NFC East Primer

Part 2 of our look into the 2010 NFL season brings us to the NFC East.

Did Dez forget something?

Dallas Cowboys
2009 record: 11-5, 1st in division
Head coach: Wade Phillips
Key Additions: T Alex Barron
Key Losses: T Flozell Adams, S Ken Hamlin

1. Are the Cowboys a newer "version" of the San Diego Chargers?
They are. All the talent, very little results. Sure, Dallas manage a playoff win last year. A playoff win. Nothing more.

2. Will Dallas feel the pressure of trying to become the first team to play the Super Bowl on its home field?
In all honesty, they shouldn't care one bit. You always hear phrases similar to "keep your eyes on the prize", but you wonder if that prize doesn't create unnecessary pressure.

3. Seriously, is Wade Phillips the right guy in Dallas?
He does whatever Jerry Jones wants...except win a Super Bowl. I don't think he is, but Phillips isn't a terrible coach.I just feel here's more of a defensive coordinator.

There's nothing that should keep these guys from winning the division...except themselves.

If Bulluck is healthy, Giants opponents better
be aware of his whereabouts on the field.

New York Giants
2009 record: 8-8
Head coach: Tom Coughlin
Key Additions: S Antrel Rolle, S Deon Grant, LB Keith Bulluck
Key Losses: S C.C. Brown, CB Kevin Dockery

1. Will the G-men be able to bounce back from a deplorable second half of 2009?
Anyone that knows how Coughlin coaches will answer this as a resounding "yes". He demands excellence and attention to detail. There's no way the Giants stumble in 2010 like they did in 2009. This coaching staff, for the most part, has been together long enough to realize they made critical mistakes last year, too. That will be the difference in 2010.

2. Is the offensive line still as good as it was a couple of seasons ago?
We saw cracks in the armor last year during the dreaded second half. They're still good, but they're also not the best O-line in the league like may thought in 2007 and 2008.

3. Can the defense get back to the level it was during the Super Bowl season?
It can and it will come close this season. The Giants shored up the defensive front in the draft with Jason Pierre-Paul and Linval Joseph. They brought in Keith Bulluck and signed Antrel Rolle. Every level was addressed so there's no reason to believe they can't excel.

8-8 is not where these guys belong.

"You take it!" "No, you take it!"

Philadelphia Eagles
2009 record: 11-5, 2nd in division
Head coach: Andy Reid
Key Additions: RB Mike Bell, WR Kelley Washington, LB Joe Mays, LB Ernie Sims
Key Losses: QB Donovan McNabb, RB Brian Westbrook, LB Will Weatherspoon, S Sean Jones, CB Sheldon Brown, LB Chris Gocong

1. How well will the Eagles adjust to Kevin Kolb?
It better be fast and it better be smooth. Kolb is the polar opposite of McNabb as far as football goes. Kolb is a pocket passer and will not make the plays on the run like #5 did. Eagles fans must recognize that he's still pretty much a rookie even with this being his 4th season.

2. Will the defense find a way to improve in 2010?
Not really seeing it. The front seven got a gift in landing Brandon Graham in the draft. They traded for a high motor LB in Sims, but what else?

3. Could this be Andy Reid's last hurrah?
Quite possible if the Eagles fall off substantially. I'm a fan of Andy Reid's. Despite never winning the Super Bowl, I believe he's an excellent coach. He has guided the Eagles to many NFC Championships games during his tenure. He's just got the one win in those games and people continually knock him for that. If he's not in Philly after this season, he will be elsewhere in 2011.

The guys lost a lot and gained a little.

He looks so lost and lonely.

Washington Redskins
2009 record: 4-12
Head coach: Mike Shanahan
Key Additions: QB Donovan McNabb, T Jamaal Brown, LB Chris Draft, RB Willie Parker, RB Larry Johnson, WR Mike Furrey, WR Joey Galloway
Key Losses: WR Antwaan Randle-El, RB Rock Cartwright, QB Jason Campbell

1. Will this Albert Haynesworth-Mike Shanahan thing ever end?
It will. An MRI revealed no structural damage to Albert's sore knee. It's just a matter of time before this locking of the horns ends and both parties realize they're acting like a couple of school children.

2. Who does McNabb throw to?
Better yet, why does McNabb have to pass as much as he did in Philly? He won't have to because of Mike Shanahan's scheme. There's a veteran stable of backs in Clinton Portis, Parker and Johnson. If McNabb does have to venture downfield, his options are all that eye opening. He has TEs Chris Cooley and Fred Davis. It his options at receiver that aren't great, but not that bad. Santana Moss is still dangerous but the two 3rd-year receivers (Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly) must rise to the occasion.

3. Can we really expect the defense to stand?
The first hurdle was cleared when Jim Haslett was brought in as defensive coordinator. Not that the Redskins were a bad defense in 2009 (10th overall). Shanny prefers a 3-4 scheme and Haslett is just the right guy to bring in. The linebackers are the group under the microscope. Brian Orakpo could be the supreme beneficiary to the scheme switch. Throw in vets like Rocky McIntosh and London Fletcher should provide a better performing group.

A 4-12 season will not be duplicated in D.C. In fact, if these guys are below .500, I'd be surprised even with the tussle between Albert and Shanny.

Predicting a winner for this division is the easiest. It's how the other three fall. I'm grasping here, but...

