NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (Last Year: 13-3).
Major Additions:
RB Ryan Moats, WR Reggie Brown, TE James Whalen, DE Trent Cole, DT Mike Patterson, S Sean Considine.
Major Subtractions:
RB Dorsey Levens, WR Freddie Mitchell, TE Chad Lewis, OT Ian Allen, G Jermaine Mayberry, DE Derrick Burgess, OLB Ike Reese, OLB Nate Wayne.
Offense This Year: Terrell Owens. There isn't much else to say. The Eagles face a perplexing dilemma. If Owens continues to hold out, Philadelphia's offense will suffer, and the team will no longer be able to compete with the likes of Minnesota and Carolina. If Owens concludes his hold out, there will still be a void between him and Donovan McNabb, destroying the great team chemistry the Eagles have enjoyed during Andy Reid's tenure. I don't think Owens plays at all in 2005 -- he is too proud and vain to give up his foolish quest to be one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. Assuming Owens doesn't end his holdout, Philadelphia will have trouble being consistent on offense. McNabb is still the third-best quarterback in the NFL, and Brian Westbrook is a great running back, capable of going the distance any time he touches the ball. However, the wide receiver position and the offensive line are both concerns. Greg Lewis becomes the top receiver in Owens' absence. While Lewis is a promising wide out, he will be shadowed by No. 1 cornerbacks this year, unlike in 2004 when he dealt with dimebacks. Todd Pinkston will no longer benefit from the double teams Owens garnered. Billy McMullen, the No. 3 receiver, has four receptions in two NFL seasons. Reggie Brown, fourth on the depth chart, is a rookie and will not contribute much, considering all rookie receivers struggle in the West Coast Offense. It seems like McNabb's sole reliable target will be tight end L.J. Smith. McNabb will get him the ball often -- assuming he has enough time to throw. Offensive tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan respectively turn 31 and 32 in November. Left guard Artis Hicks has no business starting in this league. Right guard Shawn Andrews is coming off an injury-plagued rookie campaign. Center Hank Fraley is simply a mediocre player. Philadelphia averaged 26.4 points with McNabb and Owens in the lineup. If Owens continues his holdout, they'll be lucky if they can score more than 20 points per contest.
Defense This Year: Like the Owens situation, defensive tackle Corey Simon is holding out. Unlike the Owens situation, Simon is not a good player, and it doesn't matter if he is not in camp. The Eagles struggled to stop the run in 2004, until they moved Jeremiah Trotter ahead of Mark Simoneau on the depth chart. They also replaced Simon and Darwin Walker with Sam Rayburn and Hollis Thomas at defensive tackle. That said, the problems Philadelphia had against the run could resurface in 2005. Thomas is 31 and very injury-prone. Defensive end Jerome McDougle struggles against opposing ground attacks, and is not an every-down lineman. Outside linebacker Dhani Jones is a poor tackler. Stopping the pass is a different story, however. The Eagles registered a mind-boggling 47 sacks in 2004, led by Jevon Kearse, who had 7½. Philadelphia needs Kearse to stay healthy, because he is their only pure pass rusher. Keith Adams, the weakside linebacker, has shown some potential, wrapping up Michael Vick twice for short gains in the NFC Championship Game. The Eagles have one of the more sound starting secondaries in the NFL. Free safety Brian Dawkins is the heart and soul of the defense. Strong safety Michael Lewis is one of the league's finest defensive backs. Sheldon Brown is a notch below a shutdown corner, while Lito Sheppard isn't the greatest cornerback in the world, but managed to intercept five passes in 2004. He ran two back for touchdowns, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl. While the Eagles have solid starters, they have very little depth in their secondary.
