NFL Mid-Season Report Card: NFC East

With the first half of the NFL season over, here is a look at how each NFC East team performed with respect to preseason expectations:

Dallas Cowboys (6-2): A

The big question in Dallas this year, aside from how many punts would hit the scoreboard, was whether or not the production of Terrell Owens could be replaced. In eight games so far this season, the Cowboys have outperformed all expectations, by recording the fifth-highest scoring average in the NFL, and the third-ranked total offense. The big surprise in Dallas has been the emergence of Miles Austin at wide receiver. Austin only has 27 catches, but his seven touchdowns and 22.7 yards per reception average has been huge to the big play Dallas offense. Romo has also relied heavily on Jason Witten who is having another solid year, and is on pace for 90 receptions. As always, the NFC East division is a bruising gauntlet of a schedule, but if the Cowboys can continue their offensive production, they should remain atop the division come January.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-3): B+

Coming into the season, most Eagles fans would consider three losses to be a disappointment at this point in the season. However, when considering the injuries that the Eagles have had to overcome, including stars Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, I think most Eagles fans would reconsider and say 5-3 at the mid-way point in the season is a success. Offensively, the key statistic that has led to victories for the Eagles is their scoring offense. Averaging 27.4 points per game places the Eagles at fourth in the NFL. While impressive, the defense of the Eagles is what has carried them thus far, ranking eighth in points allowed and 10th in overall yards allowed per game. Factor in that opposing teams have been held to under 100 yards rushing per game, and you begin to understand how well this unit has been playing. Although sitting in second place at this point in the season, I still think it will be difficult for the Eagles to make the playoffs. Outside of their brutal division games, the Eagles play away games at San Diego, Chicago, and Atlanta, in addition to home matchups against San Francisco and Denver. Come January, I expect the Eagles to be sitting around 9-7 or possibly 8-8, which in all likelihood would leave them out of the playoff picture.

New York Giants (5-4): C

In looking at the statistics, Giants fans have to be scratching their heads. The team ranks eighth in the league in points scored, and sixth in the league in total offense. Defensively, the Giants have the best overall defense in terms of yards allowed, yet they are only 5-4. The key statistic for the Giants this season is that they are 22nd in points allowed on defense. This could be a result of a punting unit that is ranked 29th in the league in net yards per punt, giving opponents a shorter field to work with and leading to more points but fewer yards. Regardless of the cause for the losses, the Giants and their fans are disappointed at their 5-4 record. Like the Eagles, the Giants have a tough schedule ahead of them, and if they have plans of making the playoffs they better get their rest during the bye week. Coming out of the bye week, the Giants have consecutive games against the Falcons, Broncos, Cowboys, and Eagles. They must win at least two of those games to have a shot at the postseason.

Washington Redskins (2-6): D-

Redskins fans are some of the most passionate in the NFL, but they have had little to cheer about this season. A strong Redskins defense has kept the Redskins in just about every ball game, but the offense has been abysmal, ranking near the bottom of the NFL in nearly every category. In fact, the offense has been so bad, that one-time offensive genius Jim Zorn has been relieved of his play calling duties, despite the fact that he was originally hired to be the offensive coordinator, and is likely a lame duck head coach until the end of the season. The Redskins do play the Raiders in Week 14, and that is probably their only real shot at a victory in the second half of the season. Expect things to get ugly in D.C., as if they weren't already, as the Redskins might be looking at only a three win season.