1. Dallas. Has to be them Cowboys.
2. New York. Coughlin won't let '09 happen in '10.
3. Washington. Love the McNabb move.
4. Philadelphia. Hate the McNabb move.

Thanksgiving Day NFL Recap

Happy Friday. I hope eveyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I also hope you could find a way to enjoy the NFL games yesterday. I know, not much excitement. But there was if you were Lions QB Duante Culpepper. Read on if you're not sure what I mean.

 Packers (7-4) 34, Lions (2-9) 12

During pregame, Culpepper was informed that he would not be starting, and that Matthew Stafford would. Culpepper did not appear to be too pleased with the team's decision. He did practice with the first team for the short week. Remember, Stafford suffered a separated shoulder during Sunday's 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Maybe, Culpepper would have been the better selection based on the game Stafford had. 20 of 43, 213 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT. One of Stafford's INT was a pick 6 by Packers CB Charles Woodson. Overall the Lions had five turnovers.

One last quick (maybe not so quick) note from the game. There's 2:51 left in the game and the score is 34-12, Green Bay. Detroit has the ball on their own 28. It's 2nd and 10 and Stafford completes a pass to backup TE Casey Fitzsimmons. Upon being tackled, it appears that Fitzsimmons fumbles the ball but the officials ruled that Fitzsimmons was down by contact.

I know...not so quick. Sorry. I have to say this next part though. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy (left) challenged the play. It was reversed and Geen Bay got the ball. I am massively irritated with McCarthy's decision to challenge that play. You're already winning 34-12 and there's less than three minutes left. What a heartless call by McCarthy. Happy Thanksgiving, Coach. You are no doubt, my Turkey of the Day. Congrats!

Some may say I'm off base. I say to you that you're as heartless as McCarthy. You already have the "W". What more do you need?

Game ball: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: 28-39, 348 yards, 3 TD

How The Mighty Have Fallen: The New York Giants

One burning question almost every NFL follower has is this one: What has happened to the once mighty New York Giants? Whether you love them or hate them, their season to date has been a tale of two teams. Two very different teams at that.

We first observed a Giants team that had the appearance of being the dominant team in the NFC. They bolted out of the gate to a 5-0 start and had many experts convincing us that they were the best team not only in the NFC, bit in all of the NFL. QB Eli Manning (left) was looking so much the part of his brother and like a viable MVP candidate.

But look at the opponents combined record during that time frame. 12-28 for a .300 winning percentage. Only the Dallas Cowboys, sitting at 6-2, currently have a winning record. Washington, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and Oakland comprise the other teams that New York defeated.

Then, a game in the Superdome began the Giants we've seen over the last month. No protection Eli and a once fearsome defense that has not stopped anyone. The last 4 opponents are 23-9 for a .719 winning perentage. Beat the teams you're supposed to beat, which New York has done.

But Sunday's loss should give Giants fans a reason to worry even more.

During the fourth quarter, head coach Tom Coughlin drew some criticism about the play calling during the Giants field goal drive that, at the time, gave New York the lead, 20-14. A penalty and three straight rushing plays from inside the Chargers 10 shows signs of a team that wasn't trying to win a game. Coughlin and staff were willing to let the defense win the game instead of the offense. It backfired as the Chargers managed to score the game winner with a mere 21 seconds remaining.

Why would Eli not take a crack at the endzone? You gave him a Brink's truck and now you don't let him try to put the game away for you? Coughlin did get some heat, but you cannot let offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride off the hook either. Going back to conservative playcalling?

Consider this. Sometimes statistics skew our opinions and observations. In the case of the Giants and their fall from the NFL's better teams, this is not the case. The only stat that has been consistent for the G-Men is time of possession. They currently lead the league and have all season log. Go back and look at the Giants before the Saints game and since that same game.

First 5 Games           Opponent
Pass Yds/Game       260.8               124.6
Rush Yds/Game      160.4               105.8
Points/Game             30.2                 14.2
Sacks For                  14                      3
TD/INT                    10/2                  4/5

Last 4 Games
Pass Yds/Game       232.5              262.3
Rush Yds/Game      112.0              102.5
Points/Game             20.3                33.3
Sacks For                    6                     12
TD/INT                     6/6                   11/3

Just from these numbers, you can see the struggle from both sides of the ball. Some have guessed that the absence of Plaxico Burress is still being felt. Makes sense as Eli does not have his "go to guy". WR Steve Smith has stepped into the role, but he does not possess the physical traits of Plax. The passing yards are down, but I'm more concerned with the rush.

While RB Brandon Jacobs (right) does lead the team in rushing, he has yet to produce a single 100+ yard game or a multi-touchdown game. In fact, Jacobs only has 2 TD for the season. The Big Guy must re-establish his punishing style or has his body reached its peak of absorbing punishment? Ahmad Bradshaw has the only 100+ yard effort (He has two: weeks 3 & 5). Bradshaw has visited the endzone four times.

The defense has attracted most of the criticism. Just review what their opponents have been able to do against the defense. More passing yards, more points, more TD passes, less sacks and INT. Sure, the rushing yards are slightly down, but teams are taking their shots at a depleted Giants secondary. There's also no sign of a pass rush.

All of these issues must be severly scrutinized during this week and time is on the Giants side as they have a bye.

A lot of work for the staff during the bye.