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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Saturday, February 15, 2025

Giants, Eagles stand tall in weak division

Philadelphia Eagles

After years of mediocrity, the Eagles emerged last season going 11-5, with second-year quarterback Donovan McNabb carrying the team into round two of the playoffs. With running back Duce Staley recovering from a foot injury and the off-season acquisitions of receivers James Thrash and rookie Freddie Mitchell, McNabb will finally have a few offensive options aside from his own legs, which served him in numerous quarterback scrambles last year.

The biggest question mark for the Eagles will be whether the young McNabb can withstand the constant media attention and high expectations associated with being an MVP runner up. Coach Andy Reid should not expect McNabb to come close to matching last year's numbers. McNabb accounted for a staggering 75 percent of the Eagles total offense, but the new acquisitions will most likely take much of that load off his back.

Playing in Philadelphia is no easy task - fans are fervent and fickle, not to mention violent - but the city has embraced this Eagles squad, and McNabb is second only to a certain 5'11" point guard as a fan favorite. If the Eagles' newcomers live up to expectations they won't have to rely on another one-man-show to make it deep into the playoffs.

New York Giants

The Giants' demolition of the favored Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game turned some heads. Although no one questioned the team's skill - the team was fueled by the thunder and lightning running back tandem of Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber, who combined for 1776 rushing yards - most didn't think they were a Superbowl caliber team. The Baltimore Ravens confirmed this suspicion, dominating the G-men from the opening kickoff.

This year the Giants should again be solid, with a lineup similar to the one that quarterback Kerry Collins guided to a 12-4 record. The Giants bolstered their already tenacious defense by adding Kenny Holmes, who had a breakthrough year with the Tennessee Titans recording 36 tackles and eight sacks. One uncertainty will be the availability of Barber, who has missed the preseason due to a broken arm. Expectations will be high as the team tries to prove to the country that its playoff run was no fluke, and it will have an immediate opportunity to do so - hosting the first Monday Night Football game against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 10.

Washington Redskins

Last season was a debacle for the Skins. The preseason Superbowl favorites fell on their faces, staggering to an embarrassing 8-8 record. During the offseason the team shed much of its payroll. The quarterback controversy between Jeff George and Brad Johnson was eliminated, with Johnson being shipped off to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For George, who has played on four different teams in the last four years, this new stability may increase his productivity.

The fickle quarterback will have to rely on a hodgepodge of veterans and rookies to get the job done, but with such low expectations, the squad may actually prosper under the supervision of new coach Marty Schottenheimer. Running back Stephen Davis had an exceptional season last year, running for 1318 yards, and Michael Westbrook should perform well in the top receiver role. The Skins are also fortunate to have landed the easiest schedule in the league.

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterback Jake Plummer's stock has plummeted drastically in the last two seasons, lacking a support staff and suffering from some bad luck. In 1998 Plummer led his team to a surprising playoff victory - a far cry from last year's 3-13 record where he chalked up 21 interceptions to only 13 touchdown passes. Free from injury, Plummer should help pull the Cardinals out of the cellar and to a more lofty status - mediocrity.

A healthy and larger offensive line should give Plummer some more time to throw, and receiver Rob Moore back from an ACL injury should give the QB a much more reliable option. The most gaping hole for Arizona this year will again be the young, weak defensive line, which finished last in the NFL in sacks (with 25), total defense (358.6 yards per game), rushing defense (163.1 yards per game), and scoring defense (443 points) last year.

Dallas Cowboys

With the Cardinals out of the NFC East's cellar, "America's team" should quickly replace them as cellar dwellers. The end of the Troy Aikman era has left rookie Quincy Carter as the starting QB. The only big name player left in Dallas is Emmitt Smith, whose running ability has become meaningless without anyone to create holes for him.

Offensively the Cowboys will struggle to put points on the board, but that will pale in comparison to their unstable defense. Last year the defense was tied for last in sacks and was the worst in preventing the run. To make matters worse, that unit's three best defensive players from last year - Chad Hennings, Leon Lett, Alonzo Spellman - have all left.