NFC East Prediction... 2 Weeks In

[Hostile]

Is this going to be a bi-weekly knee-jerk event?

If we drop two in a row, what then?

Well, I do have bad knees SP, so maybe.

I would like to point out that I clearly did say our season could be derailed.

 

[Verdict]

Great post and excellent analysis. I think the things that give me the most confidence right now are the following:

1. We are taking control of games and we still are not playing to our full potential.

2. We are playing well despite injuries to KEY players, which indicates this team has a little more overall depth than even I envisioned earlier this year.

3. The backup players (who are subbing for the injured players) are getting valuable playing time and are doing relatively well.

4. We are doing the smart thing for the long term benefit to the team by letting Newman, who is going to need to be 100 % for the playoffs get healthy rather than risk injury and be lost for the year.

5. Our receiving corps will be "serviceable" even if we have to rely on Crayton, Austin and Hurd.

The down side is that I think Terry Glenn rushed it and I would have loved to see him out there at 100%. I think we may have played that one poorly.

 

[FLcowboy]

I think your counting the eagles out way too early.

And I have said my peace about the Commanders. If they win this week they are going to be off and running. They are a tough matchup for us. The right side of their line could become a problem, but I dont care who they have out there they send two guys in passing routes almost every down and the rest stay in and protect, you cant hit a quarterback in those situations. I think the eagles refusal to quit blitzing cost them the game the other night. I think the book on campbell as the season goes on is to get it to third down and then stay back and rush 4 or 5 and force him to read the defense and make accurate throws. when the eagles did that monday he looked pretty bad and when they blitzed he looked pretty sharp.

anyway, I think it is too early to see it as a 1 team race. Really way too early. I dont think the eagles are done by any means and the Commanders have the roster they want to play the style they want. If fabini and wade end up being awful then that will be there downfall but I still dont see that as holding them back with the next few weeks of their schedule.

I might agree with you on the Commanders, except I don't think they looked that effective against Philly the other night.

Philly however is another story. the only offense they had was Westbrook. Their WRs aren't going to score a lot of points this year, regardless of McNabb being 80%, 90%, or 100%. I think McNabb and Reid are losing their team, and at some point, the players will simply collect their paychecks. Isn't that what happened last year to Dallas?

If McNabb gets injured again, of course that will hurt them seriously, as they don't have a proven backup. But even if McNabb doesn't get hurt, how much of the offense can Westbrook carry?

 

[Verdict]

It's sort of like Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday in Tombstone though Zax.

"Why Johnny Ringo, you look like someone just walked over your grave."

Know what I'm saying?

My personal favorite from the movie is this:

Wyatt Earp: I spent my whole life not knowing what I want out of it, just chasing my tail. Now for the first time I know exactly what I want and who... that's the damnable misery of it.

But I find myself saying :

"I'm your huckleberry" more than the others.

 

[Hostile]

My personal favorite from the movie is this:

Wyatt Earp: I spent my whole life not knowing what I want out of it, just chasing my tail. Now for the first time I know exactly what I want and who... that's the damnable misery of it.

But I find myself saying :

"I'm your huckleberry" more than the others.

One of the all time great movies for quotes. This is one of my favorites. Happens right before Ringo does his gun twirling and Doc follows up by twirling his cup.

Doc Holliday: And you must be Ringo. Look, darling, Johnny Ringo. The deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darling? Should I hate him?

Big Nose Kate: You don't even know him.

Doc Holliday: Yes, but there's just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don't know, reminds me of... me. No. I'm sure of it, I hate him.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

folks...the Commanders are not going anywhere....I live in DC and see every second of their games...their defense is for real and Joe Gibbs will figure out on a weekly basis how to put up enough points to win....let's not forget, they were 5-11, so there schedule is not hard.....we DESPERATLEY need the Giants to beat them this week....so that they go into a their bye losing....if not..they could potentially be looking at a 5-1 or 6-0 start. I don't like that we have to come to Washington in January for the final game of the year...I have a funny feeling a lot will be on the line that day

 

[Verdict]

folks...the Commanders are not going anywhere....I live in DC and see every second of their games...their defense is for real and Joe Gibbs will figure out on a weekly basis how to put up enough points to win....let's not forget, they were 5-11, so there schedule is not hard.....we DESPERATLEY need the Giants to beat them this week....so that they go into a their bye losing....if not..they could potentially be looking at a 5-1 or 6-0 start. I don't like that we have to come to Washington in January for the final game of the year...I have a funny feeling a lot will be on the line that day

This Skins might be for real, but I am not sold on the fact that the game hasn't passed Joe Gibbs by.

 

[dalboy]

I think your counting the eagles out way too early.

And I have said my peace about the Commanders. If they win this week they are going to be off and running. They are a tough matchup for us. The right side of their line could become a problem, but I dont care who they have out there they send two guys in passing routes almost every down and the rest stay in and protect, you cant hit a quarterback in those situations. I think the eagles refusal to quit blitzing cost them the game the other night. I think the book on campbell as the season goes on is to get it to third down and then stay back and rush 4 or 5 and force him to read the defense and make accurate throws. when the eagles did that monday he looked pretty bad and when they blitzed he looked pretty sharp.

anyway, I think it is too early to see it as a 1 team race. Really way too early. I dont think the eagles are done by any means and the Commanders have the roster they want to play the style they want. If fabini and wade end up being awful then that will be there downfall but I still dont see that as holding them back with the next few weeks of their schedule.

100% baby don't count anybody out until the fat lady sings.

 

[Verdict]

One of the all time great movies for quotes. This is one of my favorites. Happens right before Ringo does his gun twirling and Doc follows up by twirling his cup.

Doc Holliday: And you must be Ringo. Look, darling, Johnny Ringo. The deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darling? Should I hate him?

