By SportsDayDFW.com Contact SportsDayDFW.com on Twitter: @SportsDayDFW
At 13-3, the Cowboys topped the NFC East in 2016. But the 11-5 Giants still swept Dallas, an ugly smear on Dallas bragging rights before Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay cut both teams' playoff hopes short anyway.
But with significant Cowboys turnover in free agency, including seven defensive players leaving Dallas, will the Cowboys still reign supreme in the NFC East?
The Giants, rather than sit quietly, have re-signed star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and given more support to Eli Manning by signing right guard/tackle D.J. Fluker and wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall now joins Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham Jr. as the trio looking to wreak havoc on defensive backs across the league.
SportsDay Cowboys insider Jon Machota said the moves could make the Giants the NFC East frontrunners.
NFL.com writer Elliott Harrison went even further: If Fluker pans out, Harrison said, the Giants could be the favorite across the entire NFC.
"Offensive line could row this boat to the postseason," he wrote, ranking the Giants the best NFC East team right now and fifth across the league. "Ditto Brandon Marshall."
Harrison said running back Paulie Perkins, entering his second season in the league, will need to step up after the Giants released Rashad Jennings. But the running game won't be the foundation of this team in 2017.
"With the second-ranked scoring defense from last season, and a passing game that's ready to burst, this is the best team in the NFC East," Harrison said. "Right now, of course. This is subject to change."
Harrison ranked the Cowboys seventh in the league, noting that Year 2 of Dak Prescott will teach fans a lot about how much the quarterback can handle. Without linemen Ron Leary (signed with Denver) or Doug Free (retiring), Prescott's challenges will change.
"The offensive line in front of him took a few hits," Harrison said. "The perception among many is that these 'Boys are the favorites in the NFC. If Prescott performs well under intense pressure - something he rarely had to do in 2016 - maybe. He also might have to put up a few more points per game, as Dallas lost multiple starters on defense to the free-agent marketplace."
That and O-line depth issues may plague the Cowboys in 2017.
"This breadth of deflections - large and small - is why the Giants leapfrogged Dallas," Harrison said. "That, and a 2-0 record against the Cowboys last year."
Other notables
--The Broncos were No. 13, but Harrison said "if Tony Romo comes to town, you can bet Denver will be doing much leapfrogging." The Leary addition helped their stock.
"Signing Ronald Leary was HUGE," Harrison said. "The guy was simply more effective than the highly regarded youngster he replaced last year in Dallas due to injury (La'el Collins). Leary's an outstanding run blocker, as you can see in Ezekiel Elliott's production from the time the guard entered the lineup. And if you're you going to sign a 'brittle' QB, where should the focus be?"
--The Redskins and Eagles were 15 and 19, respectively, in Harrison's rankings.
--In ranking the Falcons second overall behind the Patriots, Harrison lauded them for signing Cowboys defensive end free agent Jack Crawford. It was a "smart signing," he said, as Crawford "had his moments in Dallas and should fit nicely into Dan Quinn's D-line rotation."
At 13-3, the Cowboys topped the NFC East in 2016. But the 11-5 Giants still swept Dallas, an ugly smear on Dallas bragging rights before Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay cut both teams' playoff hopes short anyway.
But with significant Cowboys turnover in free agency, including seven defensive players leaving Dallas, will the Cowboys still reign supreme in the NFC East?
The Giants, rather than sit quietly, have re-signed star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and given more support to Eli Manning by signing right guard/tackle D.J. Fluker and wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall now joins Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham Jr. as the trio looking to wreak havoc on defensive backs across the league.
SportsDay Cowboys insider Jon Machota said the moves could make the Giants the NFC East frontrunners.
NFL.com writer Elliott Harrison went even further: If Fluker pans out, Harrison said, the Giants could be the favorite across the entire NFC.
"Offensive line could row this boat to the postseason," he wrote, ranking the Giants the best NFC East team right now and fifth across the league. "Ditto Brandon Marshall."
Harrison said running back Paulie Perkins, entering his second season in the league, will need to step up after the Giants released Rashad Jennings. But the running game won't be the foundation of this team in 2017.
"With the second-ranked scoring defense from last season, and a passing game that's ready to burst, this is the best team in the NFC East," Harrison said. "Right now, of course. This is subject to change."
Harrison ranked the Cowboys seventh in the league, noting that Year 2 of Dak Prescott will teach fans a lot about how much the quarterback can handle. Without linemen Ron Leary (signed with Denver) or Doug Free (retiring), Prescott's challenges will change.
"The offensive line in front of him took a few hits," Harrison said. "The perception among many is that these 'Boys are the favorites in the NFC. If Prescott performs well under intense pressure - something he rarely had to do in 2016 - maybe. He also might have to put up a few more points per game, as Dallas lost multiple starters on defense to the free-agent marketplace."
That and O-line depth issues may plague the Cowboys in 2017.
"This breadth of deflections - large and small - is why the Giants leapfrogged Dallas," Harrison said. "That, and a 2-0 record against the Cowboys last year."
Other notables
--The Broncos were No. 13, but Harrison said "if Tony Romo comes to town, you can bet Denver will be doing much leapfrogging." The Leary addition helped their stock.
"Signing Ronald Leary was HUGE," Harrison said. "The guy was simply more effective than the highly regarded youngster he replaced last year in Dallas due to injury (La'el Collins). Leary's an outstanding run blocker, as you can see in Ezekiel Elliott's production from the time the guard entered the lineup. And if you're you going to sign a 'brittle' QB, where should the focus be?"
--The Redskins and Eagles were 15 and 19, respectively, in Harrison's rankings.
--In ranking the Falcons second overall behind the Patriots, Harrison lauded them for signing Cowboys defensive end free agent Jack Crawford. It was a "smart signing," he said, as Crawford "had his moments in Dallas and should fit nicely into Dan Quinn's D-line rotation."
...ok
