The Landry Hat
Fansided

Can the Dallas Cowboys repeat as NFC East champs?

By Tyrone Starr

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 19: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys and Cole Beasley #11 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a first quarter touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in a preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 19: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys and Cole Beasley #11 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a first quarter touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in a preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 30: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs in the fourth quarter during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime 29-23. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 30: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs in the fourth quarter during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime 29-23. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Eagles

2016 Record/Finish: 7-9, 4th in NFC East
Offensive Ranks (2016): 16th (scoring), 22nd (total yards), 24th (passing), 11th (rushing)
Defensive Ranks (2016): 12th (scoring), 13th (total yards), 13th (passing), 15th (rushing)
Free agent additions: WR Alshon Jeffery (CHI), RB LeGarrette Blount (NE), DE Chris Long (NE)
Free agent losses: DT Bennie Logan (KC), DE/LB Connor Barwin (LA)
Key draft picks: DE Derek Barnett, CB Sidney Jones
Toughest multi-game stretch: Weeks 2-6 (at KC, vs. NYG, at SD, vs. AZ, at CAR)
Vegas Over/Under for wins: 8
Projected 2016 record: 8-8

The paper champs are back!

Every offseason, it seems that the Eagles make a lot of moves that all appear to be sexy.  Every year, the results end up the same.  Philadelphia has made it to the playoffs just once in the last six years.  They have just two seasons with a winning record in that span as well.

The positivity is flowing once again in the surrounding areas of Lincoln Financial Field.  The Eagles used free agency to address their offense around last year’s second overall pick in quarterback Carson Wentz.  Jeffery and Smith get a chance to upgrade an embarrassing receiver corps.  Blount gives them a power back they have not had in quite some time.  They even added a couple of offensive linemen in Stefen Wisniewski and Chance Warmack.

Defensively, the Eagles followed suit of the division adding youth and depth to their barely above average unit in 2016.

It will be all on the offense though and that’s likely the issue.  Jeffery and Blount have never been able to carry the load as “number one guys” at their positions.  Maybe the offense is slightly better in 2017, just not enough for it to matter.  Bet on the playoff drought continuing another season.

Home/Cowboys News