NFC East Season Previews
New York Giants
The Giants are a very young team with a lot of potential, but I'm not buying into their success just yet. I have no clue what type of system Joe Judge is going to bring to the team and how his players will respond to him. Jason Garrett is the offensive coordinator, Garrett has received hate in the past for having too predictable of an offense. That being said, he did get a lot out of Dak Prescott so hopefully he'll be able to help Daniel Jones improve. I believe this year will be a struggle for the Giants, but we will start to see the development of Daniel Jones. I want to see Jones not only hold on to the ball better, but start using his legs more. He needs to continue to throw on the run. There were spurts where he'd do it last year, he just needs to do it more consistently. Offensively, I think we'll see Saquon have more touches and his best year yet. I think this team is still missing a true number one receiver, but we will see Evan Engram solidify himself as a top 5 tight end in the league. On the defense, Xavier McKinney is going to stand out. When I watched Alabama football last year, he was always near the ball. He has really good instincts and was the leader of Bama's defense last season. The Giants are still missing a piece on their defense. They don't have that big time pass rusher. I feel as if the Giants are at least 2 years away from being a playoff team and after this year they will be hiring a new general manager.
Washington Football Team (WFT)
The WFT is a team that I think will surprise some people in 2020. I don't see them being a playoff team, but they'll have a few games where they upset some really good teams. The number one reason I don't see them making the playoffs is ownership. Bad ownership reflects on the team and this is really a transition year for this franchise. Dwayne Haskins has been putting a tremendous amount of work in this offseason and he looks like he's in the best shape of his life. He now has a year under his belt where he can understand how the league works and the pace of his game. Ron Rivera is a perfect coach to help him mature and get the game to slow down for him. Terry McLaurin is now going into his second year, which is usually where the young receivers turn stars. I was super high on McLaurin coming out of Ohio State, he reminded me of Doug Baldwin. McLaurin can be the leader on this offense. I'm really looking forward to the comeback of Derrius Guice and the welcoming of both Bryce Love and Antonio Gibson. This team has one of the best running back cores in the league and a baller front seven. This team could be a few years away from becoming the next San Fransisco 49ers, they just need better ownership and management. Their front seven is going to be a problem for opposing offenses. With Montez Sweat and Chase Young coming off the edge, the Redskins have an awesome young pass rushing duo. The addition of Thomas Davis will also help Reuben Foster become the animal he's capable of. Foster looks like he's also in the best shape of his life and I have high expectations for him. (Reuben is a big brother to me). I don't see the WFT being over .500, but I see them having a few upset games against playoff teams in 2020.
Dallas Cowboys
I'm really excited about the Cowboys this season. Mike McCarthy says he reevaluated his coaching in 2019 and focused a lot on analytics. As most of my readers know, I'm huge on analytics so I'm curious to see how analytics will shape his play calling. Going back to when McCarthy was the coach for Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers had a lot of free reign on the offense. One thing to watch is how much control Dak Prescott will have over the offense. Aaron Rodgers would constantly audible to a quick screen pass to Randall Cobb or a fade ball to Davante Adams. If Dak Prescott is able to do that, imagine what CeeDee Lamb is capable of. Run after the catch and high pointing the ball are CeeDee's two best traits, so that capability gets me really excited. Travis Frederick retiring gives me a little concern for their offensive line especially in the running game. Defensively, I don't like their pass rushers at all, but I expect Jaylon Smith to be in the conversation for DPOY. The Cowboys should be a playoff team this season and Dak Prescott will be in line to make at least $40 million annually after this years over.
Philadelphia Eagles
I genuinely love the Eagles team this year. I see Philly being a run first team that finds ways to integrate Jalen Hurts into the offense. Hurts was my number three rated quarterback in the draft this year and he has the potential to be the next Russell Wilson. However, I don't want him falling into the Taysom Hill role. He is way more talented of a quarterback than Taysom Hill and shouldn't be a "gadget" guy. Offensively, Miles Sanders is going to be lethal. Towards the end of the season, Sanders was a top 3 running back and the game was beginning to slow down for him. He was learning how to set up blocks and was becoming a focal point in the offense. He is super slippery running the ball and he's a weapon in the passing game. I'm a huge Carson Wentz believer, if he can stay healthy he should be in the MVP conversation. I still worry about their receiving core. I wasn't very low on Jalen Reagor coming into the draft (he's grown on me), but I still don't think he can be THAT guy. I want to see Dallas Goedert flexed out wide a little bit more this season. I think their defense improved a ton this year. They traded for one of my favorite DBs in Darius Slay. Even though they lost Malcolm Jenkins, they were able to get Will Parks who is wildly underrated. Nickell Robey-Coleman is also a really solid pickup considering there will be guys like Golden Tate, CeeDee Lamb, and Terry McLaurin who play in the slot. My one really big concern is Jalen Mills playing Strong Safety. Mills is wildly inconsistent and I feel he's unreliable. I see the Eagles being a playoff team who will hold one of the three wildcard spots.
Division Awards
Offensive Rookie of the Year: CeeDee Lamb WR Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Chase Young DE Redskins
Breakout Player: Miles Sanders RB Eagles
Best New Division Player: Darius Slay CB Eagles
Division Standings
1. Cowboys 11-5
2. Eagles 10-6
3. Giants 5-11
4. Redskins 5-11
