not living under a rock knows this. But there the running game is a bigger concern to me than it seems to be to most. I hear a lot of people almost dismissively say, "if 'Zeke [Elliot] can get back to his normal form they'll be near unstoppable." Honestly, I think Elliott is washed, and we just don't want to admit it as a general public. Tony Pollard has been a much more consistent option in the backfield for them the past few seasons, and he should be the starter if it weren't for Zeke's monster contract. Sure, reports are out that he's in the best shape of his life, but the offseason is known full of hyperbolic claims that don't match-up with regular season production. This team will go deep in the playoffs if Elliott has that resurgence, but won't get anywhere if he doesn't.
The other major headline for me is the offensive line. The Cowboys line has been wrecked with injuries across the board in years post, most notably their left tackle Tyron Smith. Smith is an all-pro type of lineman and he'll be crucial not only to the running game's success, but keeping Dak upright and healthy for all 17 games.
The Wide Receivers are just awesome. That's all I got for you. Complimenting the Cowboys makes me want to throw up and writing even that was a struggle.
Defense: Man this side of the ball looks ROUGH for Dallas. It was clear the Cowboys wanted either JC Horn of Patrick Surtain in the first round of the draft, missing on both as Carolina and Denver took them with their picks. Dallas did get Micah Parsons as a consolation prize, which looks to be a hell of a prize, but this team didn't need a linebacker right off the bat.
The biggest needs were in the secondary as well as the D-line. The team just couldn't generate pressure last year, which didn't help a secondary that got cooked on a regular basis. Yes, 8 of the team's 11 draft picks were used on defense, but the Cowboys needed something that was a sure thing, either to rush opposing quarterbacks or lock down top receivers. And yeah, I know that there's no such thing as a guarantee in the NFL, but with that in mind, none of their picks seem close to inspiring that kind of confidence in anyone. The hiring of Dan Quinn as their DC should help, but not enough to pull the defense out of the gutter.
New York: The Giants are the team I'm expecting to get labeled as the "dark horse" of the NFC this season. The defensive side of the ball is their clear strength, and the optimists of the world will pin their hopes on Daniel Jones finally becoming a stud at QB, which I just don't see happening.
Record Prediction: 6-9, 3rd in the NFC East
Offense: Oh man, where to go with the Giants offense? The obvious answer is that everything hinges on Daniel Jones prove to be the QB that Dave Gettleman, the team's General Manger, believes him to be; which I just don't see happening. Gettleman is an absolute clown and makes clown type picks to me. Not just with Jones at QB, but along the offensive line as well. Taking Andrew Thomas with the 4th overall pick last year seemed to be a HUGE stretch, especially after comparing his performance to Tristan Wirfs down in Tampa.
The Giants offense just feels like it's going to break down in key spots over the course of the season. Saquon Barkley and recently acquired Kenny Golladay are both coming back from injury, and there's no way to know what to expect from either. Barkely also gets the fun task of dealing with an iffy offensive line that may not create many openings for him, while Golladay and the receivers have to deal with that problem along with Daniel Jones' penchant for making ridiculous and ill-time plays. I just don't see this unit looking very good, and defense will carry them to 6-9.
Defense: Woof. As a WFT fan, I am not excited to go against this defense. Blake Martinez is an absolute monster at the ILB position, getting tackle after tackle. Any time their defense made a play last year, it seemed like Martinez was right in the thick of it. The line also looks menacing with Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams on the ends. Yes, I feel like Washington's is better, but they don't match up against each other, hence my anxiety.
The strength of the Giants D could easily be their secondary. James Bradberry and Adoree' Jackson are both quality corners, supplemented by Logan Ryan and an absolute playmaker in Jabrill Peppers. The defense looks stout as a whole, with no major holes, which I'm not a fan of when I have to watch Ryan Fitz(tragic)patrick go up against them twice this year. One of those matchups being a Thursday night game makes me even more apprehensive; New York always seems to win those.
Philadelphia: WOOF! This is going to be a rough year in Philly. Things might get so bad that the team has to bring back the stadium jail because of their fans. I cannot believe their offseason. Nick Sirianni does not look like a good choice for head coach. They barely did anything to upgrade the offensive line or the defense. Good thing Jalen Hurts can run, he's gonna be doing a lot of it with the New York and Washington's defenses in their division.
Record Prediction: 2-15, 4th in the NFC East
Offense: Let's start with the obvious: we have no clue if Jalen Hurts is any good. Doug Pederson didn't seem very interested in investing in him last year, and he'll be under a new system this year. I don't have high hopes, but I'll leave my final call on Hurts as TBD.
The offensive line for the Eagles is OLD. This position group really needed an upgrade in the offseason. Yes, they lacked for talent in the skill positions, namely Wide Receiver, but it's going to be mighty hard for Hurts to get the ball to his receivers if he has no protection. Hopefully Lane Johnson can stay healthy and Jordan Mailata can step his game up, but I just don't see it happening. Not with the Siranni running the show... did I mention that he doesn't seem like a good fit?
The receiving core got a big upgrade with the drafing of DeVonta Smith, but in a draft that was loaded with receivers, I felt like the Eagles' first round pick could've been used in an area of greater need. I think this group will be good, but how good can they be if the ball can't find them? Also, Miles Sanders is a quality running back, but until I can trust the offensive line, I can't trust him to have a good season.
Defense: What can I say about the defense other than they clearly lack talent? Yes, they still have Fletcher Cox, Derek Barnett and Darius Slay, but there is a steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep drop off in the talent in everyone else. The Eagles D was torched all day, every day last year, and I see much the same happening this year. Pray for them when they play the Chiefs and Chargers in non-divisional games.
Washington: Disclaimer: yes, this is my team, but I've never been alive to see them have some modicum of sustained success. I like to call myself a pessimistic optimist in regards to the Team.
Record Prediction: 11-5. 1st in the NFC East
Offense: Why.... Why.... WHY ARE YOU MAKING US DEAL WITH RYAN FITZPATRICK AS OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK! Dan Snyder, you sir, a jackass for signing off on this. Did the Team trade for Sam Darnold this offseason? Make a move to get a rookie QB in the draft? No, they decided the move to make was to pull a dude with a career of mediocrity out of retirement as the solution. If the Team makes the playoffs it'll be on the backs of the defense. We have talent on our offense around Fitzpatrick, but I'm still so disgusted by this signing that I don't care to go in depth on the rest of the offense. Why bother when we have the poster child of bipolar quarterback play under center? Someone please tell me this is a just a bad nightmare.
Defense: The Team has a top 3 defense. Things will be helped with the recent extension Jonathan Allen signed, keeping that from hanging over him all season. Chase Young is an absolute beast, and Montez Sweat will get overshadowed by this, but man is he good too. Oh, they also have DaRon Payne. Good luck everybody else!
Jamin Davis will hopefully be an upgrade at linebacker, I didn't see much of him in college so I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping for the best here. Jon Bostic and Cole Holcomb should do a solid job of bringing him along.
What's this? No obvious holes in our secondary? Landon Collins age and health being my biggest concern? What is this level of competency I see? This can't be the Washington that I grew up with. No way. I've been too positive for my normal expectations and comfort level sooooooooooooo................
RYAN FREAKING FITZPATRICK???? ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME (self-censor for to illicit some laughs) THIS COULD BE A SUPER BOWL TEAM BUT YOU BASTARDS IN LANDOVER JUST LOVE BREAKING MY HEART DON'T YOU?!?!?!?
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