Schedule and Intangibles: David Akers is arguably the second-best kicker in the NFL, behind Adam Vinateri. Akers connected on 17-of-21 attempts from beyond 40 yards... J.R. Reed did a phenomenal job returning kickoffs last season, but his career could be over. Who will be the kickoff and punt returner?... A big believer in curses and hexes? Then don't bet on the Eagles making the playoffs. They are infected with the Super Bowl Loser Curse, in which no team has made the playoffs the year after they lost the Super Bowl this decade. McNabb is also the cover boy of Madden 2006. Every player who has been on the cover of Madden has either gotten injured or missed the playoffs, with the exception of Eddie George. All George did was fumble in a playoff game against Baltimore, sparking the Ravens over Tennessee... Philadelphia has a fairly easy schedule. Soft, non-divisional foes include: San Francisco, Oakland, Denver, Green Bay, Seattle, St. Louis and Arizona.
Additional Reading: Why Terrell Owens will not be back with the Eagles this season.
Analysis: The Eagles have chemistry issues and two curses to deal with. An easy schedule could save them.
Projection: 11-5 (1st in the NFC East).
Dallas Cowboys (Last Year: 6-10).
Major Additions:
QB Drew Bledsoe, RB Anthony Thomas, RB Marion Barber III, G Marco Rivera, DE Marcus Spears, NT Jason Ferguson, OLB Demarcus Ware, OLB Kevin Burnett, CB Aaron Glenn, CB Anthony Henry.
Major Subtractions:
QB Vinny Testaverde, FB Richie Anderson, C Gennaro DiNapoli, OLB Dexter Coakley, CB Pete Hunter.
Offense This Year: Plenty of people scoff at Dallas' offense because Drew Bledsoe is the starting quarterback. They will regret it. Bledsoe has been brutally criticized for his tendency to hold the ball too long in the pocket, which is something he developed after Bill Parcells left the New England Patriots. Bledsoe actually had his best years under Parcells, throwing for 4,555 yards and 25 touchdowns in 1994, and 4,086 yards and 27 touchdowns in 1996. Bledsoe hit rock bottom the past two seasons in Buffalo, but if anyone can revive his career, it is Parcells. However, Parcells will not be the only person to factor into the reconstruction of Bledsoe -- the 33-year old quarterback will have a solid running game, a few talented targets to throw to, and a decent offensive line in front of him. Julius Jones, who garnered 819 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 197 carries, could lead the league in rushing this season. Keep in mind that this could be Parcells' final season in Dallas, meaning he may give Jones more than 400 carries. Jones will be running behind a plethora of skilled linemen, including: left tackle Flozell Adams, center Al Johnson, right guard Marco Rivera and right tackle Larry Allen. The lone concern up front is left guard Andre Gurode, who struggled in 2004 after a promising 2003 campaign. The line will give Bledsoe enough time to connect with his receivers, including tight end Jason Witten. The second-year tight end caught a mind-boggling 87 catches for 980 yards and six touchdowns last season. The wide receivers aren't the greatest in the world -- Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn combined for only 94 catches in 2004. It's safe to say that Dallas will be scoring more than 18.3 points per game in 2005.
Defense This Year: Dallas' defense couldn't stop a soul last year. Their defense surrendered 25.3 points per game. They couldn't stop the run or the pass, and they had trouble putting pressure on the quarterback. Parcells has made the proper arrangements to ensure that the Cowboys' stop unit will not be embarrassed again. He is switching to the 3-4 defense and acquired the necessary pieces to guarantee a drastic improvement. The most important acquisition he made was signing nose tackle Jason Ferguson, a monstrous player who will eat up offensive linemen, allowing the linebackers to get sacks or stop the opposing rusher for minimal gains. The linebacking corps is highlighted by two very talented rookies, DeMarcus Ware and Kevin Burnett. Parcells compared the latter to Lawrence Taylor. The middle linebackers aren't as outstanding, as the two positions are occupied by Al Singleton and Dat Nguyen. Joining Ferguson on the defensive line are Greg Ellis, who accumulated nine sacks in 2004, and rookie Marcus Spears, who figures to make a positive impact in his inaugural season. The Cowboys' secondary has also improved. The top three cornerbacks -- Terence Newman, Aaron Glenn and Anthony Henry -- are all great defensive backs. Glenn could be considered a shutdown corner, while Newman could reach that status with another year of experience. Strong safety Roy Williams is one of the most feared players in the NFL. He was responsible for three season-ending injuries in 2004. The Achillies Heel of Dallas' secondary is free safety Keith Davis, but it's difficult to find a team in this league not named the New England Patriots, who do not have a weak spot on defense.
