NFC East Preview

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2018 NFC East Preview

The National Football Conference East is home to “America’s Team”, the defending Super Bowl Champions, the G-Men and that other team. No offense to the Redskins but the only nickname I know is the Deadskins and I know they probably hate that. I’d assume the other team is probably a better nickname.

Coming in last in the 2018 season in the NFC East is…

The Dallas Cowboys.

After losing Jason Witten and Dez Bryant, two of their best offensive weapons and leaders, it will hurt the offense, especially given Witten’s retirement. If they believe Allen Hurns will be their answer for a weapon…well this explains why they’ll be last. Once again, Ezekiel Elliott will be a top three running back in the National Football League. It also helps when you have one of the best offensive lines in the league and the addition of guard Connor Williams out of the draft.

The selection of Leighton Vander Esch will help add depth to the injury-prone linebacking core. Other than the linebacking core, not much else going on with this Cowboys defense. They finished last in the NFC East in 2015 and they will do so in 2018.

Third place team, the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins performed on one of the best offseason moves to acquire quarterback Alex Smith and letting Kirk Cousins go. The Skins didn’t really need another running back but they saw Derrius Guice sitting in the second round and picked him up. Guice is a big back that could help on third and ones. The Redskins have a pretty weak receiving core. They are hoping the addition of Paul Richardson will help out.

The defense will play decent ball this offseason. The Redskins got the additions of defensive lineman Pernell McPhee and cornerback Orlando Scandrick. Washington’s first-round pick was defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne who will be lined up next to former college teammate Jonathon Allen and will be a nice fit on the line. Losing Kendall Fuller and Sua Craven will hurt the secondary for the Skins.

Second place team, the New York Giants.

I know what you’re thinking. The Giants were way too good last year to finish last in the East. They have a Hall of Fame QB in Eli Manning and a one of a kind receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. What else could you need? Well, they improved the offense with Saquon Barkley, the number two pick in the NFL draft. This is my way to early prediction but Barkley will take on the Rookie of the Year. They also added some pieces to help out the offensive line.

They didn’t really help themselves out on the defense. They lost Jason Pierre Paul and didn’t add anyone to fill that role. They traded up to receive linebacker Alec Ogletree which will compliment Oliver Vernon. The secondary is a pretty solid punch with Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple, Landon Collins and the addition of William Gay.

First place team, the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles did lose several pieces to their championship run last year but none were that significant enough. They lost Torrey Smith but replaced Smith with Mike Wallace. They lost Trey Burton but they drafted Dallas Goedert. They will also get Darren Sproles and Carson Wentz back from injury. So I wouldn’t necessarily say the offense got better, but they didn’t lose anything either.

If it was even possible, the Eagles defense got better. Two of their defensive lineman left but they added two more that are arguably better in Haloti Ngata and Michael Bennett. You still have to picture Derek Barnett, Fletcher Cox, Malcolm Jenkins, Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby. I mean, this defense is stacked with high caliber players that could result in another heavy push to the playoffs.

The Eagles will be a scary team once again this year. I’m not saying another Super Bowl run but if it ended up happening, I could definitely see why.

There you have it. My four picks in order for the NFC East. The Eagles will keep on flying high on the road to victory.