The Changing Landscape of the NFC East

NFC East Power Rankings - This Year and Beyond Edition: 

Elite. Champion. Clutch. 

1. Giants

As long as Eli is the QB, the Giants will find a way to win. It may not look like the Giants are playing like a playoff team right now, but don't be fooled. They are one of the top teams in the NFL; perhaps not quite at the level of the Texans, Falcons, Packers and Pats, but whenever they decide to stop underachieving they have the ability to compete and defeat any team. Two rings in the past five years speak for themselves. The Giants are loaded with talent. YOUNG TALENT. JPP is 23 and already one of the best D ends in the league. Victor Cruz (26) and Hakeem Nicks (24) are considered one of the top tandems at WR and both have not entered their prime. If Eli can become more consistent, look for the Giants to continue to be the top team in the NFC East for the next few years. 

2. Redskins

Celebrating his first of many TDs

The future looks bright for the Washington Redskins. The Redskins have already proven this year that they can compete in the NFL by knocking off the Saints in week 1 and they nearly (and probably should have) beat the Giants in their first encounter. Can you imagine how good this team will be when their defense becomes healthy and RGIII has more experience. He already looks like one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NFL in his rookie season. RGIII is a star; throw stud rookie Alfred Morris and the storied coach Mike Shanahan in the mix and this team will only become better... much better. No longer will the NFC East be decided by the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles. The Redskins will not only be in the mix, but will fight for the NFC East title in the years to come. 

3. Cowboys

Romo leads the league with 13 INTs

Again, the Cowboys are having a roller coaster year, losing to the Seahawks while seamlessly trouncing the Eagles. The time is now for the cowboys. Tony Romo is a great regular season QB and at times looks like one of the NFL's elite QBs, but he continues to crumble under the pressure of the big game. Although he may be a more naturally gifted QB than Eli, Romo lacks Eli's clutch factor, the most coveted trait for an NFL QB. The more attention Jerry Jones draws to his organization, the more they will continue to fall apart under the unearthly expectations of "super bowl or bust" every season. If (and this is a big if) the Cowboys can land Sean Payton (the older lookalike of Daniel Craig) as their Head Coach, the Cowboys may finally be able reach their full potential and make a playoff run. For now, however, the Cowboys will continue to underachieve and turn the ball over, driving Jerry Jones crazy and delighting all the fans in the league who cannot stand the Cowboys organization. 

4. Eagles

This is what happens when you don't have an O-line

How scary did the Eagles look just two years ago when they romped the Redskins on MNF 59 to 28? In that game Vick threw for 333 yards with four touchdowns and rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns (6 touchdowns in prime time!). Football fans (especially NFC East'ers) around the nation held their breath in fear, positive that they were witnessing the culmination of the most electric offense in recent years. Luckily for Giants, Cowboys and Redskins fans, this night was not an indication for what was to come necessarily, but a frustrating reminder for Eagles fans at what they almost achieved. In my opinion, the Eagles organization is pulling the plug on the "Dream Team" (as Vince Young idiotically coined it) and coaching staff too soon. They have one of the most talent-loaded rosters in the NFL, but lack one key component that is clouding the vision of what this team can be: a trustworthy offensive line. Without an offensive line a team has no running game, no passing game and one extremely beat up QB. In one highly criticized move, Andy Reid may have dismantled what could have been one of the perennial Super Bowl contenders for years. In 2011, Reid promoted Juan Castillo, the former O-line coach, to D-coordinator. This move lessened the play of the O Line and led to an unorganized defense with untapped and limitless potential. The Eagles better hope they have their next franchise QB in Nick Foles because Vick and Reid are not going to be back next year and a team that was thought of recently as a Super Bowl favorite is about to begin the much maligned rebuilding process. 

Great call, Vince! Spot on... except for the whole part where you are unemployed and the Head Coach, D-Coordinator and starting QB are either fired already or half way out the door. 

Also, when this Eagles team is firing on all cylinders they look unstoppable... As a Giants' fan I am very happy to see the Michael Vick experiment come to an end (most likely) in Philly because he is an animal when given proper protection.