NFL Week 9

Browns rookie QB Colt McCoy has been a nice surprise (Browns.com)

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Jared Oliver, sports journalists
November 19, 2010
Filed under Sports, Uncategorized

At the midway point, the NFL has experienced possibly the closest season there has been in a while. No team seems dominant, and even the winless Bills have gone into overtime several times and have fallen just short of victory. This week, I will attempt to touch on every NFC East team and their hopes for a playoff run.

NFC East:

Washington Redskins (4-4)- Despite all the commotion surrounding the benching of Donovan McNabb, the Redskins have placed themselves in a favorable position to make the playoffs. The players on the roster are talented, and coaching is better than past years. With a 2-0 division record and both games against the division leading New York Giants remaining, expect the Redskins to battle for  a wildcard spot in playoffs as the season winds down.

Dallas Cowboys (1-7)- Sorry, Cowboys fans, you will not be playing the Super Bowl in your stadium, and you won’t make the playoffs. The firing of Wade Phillips is a good first step though; however, I’m not convinced Jason Garrett is ready to turn around a team in this deep of a hole.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-3)- The Eagles posses a big threat to the Giants who sit in first in the division race. With Vick being truly impressive and the office clicking on all cylinders, expect the Eagles to battle it out down to the wire of the season with both games against the Giants remaining.  I believe this team will make the playoffs but may have to fend off a couple of other teams for one of the two wildcard spots.

New York Giants (6-2)- The Giants have been impressive since the beginning of October. Eli’s on his way to the best year of his career, and his young receivers-Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, and Mario Mannigham- paired with running back Ahmad Bradshaw make the Giants offense something to fear. The Defense features a deadly pass rush and rank in the top of the league in overall defense. Expect this team to win the NFC East, and make a strong run at the Super Bowl.

Other news

Surprising Player of the year – Co-winners: Rookie QB Colt McCoy and RB Peyton Hillis – Both play for the Browns and have made a perennially bad team competitive against the best in the league, including a 34-14 beating of the New England Patriots. Peyton Hillis runs hard and has had success. Colt McCoy has been forced to step in for the injured QB’s on the Browns roster and has impressed – the guy of the future may be the guy for the present and future.

Rookie of the Year – QB Sam Bradford- Usually we don’t talk about the first pick in the NFL Draft as the rookie of the year, especially if they play quarterback. Sam Bradford, however, has progressed nicely, leads his team very well and wins ball games even with no receivers to catch for him.