CFZ Early look at the NFC East-gap is growing smaller

Ken

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Cowboys dominated the division last yr, sweeping all 6 games. However, the talent gap has grown much closer after this offseason:

-Cowboys lost Cooper, Collins and Gregory. They plan to replace all three with unproven, young talent. Whenever you go to the youth movement, it takes time to develop players.

-Eagles perhaps have the best roster in the division. Added an impact #1 WR, two impact defensive rookies and a few defensive starters via fa. Became more of a run first team, can Hurts beat teams through the air? Teams are going to force Hurts to beat them with his arm, not his legs.

-Washington is getting their stud pass rusher back in Chase Young. Defense took a step back, but they still have one the best defensive lines in the league. Wentz played with one of the best OL's in football with a great running game, now he comes to Washington with less talent, this could potentially be a recipe for disaster.

-Giants have two legitimate edge rushers now, although unproven. Have 2 top 5 picks at Tackle, but OL remains a questionmark. Daniel Jones still remains a turnover machine and durability concerns. This is a team in transition, they are in the midst of a rebuild.

Cowboys are favorite to win the division for the 2nd straight yr, which hasn't happened in years. Typicially, after an successful season, the Cowboys fail to make the playoffs the following yr. This has to change, still have the best QB in the division and by a far margin. Eagles represent more of a challenge, but still could be a franchise QB away. Think both Washington and the Giants will struggle again this season.
- Cowboys also added a couple of Vets at DE and WR.
- "Two Impact Defensive Rookies"- Really? Ours are assumed garbage though? I will take our chances here.
- Chase Young "stud pass rusher" had 1.5 sacks in 9 games last year. Lost best OL in Scherf and best safety in Landon Collins
-Giants lost Bradbury, Ryan, Engram, Peppers, and W. Hernendez.
 

xwalker

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imo Eagles are way ahead,if they had a good QB they would be SB contenders again.i won't be surprised if they make a trade for Quarterback if things don't go well because their team is stacked.
What team is going to give up a starting caliber QB?

The Stafford trade was rare and expensive in draft capital.

Teams that see themselves as contenders wouldn't trade away a starting QB.
 

CouchCoach

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How is "homering out" any different than hating out? When it is all some do. I don't see any all out "homers" on here, as many Positive fans will and do and have been critical at times.
However there are many fans that hate anything and everything. Or all thy can post about the majority of the time their hate for one player.
Are they truly fans of this team or just stirring the pot?

This is nothing new. Back in the 60/70's, this was a polarizing team and I used to wonder why so many hated it, I never really cared if someone else liked my team or not but I can't count the times someone would try and get something started when they discovered I was a Cowboys fan. That still exists and what drives the inexplicable coverage of the Cowboys when they are underserving. Brady and Rodgers, two HOFers, are in a shootout for MVP and Prescott gets more coverage for his slump.

I have never figured it out. The polarization of the Celtics and Yankees I got, they earned that by winning titles but the Cowboys won 2 in the 70's and were not even the team of the 70's and no fan hated the Steelers more than Cowboys fans because thy took what those fans thought belonged to them. And therein lies part of the clue because there is no more entitled fans I have found than Cowboys fans.

It exists because of that football is a religion in Texas and I have actually had people bet me that football was invented in Texas and I collected on every one of them.

Since being a fan is not based on logic and purely an emotional thing, people can be whatever kind of fan they want to be. Explaining being a fan to someone is like trying to explain love.

And some posters think this is a Zone thing, it isn't, it is part of every Cowboys site I have ever been on. The old DC.com was a throwdown at times and actually had some wanted to meet up behind the dumpsters after gym class. What I don't know is how prevalent is that on other team sites because I do not frequent them. My opinions are based on knowing and talking football with fans for over 60 years.

And this Prescott thing is nothing but the Romo thing all over again. My Dad can beat up your Dad. It really is funny how upset some get over these people.
 

CouchCoach

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What team is going to give up a starting caliber QB?

The Stafford trade was rare and expensive in draft capital.

Teams that see themselves as contenders wouldn't trade away a starting QB.
Except that's what ATL, IND, HOU and SEA did. The Watson trade was even more rare.
 

