12 Jun 2019
Can Eli Manning and the New York Giants have a bounce-back season or will the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles repeat? We preview the NFC East division.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
In hindsight, it was something of a master-stroke to make the decision to trade up and draft quarterback Carson Wentz with the second overall pick in the 2016 draft. He was excellent through 13 games in 2007 before being injured.
Nick Foles stepped in and the Eagles barely missed a beat, as they handed Tom Brady and the Patriots defeat in Super Bowl LII.
There have been changes in the summer though. Cornerback Patrick Robinson, end Vinny Curry, receiver Torrey Smith and running back LeGarrette Blount have all since departed, while receiver Mike Wallace, linebacker Paul Worrilow and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata have arrived.
Wentz has undergone knee surgery and is not yet fit to start, but Foles has got the job done and is more than a safe pair of hands. The Eagles have Wentz’s top trio of weapons back - tight end Zach Ertz, and wide receivers Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Agholor - and the addition of Wallace makes them an above-average group who ply their trade behind one of the best offensive lines in the league.
The loss of Robinson, who was one of the most valuable players on the defense last season, could be felt, but the secondary does not have much depth behind top safety tandem Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod, and this is something that Eagles-backers must watch.
The Eagles will have a tough time of becoming the first team in 14 years to repeat a Super Bowl success. Of the 17 previous Super Bowl winners, seven failed to make the playoffs the following season and just three made it back to the Super Bowl.
They also play in the most unpredictable division in football, for the NFC East has not had a repeat champion in 14 years. The Eagles were the last team to repeat in 2004 and their Genting Casino odds of 6/10 to win the NFC East will look a little short to some, given those trends.
NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants are coming off the back of a woeful 3-13 season with a 37-year-old quarterback Eli Manning, who had a hard time being kept upright last season.
They have upgraded four spots on the offensive line (including two new guards in Patrick Omameh and rookie Will Hernandez), and now have a significant skill player in running back Saquon Barkley. On defense, they have added three more draft picks on their front seven to improve their rotation.
They move Olivier Vernon to outside linebacker in a 3-4 base defense and that looks a savvy move. They also drafted Lorenzo Carter to take the workload from their best pass rusher. Carter is a ball-hawk and will change the dynamic of this defense before too long.
Manning will also have a fit Odell Beckham Jr to throw to and a new head coach in Pat Shurmer, who has placed a heavy trust in building relationships with his star players.
Nate Solder’s arrival from New England will only be good for Manning. Solder has consistently been an elite blind-side blocker for Tom Brady and also is overlooked in opening holes for the running game.
However, it is a bit of a gamble to have brought in Alex Ogletree from the LA Rams. He is on a big contract but should fit better in a 3-4.
There is a lot of turnover and it may take time for the Giants’ aggressive, attack-minded defense to reap rewards. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher has his work cut out, and depth at some positions is still required.
We should expect better production from this offense, particularly in the running game, and it is worth noting that Beckham is coming off an injury and the Giants face a tough start with Jacksonville, Dallas, Houston and New Orleans on the early schedule.
Still, given the unpredictability of this division, the Giants’ Genting Casino odds of 13/2 to win the NFC East will no doubt tempt a few.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Head coach Jason Garrett is on the hot-seat and the biggest question facing him is whether his quarterback Dak Prescott can produce similar stats to the 23-to-four touchdown-to-interception ratio his did in his 2016 rookie season, or whether he will be more kike the pedestrian passer who threw for 23 scores and 13 picks in 2017.
He will be helped by the return of rusher Ezekiel Elliott, who was suspended for six games last year, a span in which Dallas went 3-3. They work behind one of the best offensive lines, but with receiver Dez Bryant released and tight-end Jason Witten retiring, the cupboard is bare at the receiving position. There is no legitimate No1 receiver, so expect plenty of bootlegs, roll-outs and screen passes from Prescott in what may look more like a college scheme at times.
The Cowboys filled a big need at linebacker with first-round pick Leighton Vanden Esch and he will likely fill the middle-linebacker spot after the departure of Anthony Hitchens.
The completely rebuilt secondary is the biggest concern and new secondary coach Kris Richard has gone for a youth movement. That brings its own problems and former No1 pick Byron Jones has moved to cornerback from safety, since the former Seattle Seahawks coach likes big corners. It is open to argument that this is Jones’ best position.
The Cowboys also have the strong NFC South on the demanding schedule and while the Genting Casino odds of 3/1 make them second favourites in the division, that may well be based on reputation alone. Some sages feel that the Cowboys could easily finish bottom of the NFC East.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
After winning the division with a 9-7 record in 2016, the Redskins have missed the playoffs for the last two seasons and it is arguable they have addressed the weaknesses sufficiently to be a contender.
They needed to replace quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is in Minnesota, and did so by trading for Kansas City’s veteran Alex Smith to finally have some stability at that position. Drafting LSU’s Derrius Guice was a stroke of luck in the second round, but his stock fell because of off-field issues. Even so, he will compete for the rookie rushing title.
They have overhauled their defensive line but the loss of Trent Murphy and Junior Galette in free agency means there is not a great deal of depth in the rotation and should anything happen to Ryan Kerrigan or Preston Smith, they will not have much of a pass rush.
The offensive line is talented but was ravaged by injuries last year, though the interior of the line is a minor question mark, since they have not really replaced centre Spencer Long.
Rookie 2017 starter Chase Roullier, who played seven games in relief of the injured Spencer last term, is tabbed to start.
The defense as a whole is shaky and while rookie tackle Da’Ron Payne is a force, but probably not enough of one to make the difference required to turn this mediocre team around. The Gentinget odds of 8/1 to win the division are a fair reflection of their chance.
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