NFL – 2010 Preview NFC East
A new season of America’s iconic game soon gets underway, so it is time to see what changes have been made to each of the league’s teams in their drive to secure their spot
in Dallas on February 6th for their opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy as winner of Super Bowl XLV.
As you get ready for the Sunday Ritual, here is a roundup of each of the NFL squad by division.
NFC East 2010
Dallas
Cowboy owner Jerry Jones wants to be the first team to host the Super Bowl
- If you’re a Cowboys fan, you can go ahead and dream about being the first team to play a Super Bowl on its home field. It is not far-fetched. With 20 of 22 starters coming back, Wade Phillips secure in a new contract and a squad motivated to get past the meltdown against the Vikings in last year’s playoffs, Dallas could spell Doomsday for the rest of NFC aspirants to the title game.
Phillips at 34–17 (including playoffs) in his three seasons in Dallas, owns the highest winning percentage in team history, pretty impressive being ahead of Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Bill Parcells and Tom Landry. His defensive play calling is also a key to their success with a strong unit of linebackers led by Marcus Ware (11 sacks). Anthony Spencer ended hot with eight sacks, 22 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles (in the Cowboys’ last eight games) with inside linebacker Bradie James leading the team in tackles for five consecutive seasons. Keith Brooking, Jason Williams, Victor Butler and Brandon Williams also expect to contribute as well as Penn State linebacker Sean Lee.
With the ball, despite the loss of left tackle Flozell Adams, Tony Romo should have a fine and balanced year with the weapons he has. Coming off a career-high 4,483 passing yards and threw 26 touchdowns season, Romo will have Felix Jones and Marion Barber to hand off to and downfield Miles Austin and Roy Williams are capable, with grand expectations for rookie Dez Bryant, a first round pick from Oklahoma State. Of course the reliable tight end Jason Witten is coming off his second 1,000-yard season (1,030 yards on 94 catches).
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 at Washington 8:20 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 Chicago 1:00 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 at Houston 1:00 PM
4 BYE
5 Sun, Oct 10 Tennessee 4:15 PM
6 Sun, Oct 17 at Minnesota 4:15 PM
7 Mon, Oct 25 NY Giants 8:30 PM
8 Sun, Oct 31 Jacksonville 1:00 PM
9 Sun, Nov 7 at Green Bay 8:20 PM
10 Sun, Nov 14 at NY Giants 4:15 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 Detroit 1:00 PM
12 Thu, Nov 25 New Orleans 4:15 PM
13 Sun, Dec 5 at Indianapolis 4:15 PM
14 Sun, Dec 12 Philadelphia 8:20 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 Washington 1:00 PM
16 Sat, Dec 25 at Arizona 7:30 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 at Philadelphia 1:00 PM
New York
Coach Coghlin is on the hot seat
- Probably no other team was hit harder with injuries than the Giants. They certainly have the talent, witness their 5-0 start, but to finish at .500 ball with an 8-8 record was disappointing to the franchise to say the least.
Will a new stadium change their luck?
Despite leading his team to the Super Bowl XLII championship, Tom Coughlin will be back on the hot seat. New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell will feel some of that heat as well if the defense that surrendered 45, 41 and 44 points in its last three losses of 2009 returns. The Giants used their first two draft picks on defensive linemen Linval Joseph, a tackle and Jason Pierre-Paul, an end. Coming back from injury are defensive ends – Justin Tuck from shoulder surgery and Osi Umenyiora who is now another year removed from knee surgery.
Offensively the team should be fine. Quarterback Eli Manning had his best statistical season by far last year, completing 60 percent of his passes (62.3) and throwing for more than 4,000 yards (4,021). His biggest challenge? Perhaps learning the ways of the wind which takes on an unchartered course in the Giants’ new $1.7 billion stadium.
