CFZ The NFC East Could Surprise This Year

[Mac_MaloneV1]

They added probably the best player in the draft & another guy who was thought to be a top 15 pick. If you aren't going to project their draft additions, you shouldn't project ours.

Yeah they lost some talent, experience & coaching but who knows what the net difference is until we have some games on film?

I didn't project the draft.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

If Dallas & Detroit play late in the season, who you think wins?

I am not sure but I am 100% convinced we wouldn't win by 20 like we did earlier in the season. If it's a 20 point spread, I think we are taking the L.

Dallas was still the better team.

But it doesn't matter. The point of quibbling over DET is that you can't sit here and say Dallas is going to regress because they beat DET with some injuries...by 3 touchdowns. In a field goal game that point carries some weight, but not in a game you win by 18.

 

[817Gill]

Losing to a couple of struggling teams in OT that we had down by at least two scores was troubling and told me the Cowboys didn’t have what it takes to reach the Super Bowl. Championship teams don’t blow games like that. I can deal with losing to teams that are better than us, but not to teams that we’re superior to. The Packers couldn’t beat anyone until they beat us, then they went right back to losing. I was totally disgusted with the team after that loss. The Cowboys have too many players that are full of themselves, and the team ends up becoming complacent. Once again they’re starting up with the Hot Boyz crap again.

So you wanted us to go 15-2? You’re gonna lose some games you should win and win some you should lose that’s the modern NFL parity has never been this high.

And the Jaguars were a good team last year, don’t let their slow start fool you. GB still had a hall of fame QB. These aren’t egregious losses but yes they were disappointing because of how dominant we were at times in those games.

We were a couple of better play calls/ball bounces away from winning those games. I’m not concerned about our ability to beat average teams. You don’t go 12-5 back to back seasons by struggling to beat average teams. I’m much more concerned about beating elite teams and getting over the hump.

 

[StarOfGlory]

He tossed a career high 24 TDs his rookie year, but also had a career high 12 INT’s. Although he only had 15 TDs last season, he had a career low 5 INTs. He didn’t take near as many chances with the football last season to reduce his turnovers. He had a career high in yards and completion percentage. He also had a career high passer rating. Even though his numbers weren’t huge, the arrows are pointing up with him. I’m certainly not saying he’s a great QB, but he has gotten better. I’m also not saying the Giants are going to win the NFC East, I’m simply saying you can’t sleep on them.

I hear what you are saying about the Giants, but it just seems every year that us and Philly curb stomp them no matter what.

 

[KJJ]

So you wanted us to go 15-2? You’re gonna lose some games you should win and win some you should lose that’s the modern NFL parity has never been this high.

And the Jaguars were a good team last year, don’t let their slow start fool you. GB still had a hall of fame QB. These aren’t egregious losses but yes they were disappointing because of how dominant we were at times in those games.

We were a couple of better play calls/ball bounces away from winning those games. I’m not concerned about our ability to beat average teams. You don’t go 12-5 back to back seasons by struggling to beat average teams. I’m much more concerned about beating elite teams and getting over the hump.

You shouldn’t be losing to struggling teams that you have down by two or more scores at halftime. Not if your goal is to be a championship team. We had a chance to destroy Aaron Rodgers who had been a thorn in our side for years and we allowed him to have a field day in the second half. The best game he played all season was against us! He had a season high three TD passes and a season high 146.7 passer rating. They showed him walking off the field laughing. It was disgusting! As for the Jaguars, they were a struggling team when we faced them. They were 5-8 and their comeback win against us got them going. I really don’t think it’s going to be any different this season with the Cowboys. If they get on a roll and start looking great, they’ll end up laying another rotten egg against a team they’re favored to beat and begin to fade. Losing to bad teams can drain an organization of confidence and momentum.

 

[KJJ]

I hear what you are saying about the Giants, but it just seems every year that us and Philly curb stomp them no matter what.

You simply can’t bank on that every season. It would be a mistake. By the way, we didn’t curb stomp them, we won both games by one score.

