Eagles rule the roost in NFC

By David Mullen

While many of the top NFC teams like the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions and the newcomer Washington Commanders spent the offseason improving, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys did what they do best.

Nothing.

In the offseason, most teams address their football needs. GM Jones seems to address his need for media attention by embellishing a high-profile holdout each summer. Defensive stalwart Micah Parsons started the current conflict but Jones keeps stoking the fire. He loves to play tough negotiator on TV by doing nothing. 

Parsons and Jones are not talking. Parsons shows up at practice meetings but doesn’t put on pads or run drills. It’s technically not a holdout, but a hold-in. On August 22, Parsons was caught lying down on the job when he appeared asleep on the sideline medical table during a home preseason game versus Atlanta. Most pundits see this as performance art and expect Parsons will be in uniform for the Cowboys opener on Thursday night, Sept. 4 against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

While Jones was on camera, the Cowboys were lapped by the Eagles and Commanders. The defending NFC East and Super Bowl Champion Eagles are deep on offense led by QB Jalen Hurts. They are machine-like in execution. While some questions on defense exist, Philadelphia — sorry, Detroit — is the best team in the NFC.

Washington seemed to surprise everyone last season behind QB Jayden Daniels, the NFL Rookie of the Year. His play was exhilarating and the Washington brass went out and got Daniels more support. The defense must play way beyond expectations if they are to soar with the Eagles. Anyone who watched the 2024 HBO series, “Hard Knocks: Offseason,” got to know New York Giants GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. This season, the duo must win or they are out. The Giants are entrusting the beginning of the season to aging QB Russell Wilson. The biggest drain on the Giants road to recovery — QB Daniel Jones — was just named the starting QB in Indianapolis.      

The Cowboys are really bad, maybe Giants bad. Brian Schottenheimer is the perfect Jones coach. He’s rah-rah but won’t rock the boat. He will talk up the Cowboys, while everyone knows they do not have a running game, QB Dak Prescott doesn’t handle pressure well, and the defense has issues stopping the run. New acquisition WR George Pickens should take pressure off of WR CeeDee Lamb but this team seems in disarray. 

The NFC North is the best division in the NFL. Any team can win the title and make a serious dent in the playoffs. The gritty Detroit Lions, led by firebrand HC Dan Campbell, remain a tight favorite. Defensive star Aidan Hutchinson returns after missing two-thirds of last season with a fractured tibia and fibula.

The Green Bay Packers have a talented QB in Jordan Love, who must prove that he can win in clutch ballgames. The defense will be patchwork with holes in the defensive line and backfield. Coming off of a 14-3 season, the Minnesota Vikings changed QBs and are hoping that former Michigan star QB J.J. McCarthy will lead them to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif. in February. 

The Chicago Bears are intriguing this season, led by 39-year-old first time head coach Ben Johnson. It appears the Bears have built an offensive line around captivating QB Caleb Williams. They are a team on the rise.

In the NFC South, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quietly become a force, winning the last four division titles. The Bucs QB Baker Mayfield has found a home in Tampa and is leading the Buccaneers charge. He threw for 4,500 yards (second in the NFC) and 41 touchdowns with limited weapons. 

The Atlanta Falcons spent a lot of money to sign veteran QB Kirk Cousins but are sticking with youngster Michael Penix Jr. The rebuilding Carolina Panthers are improving with solid drafts. It is QB Bryce Young’s time to shine. The New Orleans Saints are looking for some voodoo magic to make their demons disappear. They are handing the keys to the float to QB Spencer Rattler over second-round draft pick Tyler Shough.

The NFC West San Francisco 49ers had a rocky offseason. Coming off an uncharacteristic 6-11 season, they signed QB Brock Purdy to a big contract extension, traded key players and somehow managed to become the NFC West favorites to win the division. Acquiring RB Brian Robinson, Jr. from Washington on August 24 will ease Christian McCaffery’s workload.

The Los Angeles Rams’ future hinges on the health of Highland Park’s own QB Matthew Stafford, but never underestimate HC Sean McVay if Stafford continues with back issues. The Seattle Seahawks gave up on QB Geno Smith in favor of Sam Darnold. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (son of Gary) is reshaping the offense with more play-action passes and providing more QB mobility. The Arizona Cardinals have plenty of mobility in QB Kyler Murray when healthy. The Cards are hoping an improved defense will keep them in the division hunt. Philadelphia, Detroit, Tampa Bay and San Francisco will win their divisions. The wild card teams will be Washington, Arizona and Seattle. The Eagles return to the Super Bowl to face the Baltimore Ravans.

ESPN BET has set the odds of the Cowboys winning the NFC Championship at 25 to 1. Favorite 3 to 1 Philadelphia, the 8.5 to 1 Commanders and the entire NFC North are ahead of Dallas. Because of Jerry Jones’ lethargy illustrated by a sideline-sleeping Parsons, the Cowboys look like a bad bet in 2025.