NFC (East only) team reports: Third quarter grades

Gryphon

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Posted: December 4, 2007
SN correspondents

Each week, Sporting News' NFL correspondents provide the best information available about your favorite team. Here's a sample of what you'll see in SN's Week 14 Team Reports from the NFC.

EAST DIVISION

Dallas Cowboys

Offense: A+. QB Tony Romo is shattering the franchise's single-season record book and WR Terrell Owens is having a career year.

Defense: B. Ware and Ellis combined have 20 sacks, which helps compensate for inconsistency in the secondary.

Special teams: B. S Keith Davis is one of the best coverage men in the league; K Nick Folk and P Mat McBriar have been superb.

Coaching: A. Phillips has figured out how to keep everything running smoothly, which isn't nearly as easy as it looks. Ask the Chargers' Norv Turner.

New York Giants

Offense: C+. A drastic decline in points and big plays and an increase in interceptions thrown by QB Eli Manning.

Defense: B. The pass rush has generally been strong and the run defense has been solid, but the unit has trouble getting off the field.

Special teams: B-. Bradshaw has helped the return game, Jeff Feagles remains an elite punter and K Lawrence Tynes has been mostly reliable.

Coaching: B-. The offensive braintrust of coach Tom Coughlin and coordinator Kevin Gilbride can't get Manning straightened out.

Philadelphia Eagles

Offense: B-. Efficiency in the red zone and Westbrook's rushing helps the offense put up more points, but quarterback play keeps holding it back.

Defense: C. This unit is still good enough against the run but struggles in coverage, is inconsistent in pass rush and rarely forces turnovers.

Special teams: C. Return and coverage units are still sporadic at best. PR Reno Mahe and KR J.R. Reed lack speed and explosion.

Coaching: D. Andy Reid hasn't given up on the season, but he still hasn't found answers for his team's problems.

Washington Commanders

Offense: C-. Campbell is going to be a very good quarterback one day. But his late-game mistakes have been costly. He's a season away from carrying the team on his shoulders.

Defense: B-. Blitzes have been necessary to generate pass-rush pressure, which has left the team vulnerable to big plays that have changed games. Second-half and late-game breakdowns have been costly.

Special teams: B. The coverage units have been solid. Rock Cartwright is an effective kick returner. Despite a few big plays, the punt return unit has yet to get untracked.

Coaching: C. Strategy has been sound for the most part. Holding the team together now becomes the biggest challenge.
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