Pick ‘Em Monday – NFC East

Pick ‘Em Mondays begins at BroncoTalk, picking the ranks of each division one by one. For the past 4 years running (as far as I felt like researching), there have been at least 4 changes in the division winners across the league, with a few years with 5 changes as well. So it’s very unlikely the Chargers, Ravens, Colts, Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Saints and Eagles will all repeat. Or even half of those teams, for that matter.

This week’s task is looking at the NFC East, year in and year out one of the most competitive divisions in football. Last year the Eagles took the division, with the Cowboys and Giants both receiving the NFC Wild Card spots, and the Redskins filing in behind. That is nearly a perfect flip from the standings the year before – in 2005, the rankings were the Giants as division winners, then the Redskins with the Wild Card, followed by the Cowboys then the Eagles. It’s a perfect example of how each year things can change dramatically in a single division.

On to the picks!

1) Dallas Cowboys

I expect the Cowboys to make strides under Wade Phillips. Phillips didn’t have a chance to make an impact here in Denver, but he was building the Buffalo Bills back to glory before the Music City Miracle got in the way. He forged the San Diego Chargers into the defensive megahouse we Broncos have the privilege of dealing with twice a year. And he could have a similar effect on DeMarcus Ware as he did with Shawne Merriman. To top it off, I’m a Tony Romo believer – yeah, he didn’t play so well down the stretch, but he was a fumbled snap away from knocking off the reigning NFC champs in Seattle this past year. He re-established his game, and I expect their top ranked defense and offense from last year to be all the more improved with experience as a team.

2) Washington Redskins

The Redskins’ meltdown last year is still seemingly unexplainable to me. I just don’t get it. Gregg Willliams is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, but the defense last year was pitiful. They were last in sacks and ranked similarly in pass and run defense. And I just don’t get it – it’s the same squad that ranked much higher in 2005, and the offense was more explosive that year as well. Whatever the reason, it just didn’t feel like “the real” Reskins to me – and I expect them to bounce back in 2007. Jason Campbell will have more experience, and they still have a very exploside receiver corps. Look for the Skins to return to form in 07 – this is the same defense, with the same players and coaches, who ranked 3rd and 9th in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

3) Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, I may be crazy, but I don’t see the Eagles returning to dominance with all the controversy currently surrounding the club. If I were to rank quarterbacks in the entire NFL, it would go 1. Peyton Manning, 2. Tom Brady, 3.Donovan McNabb. And I consider the Eagles to be the most talented team in the division, possibly the NFC. But similar to their unimpressive 2005 campaign, trouble is a-brewing in Philly as McNabb continues to nurse his knee injury in the midst of confusing quarterback controversy in the drafting of Kevin Kolb. McNabb hasn’t finished a year healthy in years, and I can’t count on him to do it this year. Their defense may be the best in the division, but with questions at quarterback I can’t rank them higher than either the Skins or Boys.

4) New York Giants

Eli Manning hasn’t shown anything in the form of incosistency, and Tiki Barber and Luke Petigout now off the team won’t help in the least. Now that Plaxico Burress is nursing an ankle procedure, how is this Giants offense supposed to strike fear into anyone? While I’ll always cheer for Reuben Droughns, I don’t see the running game being anything special and I don’t see the passing game improving for the reasons afforementioned. The defense will be better with a healthy Michael Strahan, but his health for an entire season is not guaranteed – I mean, wasn’t it originally supposed to be a 4 week injury that lasted more than half of it? I could be wrong, but I remember hearing that their future Hall of Fame defensive end was only out for 4 weeks; perhaps because of age and wear and tear, he was out for the last 9 gaems. Don’t get me wrong – the Giants aren’t in the bottom 8 teams of the league, but in this division they’re the bottom of the barrel.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see the NFC East send 3 teams to the playoffs for the third year running – the division is that good. I see the Redskins squeezing past the Eagles, with the Giants finishing around 6-10 or 5-11.

The Broncos don’t play the NFC East this year, so unless one of these teams make it to the big game, (and we do too), it won’t matter to us. But if you’re a true football fan it’s fun to watch the entire league. Next week I’ll run through the AFC East, talking Patriots, Jets, Dolphins and Bills. We do play the Bills this year, and a playoff matchup against the Pats is potentially imminent. A little more juicy, it seems, as the Pick ‘Ems goes along.