Which NFC East should be favorite in 2017?
The NFC East has been unpredictable for years. Last year, most expected the Dallas Cowboys to finish in last place after Tony Romo went down in the preseason with a broken vertebrae. Instead, Dak Prescott had one of the most successful rookie seasons in NFL history, leading Dallas to the division title and a 13-3 record.
The year prior, nobody expected anything from the sad-sack Washington Redskins, only to see them rise above the competition with a 9-7 mark to take the Eastern crown. Now, heading into 2017, most believe the New York Giants and Cowboys are the favorites to earn a home playoff game, with a few taking the darkhorse Philadelphia Eagles to make a run. Despite 17 wins over the past two years, the Redskins are getting the Rodney Dangerfield treatment.
So what to make of the upcoming season? Well, there are cases for all four teams. Let’s summarize each…
Dallas has the best offense of any NFC East team by a wide margin. The Cowboys have the top offensive line in football anchored by Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin, leading the way for All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott. However, Elliott is facing a six-game suspension which is being appealed. Even without Elliott, the passing game should be fine with Prescott slinging the rock to Dez Bryant, Cole Beasley and Jason Witten.
The concern is on defense, where a legion of starters from last year are either gone, suspended or injured. The Cowboys watched as Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Barry Church left in free agency. In addition, Anthony Hitchens is hurt while David Irving and Randy Gregory are suspended.
New York has a terrific defense, led by Landon Collin and a ferocious front four that includes Jason Pierre-Paul, Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon. The Giants should be able to field a top-five unit under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Unfortunately, the offense could hold this group back.
Eli Manning is 36 years old and resembles a statue in the pocket. He has great weapons on the outside in Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall, but the offensive line is horrific. If Manning keeps his consecutive games played streak alive, it would be a borderline miracle behind that wall.
Philadelphia has a great front seven, but the secondary is weak and the offense could be poor. Carson Wentz shows talent, but does he have enough around him? If LeGarrette Blount is good and Alshon Jeffery plays a full season, the Eagles could threaten. If not, it’s hard to see Philadelphia winning more than seven games.
Finally, the Redskins have been rancid in the preseason. The offense is stagnant and without offensive coordinator Sean McVay, it’s tough to know where this group is going. If Kirk Cousins has another quality year, Washington should be respectable. However, after losing DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, the offense’s arrow is pointing down. Factor in a bad defense that lost Trent Murphy for the year, and things are off to a bad start in D.C.
Which team is the favorite? Give me the Cowboys, but ever so slightly over the Giants and Eagles.
