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Season Predictions – NFC East
The NFC East should be super-competitive this year, with the top 4 teams all looking to make a run for the post-season. There are a lot of familiar faces, with a lot of post-season experience here, so coaching and luck will have a large role to play as well. With that said, here is how I see the East shaking out.
1) Green Bay Packers
Why will the Packers win the division?
Green Bay really does checkmark most of the boxes you look for in a playoff contender; for starters, Aaron Rodgers is a legit starting QB, there are both quantity and well as quality at RB in Kenneth Walker and AJ Dillon, 3 solid WR’s along with a top notch TE, all behind a good and (for the most part) solid O-line, so Derril should be able to put up some points. The defense is good, with shutdown CB Jaire Alexander being the cornerstone, so he will be looking to make enough stops to outscore most other teams
Where could the Packers fall short?
You really can’t point at any particular spot that is weak, but you may say that more resources were spent on depth than at talent, especially on defense. Would you like to see maybe one more stud in the secondary…yeah…but this is a cap league and you have to give up something. Same thing could be said for one of the guard spots…but that is really quibbling.
Verdict
This is a very solid team, and one that should be in the post-season, competing for a Super Bowl. This team will be able to score some points, and I doubt the lack of top-notch safety talent is going to hold them back much given Derril’s coaching success.
2) Dallas Cowboys
How could the Cowboys make the race in the East interesting?
Len’s been doing this awhile, and knows how he wants his team to look, so he should be able to get more than his share of wins. Dak is a solid starter, and Ehlinger is a decent backup, who should be able to fill in while Prescott is out. Zeke and Pollard will carry the load in the backfield, while also boasting 3 legit targets and a good O-line. On defense, there really are no holes to speak of, with solid talent throughout and one of the better tandems at safety in the league. In short, Dallas should make enough stops and score enough points to more than win their share of games.
Why the Cowboys probably won’t win the division?
Probably the biggest reason will be games that Dak will miss this season; regardless of when they are, those games will hurt Dallas, when Ehlinger will be the guy distributing the football. You’d also like to see your main ball carrier with a YPC of better than 3.8; yeah, Pollard makes up for it and so does having a quality O-line, but I’m sure there will be a game or two where that will come into play. Also, and this may be petty, but I don’t see a lot of those grunt guys you like to see on a roster…the guys who can play FB and get you a TD in the redzone, that guy who lines up opposite of Bellinger late in games when you are trying to run out the clock. Those guys really don’t cost all that much cap-wise, but do make a difference, especially in tight games.
Verdict
The Cowboys should definitely be in the race for the playoffs, and could very easily make some noise when they get there. How the Cowboys finish will depend greatly on Dak, but if he is around playoff time, and the Cowboys make it, Dallas has all the makings of a trap team.
3) Washington Commanders
How can the Commanders make the division interesting?
Andy got himself the GOAT for his final season; Brady should stabilize that position for this season, and allow Washington to run a good offense until (hopefully) Sam Howell takes the reins next year. Washington has a couple of good RB’s, 3 solid starting WR’s (two of whom are very young) along with a decent TE and a good O-line. The Commanders have a pretty good D-line, and ¾ of a good secondary; in short, they should be able to hold their own most games, and score enough to win more their fair share of games.
How could Washington fall short?
I look at Washington being neck-and-neck with Dallas this season, but where I see they may fall short is 1) they could really use about another 100 quality carries on offense; those games where it’s been decided, it’s kinda nice to be able to hand the ball off, and they will find it challenging to do that they way they are currently configured; 2) while you have to give up something in a cap league like this, even 1 top LB would be nice, though prioritizing the D-line definitely makes sense, and 3) man, they could really use a solid #2 CB.
Verdict
Andy has a decent squad with some decent talent, but the question is…can the durability of Brady overcome his lack of carries and holes in his secondary. I’m a secondary sorta guy, so that 2nd CB really sticks out like a sore thumb; when you double that with Curl looking to miss around 5 games during the year…that adds up. I have to give Len the edge here, though Andy could make adjustments that tilt the balance in his favor.
4) New York Giants
How could the Giants make the playoffs and push to be in the top 3?
Now, if Nostradamus came to me in a dream and told me all 3 wild card teams came from the East, I would be a bit dubious, but not astounded. New York has an outstanding rushing attack, that also catches the ball proficiently in Barkley and Swift. They also have some targets for the pass game, and an O-line that is decent, though not in any way outstanding. Where the Giants are outstanding is on defense, where they boast at least 7’s throughout their front 7 and at CB; in short, they will rely on getting enough stops to allow their offense to score more often. Easy Peasy.
How could the Giants fall short of the playoffs?
The QB tandem that is Kyler Murray and Deshaun Watson, while looking like a devilish combo in seasons to come, just doesn’t do it this year; Murray will miss a fair number of games this year, and Watson just didn’t get going last season. At WR/TE, they do have a legit #1 TE in Pat Freiermuth, but really…the Giants could really use a solid #1 WR and push everybody else down a notch. On defense…yeah, the Giants could maybe upgrade a bit at safety, but if they managed to get a solid #1 WR, they really wouldn’t be able to afford the upgrade.
Verdict
If Watson bounces back this coming season (as I think he will), these Giants will be a tough out next season, especially if Christian Watson takes that next step. I love how their team has big-play ability, and the idea of Watson throwing deep to Watson is kinda scary if you reside in the NFC East…next year. This year, I just see them falling a bit short, though making a playoff run is hardly out of the question this year.
5) Philadelphia Eagles
How could Philadelphia finish out of last place?
Man, picking Rick to finish last in this division has the feel of me thinking the Vikings were not going to make the playoffs in the PAFL this past season. Some of the talent they do have – they are very solid at the skill positions catching the ball, with 3 solid weapons, a young Brock Purdy, who looks to be the future in San Francisco, and are also have quality tandem at safety and a decent CB…so the cupboard is not completely bare. Also, there are no glaring holes elsewhere on defense or the O-line, so Rick probably won’t be bidding for the top pick in the draft.
How could Philly finish in the basement?
Purdy only played 5 games, so that leaves the other 12 games to be manned by Mariota, who didn’t reek, but didn’t impress either. The top 2 rushers played QB last year, so the term “bell-cow” doesn’t even show up on this farm; Rick may need to keep the grounds crew on retainer to replace the turf from the sideline to the huddle this year. Of course, you can assume that Rick will make the most of the talent this roster does have, but it’s hard to see him breaking through.
Verdict
Just the emails that Rick has sent in recent weeks indicate that he knows this season will be tough sledding; that said, he’s got plenty of street cred and a PAFL ring to show he knows what he’s doing. Best guess is that he takes it on the chin this year, and works on contending next season.
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