SportProjections.com: NFC East Preview
By Matt Cordon (kh). Filed in Dallas Cowboys News in Brief |
SportProjections.com, which provides previews of the seasons for each of the major sports, has published its preview of the NFC East, including posts on each of the four teams. Various independent bloggers served as writers, including one who has this thing for trivia that interests almost nobody…
Three of the four writers (including your’s truly) have the teams finishing in this order:
1. Philadelphia (preview by the blogger at Inside the Iggles)
2. Dallas (preview by that blogger at Know Your Dallas Cowboys)
3. Washington (previewed by the blogger at Hogs Haven)
4. N.Y. Giants (previewed by the blogger at MVN-Giants).
The Giants’ writer had the G-Men winning the division, of course. As for my prediction, here is why I would not put Dallas on top:
2007 Projected Record: 10-6
2007 Season Projection Summary:
Although Dallas has enough talent on paper to do better than 10 wins, the team has had trouble with underachievement in the past several years. No Dallas team has won more than 10 games since the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl team in 1995. Although this should be a team on the rise, and even though Dallas has a favorable schedule, the Cowboys will probably split games with division rivals. Dallas plays two of its first three on the road, including visits to Miami and Chicago. Home games against St. Louis and New England will probably be tough, as may another home game against Minnesota. Around Thanksgiving, Dallas plays three straight home games, which could be very beneficial. However, the Cowboys close the season with three of four on the road, including games at Carolina and Washington.
Although Romo shouldered some of the blame for the team’s performance down the stretch in 2006, he continually showed why he is the team’s future at quarterback. In the playoff loss to Seattle, he put his team in position to win (at least playing quarterback and not as a kick holder), and that is the best you can expect from a young quarterback in a pressure situation. The running game with both Jones and Barber is solid, and the offensive line should be in better shape than it has been in years. The receiving corps is talented, but having receivers in their mid-30s, with no other proven performers backing them up, is a bit of a gamble. Tight end Jason Witten is one of the best in the NFC, and the team’s second tight end, Anthony Fasano, has shown improvement.
Phillips is probably on a short leash, with the team expecting him to revive the defense. He has been a solid head coach in the past but has never won more than 11 games in a season and never won a playoff game in his stops at Denver and Buffalo. Much of his success may depend on how first-year offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, a former Dallas quarterback, runs the offense.
I am also trying to avoid getting burned as I did last season, when I was dead certain that Dallas would go 11-5 and make it to the NFC Championship game. I will say, though, that I think a playoff win is very possible. Or perhaps I am just hoping…?
Saturday, August 11th 2007 at 7:13 pm
Here’s my take:
1. Dallas
2. Philadelphia
3. New York
4 Washington
I think the Cowboys will go 12-4 and finally topple the Eagles from their throne. If nothing else, the law of averages is on our side, but I really think the Cowboys just have more talent than the Eagles. We’ll see who’s right in the end. In any event, it will be a two-team race for the division between them.
Sunday, August 12th 2007 at 10:14 am
Thanks, Melonball. Talent-wise, I completely agree with you that Dallas should be better than what I include in my prediction. However, I view 12-4 as what should happen as opposed to what is more likely to happen. We have a team that has not won more than 10 games in the past 11 years, and we have a new coach who has never won more than 11 games in a season. Had a tough time arguing that we had done enough to justify picking us to win 12. Big hat tip if you’re right– all of us will be much happier if you are.
As for the Giants and Redskins, I still have too much respect for Gibbs to put them at the bottom yet again. I don’t think much of Eli, and without Barber, I think New York’s offense will struggle.