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 Carolina 1:00 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 at Indianapolis 8:20 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 Tennessee 1:00 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 Chicago 8:20 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 at Houston 1:00 PM
6 Sun, Oct 17 Detroit 1:00 PM
7 Mon, Oct 25 at Dallas 8:30 PM
8 BYE
9 Sun, Nov 7 at Seattle 4:05 PM
10 Sun, Nov 14 Dallas 4:15 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 at Philadelphia 8:20 PM
12 Sun, Nov 28 Jacksonville 1:00 PM
13 Sun, Dec 5 Washington 1:00 PM
14 Sun, Dec 12 at Minnesota 1:00 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 Philadelphia 1:00 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 at Green Bay 4:15 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 at Washington 1:00 PM
Washington
Can McNabb get it done in the capital?
– There’s a new deputy in town (can’t be the sheriff when Snyder is owner).
The accomplished Mike Shanahan (three Super Bowl wins) is the new coach.
With six-time pro bowler Donovan McNabb running the offense and aging running backs Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson behind him as well as 31 year-old Santa Moss at receiver, it seems as if general manager Bruce Allen has adopted the motto associated with his father, legendary coach George Allen: “The future is now.”
But leaping from a four-win season to the playoffs with the formidable and hungry Giants and Cowboys to get past, will be a lot to ask.
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 Dallas 8:20 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 Houston 4:15 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 at St. Louis 4:05 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 at Philadelphia 4:15 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 Green Bay 1:00 PM
6 Sun, Oct 17 Indianapolis 8:20 PM
7 Sun, Oct 24 at Chicago 1:00 PM
8 Sun, Oct 31 at Detroit 1:00 PM
9 BYE
10 Mon, Nov 15 Philadelphia 8:30 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 at Tennessee 1:00 PM
12 Sun, Nov 28 Minnesota 1:00 PM
13 Sun, Dec 5 at NY Giants 1:00 PM
14 Sun, Dec 12 Tampa Bay 1:00 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 at Dallas 1:00 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 at Jacksonville 1:00 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 NY Giants 1:00 PM
Philadelphia
Speed KIlls- DeMarcus Jackson
- After the Eagles were dismantled by the Cowboys in back-to-back weeks, the regular-season finale (24–0) and first-round playoff disaster (34–14), major personnel changes were at hand. Of course none was bigger than quarterback Donovan McNabb, being traded to division rival Redskins. In 11 years, McNabb led Philly to one Super Bowl appearance and five trips to the NFC Championship Game.
The ball has been handed to his understudy of three years, Kevin Kolb. Kolb’s skills are well-suited to Andy Reid’s style of offense by getting the ball out quickly and accurately but on the down side compared to his predecessor, he doesn’t compare to McNabb regarding being fleet of foot or talent with long balls.
Despite being hampered by injuries last year, losing running back Brian Westbrook won’t help. Kolb’s best asset looks to be on the outside with speedy sensation DeMarcus Jackson who scored eight touchdowns of 50 yards or more last year, tying an NFL record.
Defensively what the team is lacking most is a defensive coordinator with the abilities they had in Jimmy Johnson. Plus the inability to replace safety Johnny Dawkins had a terrible trickle-down effect. With a league-high 13 players from the 2010 draft, nine on the defensive side of the ball, the unit is now in rebuild mode. As is the team in general.
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 Green Bay 4:15 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 at Detroit 1:00 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 at Jacksonville 4:05 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 Washington 4:15 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 at San Francisco 8:20 PM
6 Sun, Oct 17 Atlanta 1:00 PM
7 Sun, Oct 24 at Tennessee 1:00 PM
8 BYE
9 Sun, Nov 7 Indianapolis 4:15 PM
10 Mon, Nov 15 at Washington 8:30 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 NY Giants 8:20 PM
12 Sun, Nov 28 at Chicago 1:00 PM
13 Thu, Dec 2 Houston 8:20 PM
14 Sun, Dec 12 at Dallas 8:20 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 at NY Giants 1:00 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 Minnesota 1:00 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 Dallas 1:00 PM
