With the first Sunday of NFL action just around the corner, the NFC East may seem like a two-team race for now but if the NFL has taught you anything it’s that anything is possible! While the Philadelphia Eagles may a favorite to win the division, the Dallas Cowboys are still a team that may cause issues for the team on their Super Bowl Run. Every week, I’ll be bringing you a week by week analysis on the State of the NFC East just to keep you aware of what the Eagles could be up against or may not have to worry about. Here’s week 1!
Philadelphia Eagles
2018 RANKS:
• Passing offense: 7th
• Rushing offense: 28th
• Passing defense: 30th
• Rushing defense: 7th
Notable draft picks: OT Andre Dillard, RB Miles Sanders, WR J.J. Arcega Whiteside
Key additions/re-signings: DL Malik Jackson, WR Desean Jackson, S Andrew Sendejo, S Johnathan Cyprien, CB Ronald Darby, DT Timmy Jernigan, LB Zach Brown.
Key departures: WR Golden Tate, QB Nick Foles, LB Jordan Hicks, RB Jay Ajayi
Week 1 vs Redskins @ 1pm
The Philadelphia Eagles open the season at home against the Washington Redskins. A rivalry that has grown fiercely over the last couple of years. Both franchises have played each other 170 times. Currently, the Washington Redskins lead in the Eagles in their all-time series with a record of 86-78 with 6 ties but the Eagles have a 4 game winning streak against the Redskins right now. Sunday will hold plenty of fireworks between both teams especially with the return of former Redskin wideout, DeSean Jackson. Jackson will be a key player in this Sunday’s showdown as all of Philadelphia waits to see how great the Wentz-Jackson connection really is. With both franchises trending in different directions, the Redskins D-Line will look to disrupt the best offensive line in the NFL with hopes of keeping the score close.
REDSKINS
2018 RANKS:
• Passing offense: 28th
• Rushing offense: 17th
• Passing defense: 15th
• Rushing defense: 17th
Notable draft picks: QB Dwayne Haskins and DE Montez Sweat
Key additions: S Landon Collins, QB Case Keenum, and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Key departures: LB Preston Smith, S Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, WR Jamison Crowder, LB Zach Brown.
Week 1 vs Eagles @ 1pm
As mentioned before the Redskins own the all-time series against the Eagles with a record of 86-78 and 6 ties. Coach Jay Gruden has name veteran QB Case Keenum as the starting QB over first-round pick QB Dwayne Haskins. The Redskins will be without their franchise left tackle Trent Williams as he’s kept his distance from the organization in hopes of a way out. So much is working against the Redskins, especially a depleted secondary who will hope to maintain Wentz and all of his offensive weapons.
Ryan Kerrigan will be a key player this Sunday as he takes on RT Lane Johnson. Kerrigan has haunted the Eagles time and time again with Johnson even admitting that “it sucks” going against the Redskins edge rusher. Coach Gruden may be entering a season where the odds are stacked against him in an organization that seems dysfunctional from top to bottom. He’ll be hoping his team can knock off this loaded offense with a chance to snap their 4 game losing streak against the birds.
Dallas Cowboys
2018 RANKS:
• Passing offense: 23rd
• Rushing offense: 10th
• Passing defense: 13th
• Rushing defense: 5th
Key additions: DE Robert Quinn, DT Christian Covington, WR Randall Cobb, S George Iloka, TE Jason Witten
Key departures: WR Cole Beasley, DT David Irving, DE Randy Gregory (still on the team but he’s suspended indefinitely. Kind of a trend for the Cowboys, isn’t it?), TE Geoff Swaim
Week 1 vs Giants @ 4:25pm
The Cowboys will be looking to start off hot this season as last year they rode the spark plug of Amari Cooper to the playoffs. Dak Prescott still hasn’t been able to convince many people that he’s more than just a game manager. Now with a healthy and PAID Ezekiel Elliot back in the fold, they’ll have a fairly easy matchup against the New York Giants.
While Jerry Jones turned the Ezekiel Elliot contract situation into a circus with his questionable remarks to the disgruntled running back, one can only wonder how the Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper negotiations will go. Especially since they’ve invested so much money in other players during the offseason. If there’s one thing that you can guarantee to happen with this team is that they’ll find a way to stay relevant in the news whether they’re winning or not. The Cowboys currently lead their all-time series against the Giants with a record of 66-42 and 2 ties.
New York Giants
2018 RANKS:
• Passing offense: 11th
• Rushing offense: 24th
• Passing defense: 23rd
• Rushing defense: 20th
Notable draft picks: DT Dexter Lawrence, CB Deandre Baker, and QB Daniel Jones.
Key additions: Safety Jabrill Peppers, G Kevin Zeitler, WR Golden Tate, DE Markus Golden, and S Antoine Bethea.
Key departures: WR Odell Beckham Jr, DE Olivier Vernon, and S Landon Collins.
Week 1 vs Cowboys @ 4:25pm
The Giants, oh the New York Giants. They’ve ridden a roller coaster all offseason with the questionable decisions of David Gettleman. From the Odell Beckham trade to the Browns and even the questionable move in the drafting Daniel Jones sixth overall. They may have an improved offensive live and defensive secondary but one can only how long will it take for them to place Daniel Jones at the helm.
Eli Manning is at the back end of his storied career and he seems to be getting worse as time passes by. Could the Giants really ride Saquon Barkley all season long without consequences? They’ll be facing a very well oiled defense in the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. They’re currently riding a 4 game losing streak against the Cowboys and could use a pick me up early on this season. Maybe they’ll shock the world with a huge statement win but the odds just aren’t in the favor right now. Even with one of the best running backs in the game on their side.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