Schedule and Intangibles: Dallas failed to return a punt or a kickoff for six last season. That needs to change if they want to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East crown... Billy Cundiff was 9-of-15 from beyond 40 yards in 2004. Not bad, but improvement is certainly welcome... The Cowboys' schedule is loaded with pushover opponents, including: San Francisco, Oakland, Arizona, Detroit, Denver and St. Louis.
Analysis: If Bledsoe can perform like he did when Parcells coached him the first time around, it will be difficult to imagine the Tuna out of the postseason again.
Projection: 10-6 (2nd in the NFC East).
New York Giants (Last Year: 6-10).
Major Additions:
WR Plaxico Burress, OT Kareem McKenzie, DE Justin Tuck, DT Kendrick Clancy, MLB Antonio Pierce, CB Corey Webster, K Jay Feely.
Major Subtractions:
QB Kurt Warner, WR Ike Hilliard, G Barry Stokes, DE Lorenzo Bronell, DT Norman Hand, DT Marin Chase, DT Lance Legree, CB Terry Cousin, S Omar Stoutmire.
Offense This Year: Saying that the Giants' offense depends on Eli Manning is an understatement. New York's entire record is riding on the first-overall selection of 2004. Manning started off poorly, looking like a seventh-round pick, as he completed just 6-of-21 passes for 148 yards and two interceptions against the Eagles in week 12. He was even worse against Baltimore, connecting on 4-of-18 passes for 27 yards and two picks. However, he progressively got better each week. He nearly beat Pittsburgh in week 15. He earned his first victory against Dallas, as he threw for three scores. Manning had just two reliable targets to throw to during his rookie campaign: wide receiver Amani Toomer and tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Giants acquired a third -- former Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress, who is one of the most athletic players at his position. Of course, the ultimate playmaker on the Giants is running back Tiki Barber, who totaled about 2,100 total yards and 15 touchdowns. Barber could exceed the numbers he posted in 2004, thanks to right tackle Kareem McKenzie, a free agent pickup. McKenzie joins left tackle Luke Petitgout, left guard David Diehl and center Shaun O'Hara as skilled players on the offensive line. The only question mark up front is right guard Chris Snee, a second-year player, who happens to be Tom Coughlin's son-in-law. Snee has potential, and should become a valuable member of the Giants line, assuming he trains hard this off-season. It's safe to say that Manning will win more than one game in his second season.
Defense This Year: New York's defense was Jekyll and Hyde in 2004, surrendering 17.6 points during the first eight games of the season, and 27 points the last eight contests. The difference? Michael Strahan was present for the first half of 2004, and the Giants were 5-3. However, Strahan suffered a season-ending injury against the Chicago Bears in week 9. New York finished at a 1-7 clip. Coincidence? Strahan is one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL. Despite his age (33), he is still a force for the Giants, as indicated by the points they permitted in his absence. Starting opposite of Strahan at the other defensive position is Osi Umenyiora, who registered seven sacks in his sophomore season. He should be able to hit double digits in 2005. All of this pressure that the Giants will place on opposing quarterbacks will assist a decent secondary comprised of three solid starters. Corners Will Allen and William Peterson are probably the sixth-best cornerbacking duo in the NFC. Strong safety Shaun Williams is also a talented defensive back. New York needs an upgrade over free safety Gibril Wilson and more depth at corner and safety. While the Giants will be able to stop the pass effectively, their run defense remains a concern. They have a talented linebacking corps, comprised of Carlos Emmons, Antonio Pierce and Barrett Green. However, the linebackers will not receive any protection from defensive tackles Fred Robbins and William Joseph, who happen to be ineffective at eating up offensive linemen. New York needed help at defensive tackle this off-season, but failed to address the position.
Schedule and Intangibles: Kicker Steve Christie did not have any range, so he has been replaced by Jay Feely, who has a much stronger leg. Now, if only he can stay consistent... New York has an exceptional kick returner in Willie Ponder, who took one to the house last year. However, they do not have a reliable punt returner... The Giants have a fairly easy schedule in 2005. They have Minnesota, Kansas City and San Diego on the slate, but they have a plethora of easy, non-divisional contests, including: Arizona, New Orleans, St. Louis, Denver, San Francisco and Oakland.
