The NFC East is home to the current Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles. The division is always filled with intrigue and is often a coin flip for who tops the standings. Behind Philadelphia there are three teams drastically revamped, but Doug Pederson’s squad are still the favourites to make it out of the division. However, the East is anything but a straightforward division.
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Nick Foles was the unlikely MVP of Super Bowl LII (photo credit: Philadelphia Eagles).
Draft class: Dallas Goedert (tight end), Avonte Maddox (cornerback), Josh Sweat (defensive end), Matt Pryor (offensive guard), Jordan Mailata (offensive tackle).
There was not a lot of draft capital afforded to the current holders of the Lombardi, but General Manager Howie Roseman freshened up his roster during free agency. Michael Bennett was acquired for a mid-round pick and Marcus Johnson. Haloti Ngata was also added to give even more depth to an already stacked defensive line. Mike Wallace and Richard Rodgers were signed in March giving the returning Carson Wentz new weapons to work into the offense.
If the Eagles are to repeat their 2017 heroics, then they must navigate a tough middle portion of their schedule. During October and November they’ll clash with four teams who made the postseason last term, including a rematch of the NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings. Their fixtures feature seven teams which made the playoff last season.
There are some concerns that Wentz will not be ready for week one, should that be the case the Philadelphia faithful will how no qualms about Nick Foles being under center – he was the Super Bowl MVP after all. But at some point, the 2016 second overall pick will return to action. Entering his third season, the man out of North Dakota State was playing at an MVP level before suffering a torn ACL in a 43-35 shootout win over the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s always hard to the reigning champions to meet expectations the following season. Pederson is a coach who won’t be feeling the weight of expectation, though. He will thrive under it. In a stacked NFC conference, the Eagles may just be the class of it.
Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
Dak Prescott will be without Jason Witten or Dez Bryant this year. (photo credit: Dallas Cowboys).
Draft class: Leighton Vander Esch (linebacker), Connor Williams (offensive tackle), Michael Gallup (wide receiver), Dorance Armstrong Jr. (defensive end), Dalton Schultz (tight end), Mike White (quarterback), Chris Covington (linebacker), Cedrick Wilson (wide receiver), Bo Scarbrough (running back).
Expectations are always high for “America’s Team”, in 2017 they fell way short of those. Dallas had a losing record at home and the off-field issues of star running back Ezekiel Elliott were a constant distraction. Dak Prescott is entering a critical third year at quarterback and he’ll be going into it without two players synonymous with the Cowboys.
Tight end Jason Witten retired after a stellar 15-year career and wide receiver Dez Bryant was released which sparked emotionally charged reactions from both sides. Another campaign without playoff football may signal the end for Head Coach Jason Garrett.
The offense has always been reliable on the ground, but what will the passing attack shape up to be? During training camp Prescott heaped praise of wide receiver Cole Beasley whom the Dallas QB labelled his “go-to guy”. There is no prototypical number one pass catcher in the receiver corps but that is becoming less of an issue in the modern NFL.
The development of the aerial offense will be put to the test in the first part of the season as clashes with the Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars all on the schedule for the first six weeks.
Defensively they still have holes. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli will be hoping for a repeat of DeMarcus Lawrence’s 14.5 sack 2017 as well as expecting second-year pass rusher Taco Charlton to improve on his three QB takedowns from a year ago.
Dallas is a team of extremes, the only question this season is: will it be triumph or tragedy?
Washington Redskins (7-9)
Alex Smith was sent to Washington as part of a trade deal with the Kansas City Chiefs (photo credit: Washington Post).
Draft class: Da’Ron Payne (defensive tackle), Derrius Guice (running back), Geron Christian (offensive tackle), Troy Apke (safety), Tim Settle (defensive tackle), Shaun Dion Hamilton (linebacker), Greg Stroman (cornerback), Trey Quinn (wide receiver).
Washington let Kirk Cousins walk in free agency and traded for former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith. A year after finishing with a losing record the Washington brass made some drastic changes, the history of the organisation suggests the changes will be boom or bust.
Jay Gruden has already lost second-round pick Derrius Guice to a torn ACL which represents a big blow for their running game. Searching for their first division title since 2012, the pressure will be mounting on Gruden as he enters his fifth year coaching the team. The team is searching for its first playoff victory since 2005, the three-time Super Bowl champions have been starved of success in recent years.
There is plenty of talent on the roster to get back to the postseason. Josh Doctson and Jordan Reed are looking to bounce back from an injury hit 2017 to go along with wide receiver Jamison Crowder and new acquired pass catcher Paul Richardson. On defense Josh Norman is still one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and first-round pick Da’Ron Payne will give depth to the front seven which managed an impressive 42 sacks last season.
Washington are one of the teams with the earliest bye week in 2018 as it comes in week four. Before they head into the bye they face the Green Bay Packers at home before facing two playoff teams from last term when they clash with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers before a division clash with the Cowboys. That four game stretch, while early in the season, could define Gruden’s season. If the ship sinks this season, Gruden could be out of work by the offseason.
New York Giants (3-13)
Saquon Barkley took his first NFL carry for 39-yards against the Clevland Browns (photo credit: New York Giants).
Draft class: Saquon Barkley (running back), Will Hernandez (offensive guard), Lorenzo Carter (linebacker), B.J. Hill (nose tackle), Kyle Lauletta (quarterback), RJ McIntosh (defensive tackle).
Big Blue had one of the better drafts in April but will the talent translate to wins on the field? Last year saw a complete meltdown as former Head Coach Ben McAdoo was ran out of town amid clashes with several players. Eli Manning’s position is no longer under threat and the returning Odell Beckham Jr will be part of one of the most dynamic duos in the NFL with Barkley in the backfield. The team finished 3-13 in 2017, it is a big ask to turn the ship around and return to the playoffs, but that is exactly the task in front of them.
The defense capitulated last term, ranking 31st in total defense. In 2016 they finished as a top ten unit and was rode to the playoffs. The addition of a run game should keep help keep them fresh as Barkley controls the clock and the Giants offense sustains longer drives.
Adding Will Hernandez in the second round and left tackle Nate Solder via free agency affords Manning the pass protection he was has been desperately lacking. The two-time Super Bowl winner was sacked 31 times in 2017, it could have been more had he not thrown the ball away and lived to fight another down.
The coaching staff was overhauled just as much as the playing staff. Pat Shurmur is now the Head Coach after an impressive year as the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator. Mike Shula joined him from the Carolina Panthers as the new OC and James Bettcher is the new defensive coordinator following an impressive stint in Arizona as the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals. The culture change was much needed and could be what propels the Giants back into playoff contention.
