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NFL: Predicting the NFC’s division winners

By Michael Burke

Aug 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

NFC East:

1. Philadelphia Eagles: 9-7

I certainly don’t love the Eagles, but I do like them. Nick Foles has been shaky in the preseason (three interceptions, one more than he threw all of last season) but played well against the New England Patriots (8-10, 81 yards, touchdown) and outplayed Ben Roethlisberger in last Thursday’s win at Lincoln Financial Field.

I do expect the rest of the NFL to adapt to Chip Kelly’s offense and I can guarantee the Eagles won’t be as lucky as they were in 2013, when they saw the Detroit Lions in a snowstorm, faced Scott Tolzien in place of Aaron Rodgers and Kyle Orton in place of Tony Romo, and only beat the Arizona Cardinals because of a bogus holding penalty on safety Tyriann Mathieu.

Still, by default, the Eagles should be good enough to win the NFC East, which I consider to be the NFC’s worst division.

2. Dallas Cowboys: 8-8

This season, the Cowboys won’t have an opportunity to win the division on the final night of the regular season, but they will have a fourth straight .500 season.

The offense, led by Tony Romo and his favorite weapons DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant, will be among the NFL’s best. But the defense will be the team’s downfall. It was the NFL’s worst (by far) in 2013 and, without Sean Lee, I can’t see it being much better in 2014.

3. New York Giants: 7-9

I tried to pick the Giants to win this division, but they didn’t give me the chance. New York has played alarmingly poorly this preseason.

Eli Manning, whom I have trouble believing actually won not one but two Super Bowl MVPs, has looked out of sync with his receivers. In four preseason games, he is 19-of-37 for 186 yards passing and one touchdown. Not very convincing.

The Giants don’t have a second go-to receiver to complement Victor Cruz and 23-year old running back David Wilson was forced to retire earlier this month after aggravating a dangerous neck injury suffered last season.

Yep, 2014 has 7-9 (again) written all over it for the G-Men.

4. Washington Redskins: 5-11

Like the Giants, I considered picking Washington to win this division, mostly because I expected Robert Griffin III to resemble the RG3 that won Rookie of the Year in 2012. Based on what I’ve seen in the preseason, I was wrong.

Griffin was embarrassingly bad against the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football two weeks ago and again against the Baltimore Ravens last week, combining to go 11-of-16 for 132 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Even worse, RG3 still doesn’t know how to slide or get out of bound and subjects himself to too many unnecessary, dangerous hits. He will not stay healthy.

And, if Robert Griffin III can’t play at a high level, neither can Washington.

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