RonWashington

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I think Davis and Dean help that Eagles defense day one game one and Jurgens is the center of the future Add Brown to the WR corp he’s so much better then Reagor ever will be and the Eagles are Dallas biggest challenge for the East .

Davis lined up right over Biadasz will be a major challenge.
 

DFWJC

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The gap needed to close. It was pretty pathetic last year.

But I do agree.
I think all three NFC teams got a little closer.

The order may end up the same (maybe) but the gap will close some.
 

Creeper

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Great post. I too worry about the Eagles. But I think Jalen Hurts is absolutely terrible. They may still win a lot of games, but it won't be behind his arm. My main concern is next year when they trade up to get their QB of choice. They go all out, we don't.

A healthy Giants team can be dangerous too. Even last year, before all of the injuries, they gave the Chiefs a run for their money. A totally healthy Giants team will be a problem. I also agree Washington will finish 4th.

I agree about the Giants, but I just don't think they have enough secondary talent to win.
 

Creeper

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I think Davis and Dean help that Eagles defense day one game one and Jurgens is the center of the future Add Brown to the WR corp he’s so much better then Reagor ever will be and the Eagles are Dallas biggest challenge for the East .

Davis lined up right over Biadasz will be a major challenge.

I think Davis is a boom or bust player. I am leaning boom with him because of his measurables. But in college he was sitting on the bench a lot taking a breather. Can they depend on him in crunch time to be 100% ready to give 100%. If the answer is yes, his upside is through the roof.

I am not as convinced Dean and Jurgens will be the players to match their hype. Usually when players fall as far as Dean there is some reason. Usually. Maybe Dean is the exception but I am not ready to anoint him.

Before the combine Jurgens was not that highly rated. He put on a decent show at the combine and shot up some boards, but beware those workout warriors.
 

Longboysfan

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Cowboys dominated the division last yr, sweeping all 6 games. However, the talent gap has grown much closer after this offseason:

-Cowboys lost Cooper, Collins and Gregory. They plan to replace all three with unproven, young talent. Whenever you go to the youth movement, it takes time to develop players.

-Eagles perhaps have the best roster in the division. Added an impact #1 WR, two impact defensive rookies and a few defensive starters via fa. Became more of a run first team, can Hurts beat teams through the air? Teams are going to force Hurts to beat them with his arm, not his legs.

Reminds me of RG3 - but less talented thrower and runner


-Washington is getting their stud pass rusher back in Chase Young. Defense took a step back, but they still have one the best defensive lines in the league. Wentz played with one of the best OL's in football with a great running game, now he comes to Washington with less talent, this could potentially be a recipe for disaster.

Good luck on that

-Giants have two legitimate edge rushers now, although unproven. Have 2 top 5 picks at Tackle, but OL remains a question mark. Daniel Jones still remains a turnover machine and durability concerns. This is a team in transition, they are in the midst of a rebuild.

QB is worst in division next to Wentz

Cowboys are favorite to win the division for the 2nd straight yr, which hasn't happened in years. Typically, after an successful season, the Cowboys fail to make the playoffs the following yr. This has to change, still have the best QB in the division and by a far margin. Eagles represent more of a challenge, but still could be a franchise QB away. Think both Washington and the Giants will struggle again this season.
 

Malhavoc

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How does Prescott perform against the division ? Folks here are so full of it. Say what you want about Prescott, but in the East he is by FAR the king. And that matters. And then thinking that Washington or NY is going to finish in front of us is absolutely ridiculous.
 

baltcowboy

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Cowboys dominated the division last yr, sweeping all 6 games. However, the talent gap has grown much closer after this offseason:

-Cowboys lost Cooper, Collins and Gregory. They plan to replace all three with unproven, young talent. Whenever you go to the youth movement, it takes time to develop players.

-Eagles perhaps have the best roster in the division. Added an impact #1 WR, two impact defensive rookies and a few defensive starters via fa. Became more of a run first team, can Hurts beat teams through the air? Teams are going to force Hurts to beat them with his arm, not his legs.

