Taking Back The NFC East
By Bo Martin
Football… every mans kryptonite. It’s the one thing that can make strong warriors, grinders, and blue collars cry. It is unexplainable the effect that football has on us as fans and as men. The Cowboys though, that heightens it a bit doesn’t it? Being a Cowboys fan means being more than a simple football fan. Cowboys fans… they’re apart of football lure, tradition followers, and amongst the best in sports. The true blue, is what we’re called, and it’s a class of fans that is rivaled by few. We’re knowledgeable, loyal, committed, and passionate. That’s something that won’t ever change.
Another football season is upon us, a season that is preceded by expert’s Super Bowl predictions. Whatever the experts say though, don’t buy into it. I’m very serious about that. We play in the NFC East, which is known as one of the toughest in the NFL, and there’s a reason for that. This isn’t a division where champions can be predicted, where initial schedule analysis gives you a firm outlook. Every game between division foes is a struggle. Teams often surprise, playing in a manner they hadn’t all year. It truly is one of the only divisions that makes you truly appreciate the sport of football.
So which team has the upper hand?
Philadelphia seems to be the popular choice. Last year they were quoted “The Dream Team” and that fell through pretty quickly. Mike Vick is coming back healthy and has a stable of capable weapons that can explode on any defense in a hurry. Their defense is greatly improved; adding Demeco Ryans to the linebacker unit is step in the right direction for sure. Their defensive line is one of the best in football and they had a phenomenal draft.
New York brings back a core of veteran leaders who are fresh off of a Super Bowl championship. The addition of David Wilson and Reuben Randall make an explosive offense even more so, and add a bright light to the future of this young organization. Defensively I think there still remain some questions but Jason Pierre-Paul is a true equalizer and always finds ways to impact the game.
Washington is the only team you can at least kind of rest at the sight of. However, the Redskins know how to play spoiler. The addition of Garcon and RGIII give them some much needed swagger and Roy Helu could emerge as one of the best young backs in the league. Defensively the unit has some upgrades and a solid draft and coaching make this team just as dangerous as ever.
Lastly, we have the Cowboys. The Cowboys have had a tremendous offseason reverting an erratic team to one of discipline and class. The organization hasn’t had the promise it does right now since the days of Tom Landry and I truly mean that. Our one flaw as a team actually doesn’t have to do with the team. It has to do with the fans. Somewhere in time we’ve gotten lost in the allure of the Cowboys. Expecting more out of them then we could ever receiverand abandoning them they don’t deliver.
True Blue used to mean something, so did America’s Team. The Cowboys are on the verge of building a team philosophy that can win championships. They’ve done their part. Now we need to band together, be loud at home games, stay loyal, and be that extra man the team needs when it’s lost its motivation. The division is open, the Cowboys are revived, and the Championship is ours for the taking. It’s up to us to help the Cowboys take back the NFC East.