Our series continues with my preseason win-loss predictions for every NFL team this season. Please note that I will bravely [?] refuse to change any of my projections based on meaningless said preseason games to come, so if I look crazy later, I'm just lazy. This time, we cross the conference aisle to take a look at the NFC East:
New York Giants
Predicted Record: 11 - 5
In A Sentence: The Giants meet [very high] expectations for the most part dealing with a tough division and an even tougher schedule due to clutch plays from Mr. Elite in many a nail-biter this season.
Playoff Chances: Looking good, provided NYG can maintain its control over the NFC East with a talented, consistent squad on both sides of the ball. I'm putting my money on a division title and first round bye, which probably means I'll be eating Ramen nightly once the schedule of hard knocks ensues.
Best Game: The Giants have a plethora of great games this season. They will revisit each team they faced in last year's playoffs (Atlanta, Green Bay and San Francisco), not to mention some great divisional matchups. But given that the reigning Super Bowl champ has gone undefeated in Week 1 since the NFL's kick off series began eight years ago, I look forward to seeing the Giants pummel the Cowboys in [gasp!] less than a month.
Upset Pick: Of course, at times the Giants can look all too vulnerable against less powerful teams, and I think the Redskins will remind Big Blue in Week 13 that they, too, will be NFC East contenders soon.
Philadelphia Eagles
Predicted Record: 10 - 6
In A Sentence: Learning from the sins of the past and keeping Michael Vick upright more often than not, the Eagles finally put their roster's embarrassment of riches to good use in 2012.
Playoff Chances: I'm projecting a Wild Card spot in Philly, though the Eagles ought to be neck and neck with the Giants for the division title and could easily come out on top.
Best Game: Week 17 in the Meadowlands with the Giants. Assuming both of these teams live up to expectations, we're looking at a wild finish for playoff position that won't disappoint.
Upset Pick: Like the Giants, the Eagles will falter as the Redskins emerge victorious late in the Week 16 in front of a very ornery Philly home crowd (what else is new?)
Dallas Cowboys
Predicted Record: 9 - 7
In A Sentence: Try as they might, Big D finds another way to look promising but snakebit this year with questionable coaching from Jason Garrett and unreliable offensive play from Tony Romo's crew.
Playoff Chances: In another division, the Cowboys would be able to lock up a playoff spot pretty easily, but they still look like the third most talented team in the NFC East right now to their detriment.
Best Game: Aside from the hotly anticipated divisional bouts this season (Please excuse the repetitive caveat), America's Teams rumble in Week 15 when the Steelers come to Dallas to contend for magnetic car logo market share.
Upset Pick: It would be hilarious if Dallas lost to the Cleveland Browns, especially if Colt McCoy somehow weasled his way back into the picture, but I've put most of the 'Boys notable losses within the division, so nothing surprising here.
Washington Redskins
Predicted Record: 6 - 10
In A Sentence: RG3 shows potential but doesn't quite meet the public's projections of Cam 2.0 with a mediocre franchise in a tough division.
Playoff Chances: Only made possible if everyone else in the East collapses in classic fashion, so 50/50.
Best Game: For reasons previously mentioned, I'm looking forward to the Redskins' Week 9 homefield battle with the Carolina Panthers-- do ya think Troy and Joe will be able to find some sort of interesting athletic comparison to tie all of the game calling together?
Upset Pick: As stated above, Robert Griffin out-Vicks the Eagles in Week 16, signaling the rise of yet another NFC East superpower.
No comments:
Post a Comment