 

[817Gill]

You shouldn’t be losing to struggling teams that you have down by two or more scores at halftime. Not if your goal is to be a championship team. We had a chance to destroy Aaron Rodgers who had been a thorn in our side for years and we allowed him to have a field day in the second half. The best game he played all season was against us! He had a season high three TD passes and a season high 146.7 passer rating. They showed him walking off the field laughing. It was disgusting! As for the Jaguars, they were a struggling team when we faced them. They were 5-8 and their comeback win against us got them going. I really don’t think it’s going to be any different this season with the Cowboys. If they get on a roll and start looking great, they’ll end up laying another rotten egg against a team they’re favored to beat and begin to fade. Losing to bad teams can drain an organization of confidence and momentum.

Whatever floats your boat man. I’ll concern myself with beating the good teams rather than the bad which we’ve had a very good record against.

You’re not going to win every game against teams you’re better than. That’s not sports. Under your standard this team should’ve gone 15-2, something no team did. Even KC lost to the Colts.

 

[KJJ]

Whatever floats your boat man. I’ll concern myself with beating the good teams rather than the bad which we’ve had a very good record against.

You’re not going to win every game against teams you’re better than. That’s not sports. Under your standard this team should’ve gone 15-2, something no team did. Even KC lost to the Colts.

If you think losing to multiple bad teams consistently every season is going to help us beat good teams when it matters most, then good luck.

 

[McKDaddy]

I didn't project the draft.

So, you were only considering FA acquisitions & departures. From that standpoint, could be argued that Cowboys improved more than Eagles.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

So, you were only considering FA acquisitions & departures. From that standpoint, could be argued that Cowboys improved more than Eagles.

I mean I think the bigger point - regardless of if it's draft or FA...the Eagles backfilled and the Cowboys added.

There's no real path for the Eagles to actually be better, because there's no personnel group you can look at this year and say it improved from last year.

 

[McKDaddy]

Dallas was still the better team.

But it doesn't matter. The point of quibbling over DET is that you can't sit here and say Dallas is going to regress because they beat DET with some injuries...by 3 touchdowns. In a field goal game that point carries some weight, but not in a game you win by 18.

You realize that Detroit went 8-2 over their final 10 right? I think we caught them at a very fortunate time for us.

I'm not saying we will regress, just saying if both teams had played at equal health last year I think it's a toss up rather than a lopsided win.

With what they have added, playing them on Dec 30th this year may not be a lot of fun.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

How can the division surprise anyone? The NFC East had the best combined record last season.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Our feelings may have zero bearing on the outcome of a game, but the Cowboys losing to bad teams has a bearing on how fans feel about the team. A majority of the fanbase has lost confidence in the Cowboys. They never seem like they’re committed to being a great team. Every season they lose to at least a couple of bad teams, and at least one average or inexperienced QB. Three of their five losses last season were to teams they were favored against. It’s about time the Giants win a game against Dak and we’re likely to at least split against them this season. If you snooze you lose and the Cowboys need to learn not to snooze on anyone. Our great teams that won championships didn’t go out and lay eggs against bad teams. They didn’t let bad teams off the hook that were down by two scores. They had a killer instinct and buried them.

I think a lot of fans have forgotten what a championship team looks like. No way was last year a championship team. You could tell it was starting to unravel after Thanksgiving. This team always comes up short when the expectation rises. The Cowboys shouldn't overlook anybody.

 

[McKDaddy]

I mean I think the bigger point - regardless of if it's draft or FA...the Eagles backfilled and the Cowboys added.

There's no real path for the Eagles to actually be better, because there's no personnel group you can look at this year and say it improved from last year.

I can see that with the caveat the rookies could change that equation.

 

[817Gill]

If you think losing to multiple bad teams consistently every season is going to help us beat good teams when it matters most, then good luck.

If you think you’re gonna beat every team you’re better than good luck.

And nobody thinks the 2022 Jaguars were bad, you’re just conveniently sliding that in as if they didn’t win a playoff game and give the Chiefs a run in the divisional. They were a good team who started slow.

We lost 2 games to teams who were “bad”. This teams record against losing teams is great. You’re concerned about something that hasn’t been an issue.

In fact, one could argue all our success against worse teams inflates our thoughts about the team. You could furthermore say that this dominance over bad teams doesn’t give us the test needed to beat elite teams.

So you keep worrying about the teams we always beat, that’s fine by me I don’t lose any sleep. I’ll be with the folks worrying about actually good teams. No, two losses to below average teams is not going to make me feel any differently.

 

[Ranching]

If you think losing to multiple bad teams consistently every season is going to help us beat good teams when it matters most, then good luck.