-Washington is getting their stud pass rusher back in Chase Young. Defense took a step back, but they still have one the best defensive lines in the league. Wentz played with one of the best OL's in football with a great running game, now he comes to Washington with less talent, this could potentially be a recipe for disaster.

-Giants have two legitimate edge rushers now, although unproven. Have 2 top 5 picks at Tackle, but OL remains a questionmark. Daniel Jones still remains a turnover machine and durability concerns. This is a team in transition, they are in the midst of a rebuild.

Cowboys are favorite to win the division for the 2nd straight yr, which hasn't happened in years. Typicially, after an successful season, the Cowboys fail to make the playoffs the following yr. This has to change, still have the best QB in the division and by a far margin. Eagles represent more of a challenge, but still could be a franchise QB away. Think both Washington and the Giants will struggle again this season.
The only reason the Cowboys don’t win the division is if they have a major injury to Dak, Parsons, Diggs or something similar happens to the offensive line in 2021 when we didn’t have our top 3 offensive linemen for the final 6 games. Dallas actually played a win or go home game against with no offensive line or quarterback. They probably win the East with Dalton at quarterback if the the refs did not rob us against the Steelers.
The Cowboys have unproven players replacing Cooper, Collins and Gregory??? So CeeDee, Steele , Fowler/Armstrong are unproven. CeeDee has superstar potential, Steele played well at right tackle last season and Armstrong/Fowler had more sacks combined then Gregory. Parsons and Diggs was the reason that the defense turned around Gregory was along for the ride. The unproven rookies on the Cowboys? You sound like a talking head. The Cowboys rookies have questions but Davis is the second coming of Reggie White for the Eagles and Dean is a better linebacker then Parsons.o_O:rolleyes:. Every football team gambles in the offseason. I trust the Dak and the Cowboys coaches over anyone in the East until proven otherwise.​
 

TequilaCowboy

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PHL is channeling SF with what they did with their QB, run game and defense.

WAS will be interesting to see if Wentz can resurrect himself and their D can come back into form.

NY has a problem with their QB. He can't stay healthy long enough for them to find out he's not the one.

The NFCE isn't any more of a story than the NFC. It's all about those QB's in the AFC now.

Aside from possibly the Rams, Packers...the AFC is the powerhouse conference and have those up and coming superstar QBs who can CARRY a team. Burrow, Allen, Mahomes, Herbert, etc....they seem to be more teams of the future as of now. Dallas i is lucky to be in the weakest division in the NFL and that probably hurts them more than helps.
 

MountaineerCowboy

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The Cowboys will be lucky to finish 2nd in the division at 8-9 or 9-8 and get a Wild Card game out of it.
 

Malhavoc

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The only reason the Cowboys don’t win the division is if they have a major injury to Dak, Parsons, Diggs or something similar happens to the offensive line in 2021 when we didn’t have our top 3 offensive linemen for the final 6 games. Dallas actually played a win or go home game against with no offensive line or quarterback. They probably win the East with Dalton at quarterback if the the refs did not rob us against the Steelers.
The Cowboys have unproven players replacing Cooper, Collins and Gregory??? So CeeDee, Steele , Fowler/Armstrong are unproven. CeeDee has superstar potential, Steele played well at right tackle last season and Armstrong/Fowler had more sacks combined then Gregory. Parsons and Diggs was the reason that the defense turned around Gregory was along for the ride. The unproven rookies on the Cowboys? You sound like a talking head. The Cowboys rookies have questions but Davis is the second coming of Reggie White for the Eagles and Dean is a better linebacker then Parsons.o_O:rolleyes:. Every football team gambles in the offseason. I trust the Dak and the Cowboys coaches over anyone in the East until proven otherwise.​
If our main guys are healthy we should win this division. And I don’t even think it’s that close. The real question is how do we stack up against the better teams in the conference. Dak against guys like Brady, Stafford, and Rodgers I have little confidence in. Until I see it I don’t expect him to beat those guys.
 

