Leach's List: 2013 NFL Team Preview Capsules-NFC East
By: Dan Leach
@dtmleach
As football fans can literally taste opening weekend of the NFL, I am going to run through all 32 teams and eight divisions to get you even more ramped up. I will take a look at who I think is going to win each division, who the surprises will be, and the best futures values for 2013. Let's kickoff with the NFC East.
DALLAS COWBOYS (2012 8-8 THIRD PLACE NFC EAST- MISSED PLAYOFFS)
The Cowboys had yet another disappointing season in 2012 and this seems to be a put up or shut up year for the Boys. QB Tony Romo just signed a long term deal keeping him in Big D for years to come, but the bottom line is he has yet to really have any postseason success during his tenure. The Cowboys draft left a lot to be desired and I think very few of their draftees will have much of an impact in 2013 save first round pick center Travis Frederick.
Head coach Jason Garrett knows he has a lot to prove this season and has been focusing on the D being a scary unit. The Cowboys signed free agent LB Justin Durant from the Lions and have one of the best DE's in the game in Demarcus Ware. The early part of the Cowboys schedule is going to be key has they need to get off to a good start playing in the NFC East and have a chance to do so with some of their early games against KC and St Louis.
(Futures value scale 1-10)
-ODDS TO WIN NFC EAST +280 5
-ODDS TO WIN NFC +1700 5.5
-ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL +3500 5.5
-OVER/UNDER WIN TOTAL 8.5
DTM BOTTOM LINE-The Boys have the talent to get to the postseason in 2013, but it is going to take a lot of things to go their way early and often. The NFC East will have two playoff teams at most and the Cowboys likely will be on the outside looking in yet again.
PREDICTION 8-8
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2012 4-12 LAST PLACE NFC EAST- MISSED PLAYOFFS)
The Eagles have a new man on the sideline for the first time since 1999 in former Oregon Ducks coach Chip Kelly or takes the reins from Andy Reid. The Eagles 2012 season was an abomination and there is really nowhere to go but up for a proud franchise. QB Mike Vick is the starter for now, but is battling with Nick Foles for the opening day starter nod.
The Eagles are having a plethora of problems at WR as Riley Cooper is not with the team presently after racial charges comments he made at a Kenny Chesney concert that were caught on tape and Jeremy Maclin and Arrleious Benn are out for the season with ACL injuries. The defense, once the strong suit of the eagles is disjointed and even with Kelly's high flying offensive system, it could be a long first year in the City of Brotherly Love.
(Futures value scale 1-10)
-ODDS TO WIN NFC EAST +500 4
-ODDS TO WIN NFC +3500 5
-ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL +6000 4
-OVER/UNDER WIN TOTAL 7
DTM BOTTOM LINE-The Eagles will improve on their four win 2012, but not by much. Expect some excitement with Chip Kelly's new offense, but it won't be enough to get the eagles close to a playoff spot.
PREDICTION 7-9
NEW YORK GIANTS (2012 9-7 SECOND PLACE NFC EAST- MISSED PLAYOFFS)
The G-men had a letdown like many teams do after the Super season and look to come into 2013 reinvigorated. The Giants have one of the best coaches in the NFL in Tom Coughlin and he might get knocked for being a disciplinarian, but always gives his team a great chance at success. QB Eli Manning has established himself as one of the best in the game and has a tremendous amount of weapons to help his cause.
The Giants D will be one of the best in the NFC even with the loss of Osi Umenyiora and will keep the G-men in many games. New York's draft left a little to be desired, but I think OT Justin Push could be a big impact right away if there are any injury issues on the line and DE Damontre Moore was a steal in the third round.
(Futures value scale 1-10)
-ODDS TO WIN NFC EAST +190 6
-ODDS TO WIN NFC +1000 6.5
-ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL +2000 6.5
-OVER/UNDER WIN TOTAL 9
DTM BOTTOM LINE- The Giants have enough to get back to the postseason, but have the disadvantage of playing in a division where there are three teams that have a legitimate shot of playing in January. The Giants should be in the hunt for a postseason spot until the end.
PREDICTION 9-7
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2012 10-6 WON NFC EAST- LOST IN NFC WILDCARD)
The Redskins were definitely one of the NFL's pleasant surprises in 2013 with the emergence of QB Robert Griffin III. His health in 2013 is going to be one of the focal points and if he can recover fully from the ACL injury at the end of last season there is a very high ceiling for the Skins this year. Last year's division champ had a draft that left a lot to be desired, but late round pick Baccari Rambo could be a day one starter at safety.
A key for the Skins will be if last year's breakout star RB Alfred Morris can keep up his phenomenal play and if WR Pierre Garcon can keep turning back the clock like he did in key moments last season. The Skins have a balanced team that should be right in the hunt for the division crown again, but when you pin so many of your hopes on the health of your QB, things can get tricky very quick.
(Futures value scale 1-10)
-ODDS TO WIN NFC EAST +190 7
-ODDS TO WIN NFC +1000 7.5
-ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL +2000 7.8
-OVER/UNDER WIN TOTAL 8
DTM BOTTOM LINE-The Skins are my pick to win the division again, but RB3 will have to be all full power to do so. The offense should be fun to watch and the D has the ability shut down opposing offenses. The Skins should be playoff bound, but still seem a couple pieces away from truly making a deep run.
PREDICTION 10-6