Analysis: The Giants will go as far as Manning takes them. Considering that the NFC East is one of the worst divisions in the NFL, and the Eagles have plenty of problems to deal with, the playoffs and a division title are not out of the question.
Projection: 9-7 (3rd in the NFC East).
Washington Redskins (Last Year: 6-10).
Major Additions:
QB Jason Campbell, WR Santana Moss, WR David Patten, C Casey Rabach, OLB Warrick Holdman, OLB Brian Allen, CB Carlos Rogers, CB Artrell Hawkins, S Omar Stoutmire, S Pierson Prioleau.
Major Subtractions:
WR Laveraneus Coles, WR Rod Gardner, MLB Antonio Pierce, MLB Michael Barrow, CB Fred Smoot, S Cory Hall, S Andre Lott.
Offense This Year: Washington's offense was the NFL's worst last season, especially during the first 12 weeks. The Redskins pitifully averaged 12.6 points until December. In fact, they failed to score more than 20 points in any contest until after Thanksgiving. Not much has changed on the offensive side on the ball, aside from right tackle Jon Jansen's return from injury, and the swapping of two receivers -- Santana Moss and David Patten have both replaced Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner. Throwing them the ball will be Patrick Ramsey, who threw more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (10) and maintained a pedestrian quarterback rating of 74.8 in 2004. Ramsey is down to his last chance, and could be replaced by rookie Jason Campbell, if he disappoints again. The substitution could occur prior to week 10, because the Redskins will once again struggle to score. Running back Clinton Portis rushed for 1,315 yards last season, but averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. He also fumbled five times. His average should increase a bit, because the offensive line automatically improves with Jansen's return. Three of the other four linemen -- left tackle Chris Samuels, center Casey Rabach and right guard Randy Thomas -- are all solid players up front. However, opposing stop units will stack the line of scrimmage, forcing Ramsey to beat them through the air. Moss, Patten and James Thrash are all mediocre receivers, and will be taken care of in single coverage. The Redskins lack a reliable intermediate target -- tight end Robert Royal caught just eight passes last year.
Defense This Year: Daniel Snyder spent his money wisely last off-season, and it paid off, as the Redskins had an exceptional defense that was ranked first against the run. However, all of the signing bonuses Snyder gave away in the past backfired, as the team could not resign two of its better defensive players: middle linebacker Antonio Pierce and cornerback Fred Smoot. Pierce was greatly responsible for the defense's prowess against the run, while Smoot is one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. Washington still possesses a few great defensive players -- defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, outside linebackers LaVar Arrington and Marcus Washington, cornerback Shawn Springs and safeties Sean Taylor and Matt Bowen -- but the defense will not be the same without Pierce and Smoot. Taylor is currently facing a minimum of three years in prison. While the trial may not be over until the end of the season, Taylor's mind will be focused on the trial and not on game film. Michael Barrow replaces Pierce at middle linebacker. Barrow was once a solid player, but is past his prime at 35. Rookie Carlos Rogers is already penciled in at Smoot's former spot. However, Rogers will inevitably struggle, as all rookies do. Washington still has the pieces to possess a solid stop unit, but the defense will no longer be dominant like it was in 2004.
Schedule and Intangibles: The Redskins failed and succeeded on special teams. They would often pin the opposition down inside their own five-yard line. However, Washington also allowed two returns for touchdowns... Kicker John Hall was only 1-of-4 from beyond 40 yards... When will the Redskins finally beat the Cowboys? They have lost 13 of the previous 14 meetings against Dallas... Washington has one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. Their non-divisional slate includes: Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Oakland, St. Louis and Arizona.
Analysis: Washington cannot score, while their defense has gotten worse. Joe Gibbs may have received a mulligan for his first year, but there will be plenty of angry Redskins fans if their team misses the playoffs again.
Projection: 2-14 (4th in the NFC East).
2001 Season Preview
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