Lots of change in the NFC East this offseason, but the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles remain on top. Who is the best bet to win the division? 2015 NFL Predictions. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
Who is the best bet to win the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys or the Philadelphia Eagles?
Dallas won the division last year but came out of nowhere to do so. Prior to the year, expectations were very low for the Cowboys. The defense was supposed to be bad and the offense not good enough to overcome that deficiency.
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Instead, Dallas put together the best offensive line, second-best rushing attack and a solid defense on its way to 12 wins. The team seems ripe for regression though. With the departure of DeMarco Murray, I don’t see how this running game is nearly as good as last season even with the still superior o-line.
Everyone continues to assume Dez Bryant will sign his franchise tender sometime soon too, but it still hasn’t happened. With a worse running game and no Dez this team is in big trouble. Even with Bryant in tow though, the unit could take a step back. And I expect similar regression out of the defense.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia had a bigger overhaul to its stars than perhaps any team in football. Is Chip Kelly’s offensive system good enough to overcome that? He sure thinks so; I’m not sold yet. Murray is now an Eagle though, and Sam Bradford can be a quality quarterback when he’s healthy. Am I wrong to like the Eagles more than the Cowboys this season even with crazy Kelly in charge?
Philly is primed to have the better defensive season with Kiko Alonso, Fletcher Cox and company. Special teams are also an area where this team shines.
I hate a lot of the moves Kelly and the organization made. I don’t hate them enough to put this team as anything but the favorite to win this often hard-fought division.
Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles receiver
Jordan Matthews(81) scores a first quarter touchdown against Dallas Cowboys safety
J.J. Wilcox(27) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
DAN:
Either the Cowboys or Eagles will win the NFC East, but you discounted the best franchise player in this entire debate, and Dallas’ best player and team leader. Tony Romo is the x-factor which keeps this division firmly in the Cowboys‘ hands.
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Romo was fourth in the league in touchdown passes last season. Not all of them went to Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray. He also kept his interception numbers in single digits, while throwing for the most yards per attempt of any quarterback in the NFL, with an average of 8.52 yards. The Cowboys won twelve games last season in large part because Romo was at his best. His completion percentage was the highest of his career, giving him his highest passer rating ever.
Point being, Romo will continue to play at a high level and the Dallas Cowboys will continue winning because of it. The running game will figure itself out, because Romo has been such a reliable passer of late. Same goes on defense. It’s easy to excel when you’re always playing with a lead.
In Philadelphia I’m scared to back Sam Bradford, or his backup Mark Sanchez. The Eagles have improved on both offense and defense, but lost their Mr. Reliable at quarterback. Nick Foles proved you could count on him under center. Bradford has a lot to prove, and despite Sanchez’s success late in the season last year, he burned me too many times as a Jets fan over the years.
This division is headed towards two teams with double-digit wins, but the Cowboys come out on top of the NFC East.
Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.
Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.
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