Madden, much?

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

If you think you’re gonna beat every team you’re better than good luck.

And nobody thinks the 2022 Jaguars were bad, you’re just conveniently sliding that in as if they didn’t win a playoff game and give the Chiefs a run in the divisional. They were a good team who started slow.

We lost 2 games to teams who were “bad”. This teams record against losing teams is great. You’re concerned about something that hasn’t been an issue.

In fact, one could argue all our success against worse teams inflates our thoughts about the team. You could furthermore say that this dominance over bad teams doesn’t give us the test needed to beat elite teams.

So you keep worrying about the teams we always beat, that’s fine by me I don’t lose any sleep. I’ll be with the folks worrying about actually good teams. No, two losses to below average teams is not going to make me feel any differently.

Losing to those below average teams cost us the division. Maybe if we win the division we don't play the 49ers.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

I mean I think the bigger point - regardless of if it's draft or FA...the Eagles backfilled and the Cowboys added.

There's no real path for the Eagles to actually be better, because there's no personnel group you can look at this year and say it improved from last year.

Sure there is. Jalen Hurts.

People who can't think objectively (most people in here) will ALL blindly say "I think Hurts takes a step back this year...one year wonder...blah blah blah" . But that's just homerism, throw 50 predictions against the wall, wait for one to stick (Schoonmaker the next Travis Kelce for example).

But the eagles REAL path to being better is Jalen Hurts. And they could be a LOT better. Or, a lot worse.

Hurts in 2021 was a bad pocket passer, but phenomenal runner, with great work ethic and leadership. 1 year later, he's MVP runner up, Top 2 player league-wide per his peers, and went from bad pocket passer to good (not elite) pocket passer, and still elite running, work ethic, leadership skills.

So....what now? So far....all he's done is drastically improve each offseason.....so we wait and see what THIS year brings.

If he takes another big (or even medium) upward jump....there's no telling how good he will be (a big jump would put him at Mahomes level).

There's just no way for any of us to know till the games begin....even Eagles coaches. But that is their path to being better (perhaps MUCH better).

Likewise....Hurts could also come back the exact same.....or slightly worse....or even much worse (1 year hit).

So all pathways are open for Phiily....getting better OR worse. All depends on Hurts....and unlike Mahomes or Dak who we already know what they'll be since they've been in the league so long and leveled out (mahomes at greatness, dak at above-averageness) we just don't know where Hurts will "settle in" as a Pro.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

You realize that Detroit went 8-2 over their final 10 right? I think we caught them at a very fortunate time for us.

I'm not saying we will regress, just saying if both teams had played at equal health last year I think it's a toss up rather than a lopsided win.

With what they have added, playing them on Dec 30th this year may not be a lot of fun.

Fine. But then it doesn't mean regression and is immaterial to the original point.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Sure there is. Jalen Hurts.

People who can't think objectively (most people in here) will ALL blindly say "I think Hurts takes a step back this year...one year wonder...blah blah blah" . But that's just homerism, throw 50 predictions against the wall, wait for one to stick (Schoonmaker the next Travis Kelce for example).

But the eagles REAL path to being better is Jalen Hurts. And they could be a LOT better. Or, a lot worse.

Hurts in 2021 was a bad pocket passer, but phenomenal runner, with great work ethic and leadership. 1 year later, he's MVP runner up, Top 2 player league-wide per his peers, and went from bad pocket passer to good (not elite) pocket passer, and still elite running, work ethic, leadership skills.

So....what now? So far....all he's done is drastically improve each offseason.....so we wait and see what THIS year brings.

If he takes another big (or even medium) upward jump....there's no telling how good he will be (a big jump would put him at Mahomes level).

There's just no way for any of us to know till the games begin....even Eagles coaches. But that is their path to being better (perhaps MUCH better).

Likewise....Hurts could also come back the exact same.....or slightly worse....or even much worse (1 year hit).

So all pathways are open for Phiily....getting better OR worse. All depends on Hurts....and unlike Mahomes or Dak who we already know what they'll be since they've been in the league so long and leveled out (mahomes at greatness, dak at above-averageness) we just don't know where Hurts will "settle in" as a Pro.

Nah. Hurts is a great QB, there's really not much to improve on.

Any statistical improvement would require a massive fundamental change to how they run their offense.