Cowboys the team to beat in the East?

[BourbonBalz]

Yes, in the sense that they won the division last year.
No, in the sense that I think the Giants got better, and we're basically relying on rookies (Taco) and second-year players who might as well be rookies (Tapper, Jaylon) to beef up the pass rush and a totally revamped green secondary (Cheetoh, Jourdan, Heath, Woods) to stop the likes of Odell Beckham, Brandon Marshall, Steve Sheperd, Alshon Jeffries, Terrell Pryor and Julio Jones.

As an optimist, I say the defense matures quickly and is better than last year.
As a realist, I say this defense is going to go through growing pains and will be our weak spot this season.

You don't say!!!! Well of course our defense is going to be our weak spot. We have one of the very best offenses in the entire league, so our defense has to be our "weak" spot. That doesn't mean it won't be good. That doesn't mean it won't be improved. I'm not saying it will be for certain, but it might. And yes, I also expect some growing pains and some mistakes. But, we're going to be more talented and more athletic on defense this year. How that equates to game performances remains to be seen.

 

[BourbonBalz]

There are too many variables right now to give a definitive answer. I'd say that it's something along the lines of: Cowboys 1A, Giants 1 B, Eagles, then the Commanders. The Giants beat us twice last season, and only got better this off-season, while we remained pretty stagnant, I anticipate us struggling to beat them again this year.

The Giants beat us by a combined 4 points. Either game could've gone the other way. The first loss was when Dak and Elliott played their very first NFL game, and we still only lost by a single point. Last year's losses mean absolutely nothing in regards to this coming season.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

I suspect it will come down to the Cowboys and Giants and 9 wins could very well win the division. Our schedule is more difficult with re to opponents as the two game opponents we differ on is us hosting the Packers and at Atlanta and the Giants host the Lions and at the Bucs. I think that's a big swing in their favor.

However, I did read a stat that the Giants have a net 22 "rest" days less than their opponents, which is approx 10-12 days more than the next team on the list. This means the Giants could get worn out as the season progresses compared to who they're playing.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2017/04/giants_got_screwed_by_nfl_but_dont_whine_about_dal.html

 

[BourbonBalz]

I suspect it will come down to the Cowboys and Giants and 9 wins could very well win the division. Our schedule is more difficult with re to opponents as the two game opponents we differ on is us hosting the Packers and at Atlanta and the Giants host the Lions and at the Bucs. I think that's a big swing in their favor.

However, I did read a stat that the Giants have a net 22 "rest" days less than their opponents, which is approx 10-12 days more than the next team on the list. This means the Giants could get worn out as the season progresses compared to who they're playing.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2017/04/giants_got_screwed_by_nfl_but_dont_whine_about_dal.html

The Bucs could be really good this year. They have a lot of young talent on their team. In addition, the Lions are by no means a pushover. Yes, I think our two games look tougher on paper, but that doesn't always translate onto the field.

 

[agk136]

Very well done.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

The Bucs could be really good this year. They have a lot of young talent on their team. In addition, the Lions are by no means a pushover. Yes, I think our two games look tougher on paper, but that doesn't always translate onto the field.

I hear you.....just did the math and to my surprise, the Giants schedule has them playing team with an overall higher winning percentage. Giants opponents won 53.6% of their games while Cowboys opponents won 53.2%. Negligible and our record is the reason for the swing.

I do think that net game rest stat the Giants have could hurt them, especially in Nov/Dec.

 

[SportsGuru80]

But the Eagles are the best...just ask them...

They are like the foster kid of the NFC East.

 

[haleyrules]

I suspect it will come down to the Cowboys and Giants and 9 wins could very well win the division. Our schedule is more difficult with re to opponents as the two game opponents we differ on is us hosting the Packers and at Atlanta and the Giants host the Lions and at the Bucs. I think that's a big swing in their favor.

However, I did read a stat that the Giants have a net 22 "rest" days less than their opponents, which is approx 10-12 days more than the next team on the list. This means the Giants could get worn out as the season progresses compared to who they're playing.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2017/04/giants_got_screwed_by_nfl_but_dont_whine_about_dal.html

That rest day business is interesting.

 

[haleyrules]

Hard to say at this point.

Thats the right answer at this point. Waiting to see what this Defense really has to offer. It could be a big surprise going either way.

 

[haleyrules]

The Giants beat us by a combined 4 points. Either game could've gone the other way. The first loss was when Dak and Elliott played their very first NFL game, and we still only lost by a single point. Last year's losses mean absolutely nothing in regards to this coming season.

Amen.

 

[haleyrules]

There are too many variables right now to give a definitive answer. I'd say that it's something along the lines of: Cowboys 1A, Giants 1 B, Eagles, then the Commanders. The Giants beat us twice last season, and only got better this off-season, while we remained pretty stagnant, I anticipate us struggling to beat them again this year.

Yep. The Giants are dangerous. They have the defense!!

 

[Preoccupied]

Hard to say at this point.

The above
I have never quite been able to predict the future.
I will wait and see how the season goes.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Yep. The Giants are dangerous. They have the defense!!

Giants are absolutely dangerous! That defense plus those receivers. Scary.

 

[Silver Surfer]

They are like the foster kid of the NFC East.

Only fitting since their star quarterback does look like somebody's red-headed stepchild...........

or maybe Alfred E. Neuman's love child...

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

There are too many variables right now to give a definitive answer. I'd say that it's something along the lines of: Cowboys 1A, Giants 1 B, Eagles, then the Commanders. The Giants beat us twice last season, and only got better this off-season, while we remained pretty stagnant, I anticipate us struggling to beat them again this year.

The Giants looked at what brought them success and what they struggled with last season and...did nothing to improve their weaknesses and had losses to their strengths. Same OL. Less at RB. Lost their big 1 tech who's given Dallas trouble since he came into the league. They signed and drafted two guys who's talent overlaps.

and only got better this off-season, while we remained pretty stagnant

This view in particular views free agency as the primary portion of the offseason. That's not really how it works and Brandon Marshall =! a $200 million defense.

 

[ShiningStar]

The Giants beat us by a combined 4 points. Either game could've gone the other way. The first loss was when Dak and Elliott played their very first NFL game, and we still only lost by a single point. Last year's losses mean absolutely nothing in regards to this coming season.

the nfl goes by wins, not "how close were you"

 

[windward]

The Giants looked at what brought them success and what they struggled with last season and...did nothing to improve their weaknesses and had losses to their strengths. Same OL. Less at RB. Lost their big 1 tech who's given Dallas trouble since he came into the league. They signed and drafted two guys who's talent overlaps.

and only got better this off-season, while we remained pretty stagnant

This view in particular views free agency as the primary portion of the offseason. That's not really how it works and Brandon Marshall =! a $200 million defense.

An aging Brandon Marshall, no less.

 

[windward]

the nfl goes by wins, not "how close were you"

And Dallas had 13, the Giants, 11.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Yep. The Giants are dangerous. They have the defense!!

They say their TE is sick! That could present some problems as well.

 

[Preoccupied]

Thats the right answer at this point. Waiting to see what this Defense really has to offer. It could be a big surprise going either way.

The set in stone post by a long shot

Fans on here will either be foaming at the mouth about the cuts and/or the changes to the D or calling the coaches/front office genius's of the century.