NFC EAST 2021 PREDICTIONS

BY ADAM GREENE

For just the third time in a non strike season a team with a losing record not only made the playoffs, but won its division to do it. The 2020 Washington Football Team was an aberration, in that they were much better than their record (they were 5-1 with Alex Smith starting) and they did not win their Wild Card game, losing 31-23 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Because the last two times it happened, a sub .500 team making the postseason, that squad won its playoff opener. In 2010, the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks beat the 11-5 New Orleans Saints 41-36, unleashing Beast Mode into our national lexicon. Five years later, the 7-8-1 Carolina Panthers led by future NFL MVP Cam Newton took down the 13-3 Arizona Cardinals 27-16.

So, yes, losing as a homestanding Wild Card with a losing record was unheard of until last year when the WFT came within a single score of the Bucs.

I don’t think it’ll happen again this season. It never has in back-to-back years, but the NFC East will do all it can to give it a solid try.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: 9-8

While the drop off from Alex Smith to Ryan Fitzpatrick is significant, the WFT still has the best defense and best head coach (Ron Rivera) in the division. It made all the difference last year and should again as the other (possibly) competent head coaches in the division have inferior rosters and the only roster that might be better, is coached by Mike McCarthy, who is currently trapped unable to scratch his nose with both hands stuck in Pringles cans.

I do think that Taylor Heinicke will be handed the keys before the end of the season and that’s what’ll put them over the top.

DALLAS COWBOYS: 8-9

The NFL, as a league, should have stepped in to stop Jerry Jones hiring Mike McCarthy as his head coach. This is a deep playoff roster. Frankly, if you put Dak Prescott with a smart offensive coach and playcaller, this is a potential Super Bowl team. It gives me no pleasure to continually talk about the dumpster fire the Cowboys are because of McCarthy. I mean, we can all watch it every week on Hard Knocks.

To me, this is a hopeful prediction. Because Hard Knocks has gotten all but two head coaches featured on it fired, all but one the exact same season it aired. If the Cowboys sneak into the playoffs with nine wins, Jerry Jones might lean in and fool himself into thinking McCarthy has accomplished something when this should be an 11-6 team at worst. It would be a disaster. I like some of these players, Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper, too much to wish that upon them.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: 6-11

Nick Sirianni was a logical hire for the Eagles, but this team has an NFL-leading $50 million in dead cap this year and a roster that shows it. They have the picks to rebuild in 2022 and losing here doesn’t hurt them in the long run. Good thing they’re presently built for it.

NEW YORK GIANTS: 5-12

It’s a make or break year for QB Daniel Jones and if you see the record I’ve predicted for the Giants, I’m betting break. Other than Saquon Barkley, there’s not a single offensive player on this squad you’d start on your fantasy team. Frankly, Kadarius Toney is probably the only one you want on your bench for when he breaks out later in the year.

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