Big Nose Kate: You don't even know him.

Doc Holliday: Yes, but there's just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don't know, reminds me of... me. No. I'm sure of it, I hate him.

It is very quote rich and an excellent movie. I was not a big Val Kilmer fan, but he did a great job with the Doc Holiday role.

Here is one of my other favorites:

Sherman McMasters: Where is he?
Doc Holliday: Down by the creek, walking on water

 

[HogsRLegends]

Nice post Hos and I agree with it for the most part. I too think that the Eagles are done only 2 games into the season, not having Dawkins this week, Westbrook is out, and Sheppard is still hurt, add to it that McNabb does not look healthy, LJ Smith is still hurting and the Eagles are going to drop to 0-3 after this weekend. The Eagles could very well end up at 1-7 or 2-6 at the midway point. They could rally and turn it around in the second half of the season but that is always tough to do and I don't think that the aging Eagles have that in them.

The only team that gives me pause in the East is Washington, and should Campbell lose the deer in headlights approach he uses in games sometimes that team could become very solid. I still think that the lack of any depth across their front 7 will ultimately be that defenses demise. When is the last time the Commanders didn't have injury concerns on defense? Washington starts fast but fades down the stretch and the East is locked up by week 14 by the Cowboys.

As a Skins fan, I hope the week 17 game at home against the Cowboys is for the division, or that we have locked it up by then rather then it being one of those meaningless week 17 games that are only about pride.

Campbell is still on a steep growth curve. Hopefully during the next few weeks before we play GB, he can gain some confidence against some less then impressive defenses.

 

[Manster68]

You know Hostile,

The thing about the Commanders is that, losing Jansen and Thomas on their offensive line will eventually catch up to them.

 

[RomoIsBack]

i think Commanders will be tough like always

 

[HogsRLegends]

Hopefully we get Thomas back for the stretch run to end the season. Obviously we can't afford any more losses on the OL, especially not Samuels.

Wade is just as good as Jansen IMO at this point. Jansen's play had declined in recent seasons.

As long as our defense continues to play well, we can continue to win a good number of games as long as we max protect and play a high-percentage offensive game.

 

[TunaFan33]

Hopefully we get Thomas back for the stretch run to end the season. Obviously we can't afford any more losses on the OL, especially not Samuels.

Wade is just as good as Jansen IMO at this point. Jansen's play had declined in recent seasons.

As long as our defense continues to play well, we can continue to win a good number of games as long as we max protect and play a high-percentage offensive game.

12/30 Boys vs Skins could be awefully interesting...

 

[skinzfan26]

just wanted to say that I hope its Commanders and cowboys fighting it out this year. Our rivalry is even better when we both have good teams playing, makes the games more intense. I think 12/30 could be one of the biggest games we've played in a while. Here's to a fun, healthy season!

 

[CaptainQuint]

J. Campbell can't take them to the next level yet.

Jason Campbell was excellent Monday night.
His arm strength and quickness of release were disturbingly impressive.
His 1st deep pass to Cooley was perfect, and should have been caught.
Losing Jansen and Thomas could be a problem, but Samuels was good, and even Fabini played OK...except for his false starts on consecutive plays.

 

[TheSkaven]

I agree that the Giants are dead, and the Commanders will never be a huge threat with Jason Campbell throwing ducks all day

The Eagles still scare me, though

Why? If you're thinking this is the 2003 Eagles, you have the wrong team.

Hos, I disagree because of the Commanders. I see them as 5-1 out of the gate, and playing with a lot of confidence. I still think that our Cowboys are the better team, but the Commanders are well coached and stingy on defense, and they can cause us some matchup problems.

This is a two team race, Cowboys-Commanders. Just like it should be.

 

[dargonking999]

My prediction?

The Commanders at Home against the Cowboys last game of the season. Is gonna be for all the marbles. Division title, bragging rights. The opportunity to send someone home for the playoffs.

2 out of those 3 is gonna be on the line that night. I bet it's gonna get flexed to Sunday night too.

IMO the Pats, Bears, Eagles, all fail to match this game in it's compacity.

Granted if the skins fall, or we fall, that will change. But if things stay where they are, that last game could be the key to winning a SB, and going one and out again.

 

[HogsRLegends]

Why? If you're thinking this is the 2003 Eagles, you have the wrong team.

Hos, I disagree because of the Commanders. I see them as 5-1 out of the gate, and playing with a lot of confidence. I still think that our Cowboys are the better team, but the Commanders are well coached and stingy on defense, and they can cause us some matchup problems.

This is a two team race, Cowboys-Commanders. Just like it should be.

I can agree with that...we have to play GB at GB and that's always a tough out. We should be able to take care of the Giants, Cardinals, and Lions at home though even any one of those 3 teams could beat us if we play poorly and they play well. After all, who would have thought the Cardinals would beat the Seahawks last week.

 

[HogsRLegends]

My prediction?

The Commanders at Home against the Cowboys last game of the season. Is gonna be for all the marbles. Division title, bragging rights. The opportunity to send someone home for the playoffs.

2 out of those 3 is gonna be on the line that night. I bet it's gonna get flexed to Sunday night too.

IMO the Pats, Bears, Eagles, all fail to match this game in it's compacity.

Granted if the skins fall, or we fall, that will change. But if things stay where they are, that last game could be the key to winning a SB, and going one and out again.

For that to happen (and I hope it does) both teams will have to take care of business and the conference. We'll know alot more about the strength of the Lions by how they play the Eagles this week. We will know alot more about GB by how they play against San Diego. Can the Cowboys beat the Bears on the road? Can the Commanders avoid a letdown after a big road Monday night win and short work week?

This week in particular is gonna be great to watch.