RonWashington

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I think Davis is a boom or bust player. I am leaning boom with him because of his measurables. But in college he was sitting on the bench a lot taking a breather. Can they depend on him in crunch time to be 100% ready to give 100%. If the answer is yes, his upside is through the roof.

I am not as convinced Dean and Jurgens will be the players to match their hype. Usually when players fall as far as Dean there is some reason. Usually. Maybe Dean is the exception but I am not ready to anoint him.

Before the combine Jurgens was not that highly rated. He put on a decent show at the combine and shot up some boards, but beware those workout warriors.


I agree with you on Davis it’s boom or a wasted lottery ticket . Obviously he will be rotated in and out like the Cowboys tackles . Kelce not long for this league so Jurgens should be in sooner then later. Not sure why Dean fell so far I thought he would be late first round early to mid second.

I was listening to the Ticket draft night and as OT’s started being taken Sturm wanted Dean. I don’t think I heard one draft show that liked Dalllas first rounder. I hope he’s a starting guard his entire career and was worth a 1st round choice
 

john van brocklin

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Cowboys dominated the division last yr, sweeping all 6 games. However, the talent gap has grown much closer after this offseason:

-Cowboys lost Cooper, Collins and Gregory. They plan to replace all three with unproven, young talent. Whenever you go to the youth movement, it takes time to develop players.

-Eagles perhaps have the best roster in the division. Added an impact #1 WR, two impact defensive rookies and a few defensive starters via fa. Became more of a run first team, can Hurts beat teams through the air? Teams are going to force Hurts to beat them with his arm, not his legs.

-Washington is getting their stud pass rusher back in Chase Young. Defense took a step back, but they still have one the best defensive lines in the league. Wentz played with one of the best OL's in football with a great running game, now he comes to Washington with less talent, this could potentially be a recipe for disaster.

-Giants have two legitimate edge rushers now, although unproven. Have 2 top 5 picks at Tackle, but OL remains a questionmark. Daniel Jones still remains a turnover machine and durability concerns. This is a team in transition, they are in the midst of a rebuild.

Cowboys are favorite to win the division for the 2nd straight yr, which hasn't happened in years. Typicially, after an successful season, the Cowboys fail to make the playoffs the following yr. This has to change, still have the best QB in the division and by a far margin. Eagles represent more of a challenge, but still could be a franchise QB away. Think both Washington and the Giants will struggle again this season.
Eagle's took a step up
We took a step back.
Think we are still a little better.
 

gimmesix

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So the Eagles 2 rookies are impact players right away, but our youthful players need time to develop. :huh:
Therefore the eagles roster is better than ours? NO WAY. We dominated them in both games last year, and the rosters are really about the same but yet they closed the gap. NO WAY.
They do not have the best roster.

Well, we are expecting our first-round pick to start and possibly even improve the position and he was drafted at 24. So we should expect Jordan Davis to make just as much if not more an impact for Philly on its defensive line. Not exactly sure who the other impact rookie defender would be. I'm assuming Nakobe Dean in the third round, but he certainly shouldn't be expected to make more of an impact than Sam Williams for us.

I do think the Eagles improved at some positions through free agency while we possibly declined at some, but the biggest gap remains at quarterback. However, teams have shown that they can win, and even win Super Bowls, with a just so-so quarterback if they make the team around him good enough. I don't believe the Eagles accomplished that, though. They still have some weaknesses, but signing Hassan Reddick should improve their pass rush, A.J. Brown should improve their receiving corps. And Bradberry should strengthen their secondary.

You'd have to say it's a strong possibility that our FA signings have to be considered a wash at best: Washington for Cooper/Wilson and Fowler for Gregory, The Eagles understand that they have to catch us, though, because we're currently ahead of them and to their credit, they made moves to try to do that. We'll see how it works out.
 

baltcowboy

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If our main guys are healthy we should win this division. And I don’t even think it’s that close. The real question is how do we stack up against the better teams in the conference. Dak against guys like Brady, Stafford, and Rodgers I have little confidence in. Until I see it I don’t expect him to beat those guys.
Can’t disagree with assessment. Although two years ago I would have liked my chances against Brady and Stafford. The Cowboys have to win in the playoffs. No excuses.
 
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