The View Back East: Week One Recap
Each week during the 2011 NFL Season, writer Joe Kleiber will have a look at how the rest of the NFC East is shaping up, and what that might mean for the Dallas Cowboys
CRANFORD, N.J. (CBSDFW.COM) - The NFC East got off to a wild start last weekend. We saw the Eagles prove that they are the team to beat in the division. The Cowboys lost a late lead against the Jets and saw their former kicker, Nick Folk, hit the game-winning kick. The Redskins pounced on the depleted Giants. What's in store the rest of the season for these teams? What happened in each game last weekend? Here is a recap of all the games and how the Eagles, Giants and Redskins will impact the Cowboys.
Eagles 31 Rams 13
The Eagles took off after Steven Jackson got hurt, but their run defense looked shaky before that. Jackson broke a 47-yard touchdown run, but got hurt after that and didn't return. The defense still looked scary though. They returned a fumble 56 yards for a touchdown and sacked Sam Bradford four times and forced him to leave early with a bruised index finger.
The offense looked as explosive as ever. Michael Vick threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns and he ran for 97 yards. LeSean McCoy was unstoppable. He ran for 122 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for fifteen yards and a touchdown. The electric DeSean Jackson caught six passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Can anybody stop this juggernaut offense?
The Falcons will get their chance this Sunday night in Michael Vick's return to Atlanta as the starting quarterback for the Eagles. The Eagles must stop Michael Turner if they want to win that game and Vick can't let his emotions distract him. The Falcons need this game more than ever after their debacle in Chicago last week. Who will win this NFC heavyweight battle? The Eagles look more explosive and only a top tier defense will be able to stop them. The Eagles will beat the Falcons in a tight game.
Redskins 28 Giants 14
The Redskins were very surprising and beat up on the battered Giants. Rex Grossman was very impressive. He looked rejuvenated and poised after he threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns. The biggest thing he did was not turn the ball over once. Grossman did feast on the depleted Giants defense, but he won the game and got the job done. Maybe Grossman still has a future as a starting NFL quarterback after all.
The rest of the team seemed to rally around Grossman. Tim Hightower had a big game with 72 yards rushing, a touchdown and caught three passes for 25 yards. Fred Davis also had a monster game with three catches for 105 yards. The Redskins look like they will feature the two-headed monster of Fred Davis and Chris Cooley often and that will be dangerous for opposing defenses.
The defense came up big with an interception return for a touchdown and some big stops when they needed them. This team looks much better than expected. They get to face a Cardinals team this week that just gave up over 400 passing yards to rookie Cam Newton. The Redskins offense is more dangerous and they look like a confident team right now. Will they take advantage of the porous Cardinals defense? The Redskins will win once again and move to 2-0 as Grossman has another stellar performance.
The Giants look like a team that is cooked. They simply have too many injuries to overcome without solid replacements. Eli Manning doesn't look like a quarterback with confidence right now and now his leading receiver, Hakeem Nicks, is dealing with a knee injury. Their offensive line looked weak and couldn't protect Manning or run-block. The team is so thin right now that they just signed veteran receiver Brandon Stokley. The defense couldn't stop Rex Grossman or any of the Redskins last week and won't be getting any more healthy bodies this week.
If the Giants are to turn things around they must have an identity. Are they a passing team, running team or both? They couldn't do either very well last week, but they still have time to turn it around. It is only week two, but they can't afford to go 0-2 this week against the Rams, who are also dealing with numerous injuries.
The Giants must find a way to get Ahmad Bradshaw more involved in the offense. He gets this offense going and brings balance to the offense. They must also hope Nicks is over his knee injury and healthy enough to start this week. The offensive line must protect Manning and block better for Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Will the Giants show up this week and bring home a much needed win or will they fold under pressure? The Giants will beat the Rams, because the Rams won't have either Steven Jackson or leading-receiver Danny Amendola. The Rams are coming off a terrible loss to the Eagles and are on the road. Hakeem Nicks will find a way to play and have a huge game, while Ahmad Bradshaw also comes up big. Eli Manning and the Giants need this win more than ever or they can kiss their season goodbye.
How do these teams impact the Cowboys? The Eagles will be their biggest challenge since their offense is so explosive and their defensive line can get after the quarterback. The Cowboys defense is beat up right now and if they can't get healthy quick, the Eagles will feast on them.
The Redskins may not be a playoff contender, but they will hang with Dallas when they face off. They clearly are better than what people thought and could flirt with a .500 record. The Giants are hurting right now, but they will eventually get healthy and won't be an easy opponent. They play each other the last game of the season so they will have a huge impact on them. The Cowboys must win this Sunday at San Francisco or they could be in deep trouble in the division if they fall to 0-2.
