Take four nearly equal poker players give them the same amount of chips and you’ll be hard pressed to pick a winner more than 1 out of 4 times. In the NFC East, there is the possibility the standings could be headed by any of the four teams, and it’s entirely possible any of the four teams could come in dead last. Not to demean the Dallas Cowboys who are a favorite in the division and in the entire league but the difference between them and the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins isn’t as a great as many observers might think. Poker is an apt comparison this year, because the division won’t be decided between the lines this year, but more likely between the ears of the starting quarterbacks.
The Dallas Cowboys have a quarterback that wears his emotions on his sleeve, and usually he’s in high spirits. His joy of the game reminds some of Bret Farve, if only he had the arm strength and the deep playoff runs to go with the spirit. Romo is set this year to join the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the league and contend for a Super Bowl. Though the favorite, there are still question marks with the Cowboys.
Winning their first playoff game in more than a decade should inspire confidence. However, what the Cowboys have struggled with recently is getting over the hump. In the clutch, there are still ghosts of Romo’s failures circling the team and if things start to go bad, it could snowball into an in implosion. Nonetheless if they stay healthy they’ll win the tough division by a couple of games and this may finally be Tony’s year to realize his potential. Record 13-3.
Second in the East will be a three-way battle. Any of the remaining teams are capable of stringing together a season to upend Dallas, and certainly all are able of finishing runner-up. The Washington Redskins added two pieces to the puzzle. Donovan McNabb arrives as the first franchise quarterback in years, and Mike Shannahan looks to have a steadying hand.
A new QB and a new coach often times means a year or two of rebuilding but the rest of the pieces are there in DC. The defense has the pieces to improve and should benefit from an offense not leaving them in the lurch as often as last year. A few players have some wear on the treads but they also have the experience, and desire to get to the playoffs again. They will be a tough out, and with McNabb carrying a chip on his shoulder, and him always seeming to thrive when he does, the Redskins will pip the Eagles (to McNabb’s delight) and the Giants. 10-6.
The New York Giants are Eli Manning’s team. He’ll be called on to do more this year than any other year. He has a Super Bowl trophy on the shelf and in his personal competition with his brother Peyton must eager to get back to the game and get a second. He has the glum hang-dog face of a career Texas Holdem poker player and it remains to see if he has the gumption and guile of one to carry his team. 8-8.
The Philadelphia Eagles could be a surprising underdog in this divison. They have a new quarterback in Kevin Kolb, and unlike their former quarterback and the Redskin’s new one, Kolb doesn’t have a resume of success. Still, the Eagles had some electric pieces around McNabb last year. Kolb doesn’t have the diversity in skills that McNabb has but the Eagles and Andy Reid are banking on him being steady enough for success. With Michael Vick lurking in the wings Kolb better be steady.
Nothing tears a team apart quicker than a quarterback controversy, and one or two bad outings by Kolb will certainly have some in the stands and maybe in the locker room clamoring for Vick. Even worse for Kolb he’ll also be competing with Donovan McNabb week in and week out. He’s in a bad spot. As such, the Eagles will falter. Then again backups like Kurt Warner and Tom Brady in the last decade have been given the keys to a team and done just fine too. 6-10.