NFL OP-ED: 5 Reasons The Dallas Cowboys Will Win the NFC East This Season
Can you smell it football fans?
The NFL preseason is just weeks away. Nonstop Sunday's of watching football, Fantasy Football action, and predictions from everyone are about to begin. Without a doubt the most intense rivalries throughout NFL history have risen from the NFC East, which has garnered a record 12 Super Bowl wins. Every team hates one another in this division.
This year sets up great for viewers in the division. Here are five reasons the Dallas Cowboys will win the NFC East.
1. Talent
The Cowboys will win the NFC East, because they should win the NFC East. They have a Pro Bowl quarterback in Tony Romo who annually puts up elite numbers, Dez Bryant, who is arguably the best wide receiver in the game today, and more effective offensive weapons beyond that. Cole Beasley creates a nice short range slot option, and Terrance Williams can stretch the field. Oh, and don't forget about Jason Witten, the leader of the team. Good luck trying to double team Bryant with all those weapons. Dan Bailey is also a proven kicker.
2. Offensive Line
Not having DeMarco Murray on the roster won't help, but it's not as big a loss as many NFL experts believe. The Cowboys have the best offensive line in the league led by Tyron Smith. Joseph Randle averaged 6.7 yards per carry last season running behind this brick wall. He also had the longest run on the team, 67 yards. Murray's longest run was 51 yards. With Romo having all day to make throws and running backs getting untouched 10 yards past the line of scrimmage, it's going to take a lot to beat this team.
3. Improving Defense
This might not be the "Doomsday Defense" led by Bob Lilly and Ed "Too Tall" Jones, but the reality is they are improving. A year after having one of the worst defenses in NFL history, there's really only one way to go. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was fantastic last year despite Sean Lee missing the entire season. DeMarcus Lawrence is expected to be the future franchise end, and this Cowboys squad can force a lot of turnovers. Last season the Cowboys defense ranked 15th in points allowed, which is a dramatic increased from 2014. Last season the Cowboys only allowed 30 points in two games whereas the Eagles allowed 30 points four separate times.
4. The Division
This is pretty much a two team race. The Washington Redskins still have big defensive issues, and Robert Griffin III hasn't shown that he can stay healthy or get along with management. The Giants no longer have an elite defense, and Jason Pierre-Paul just couldn't stay away from fireworks this offseason. So, what about the Philadelphia Eagles? The Eagles did get Murray, but they got rid of Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin. Sam Bradford has torn his ACL the last two seasons, and Mark Sanchez is . . . Mark Sanchez. Tim Tebow time? Last season the Cowboys were 4-2 in the division against their opponents.
5. Decision Making
The Cowboys have finally started to adapt to the 21st century. This isn't the early 1990s anymore when you could simply outspend other teams and acquire the best players no matter the cost. With a salary cap in place, you have to manage your budget and make wise decisions like never before. Stephen Jones deserves a lot of credit for this. The Cowboys are saving money, making good draft picks, and they will have space available if needed before they NFL trade deadline.
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