Thinking the Unthinkable (and loving it)

August 1, 2007 | By Chris White | Discuss

Anyone who follows the NFL, or any sport for that
matter is quick to point out how futile it is to look
past any one game.  To contemplate the fate of an
entire NFL season is just plain ludicrous.  That being
said, screw traditional wisdom.  Let’s get it on,
football 2007 is here!

As has become tradition at PhillyPurge.com, the first
order of business will be the NFC East, home of the
Philadelphia Eagles.  A very good year it looks to be.

NFC East Prediction

12-4 Philadelphia Eagles
10-6 Dallas Cowboys
8-8  New York Giants
6-10 Washington Redskins

Philadelphia (12-4)
What would you say if I predicted a 10-0 start for the
Birds this year?  Is that completely insane or what?
That’s exactly how I see McNabb and company emerging
from the blocks this year.  

Week one at Green Bay could be trickier than
anticipated in that it will be Brett Favre’s final
home opener.  Lots of rust to knock off for both
teams, but especially with McNabb returning to the big
stage.  I think the cream will rise to the top though,
with Philadelphia showing their class in the 2nd half
and walking away from Lambeau Field with the W.

Next up, two cupcakes at home with wins against both
Washington and Detroit.  The Giants lost their best
player to retirement, and Michael Strahan has already
begun whining for more money.  Unless Eli Manning has
a coming out party this year (and you won’t find a
Giant fan in the tri-state area expecting that), this
team has all the makings of hitting mid-season with no
wheels remaining.  Chalk up a win at the Meadowlands.

After the ‘bye’ in week five, they return to East
Rutherford to take on the Jets.  This game could be
dicey, but I’ll give a slight nod to Coach Reid.
Bears at home, another tough game but like most people
feel, Rex Grossman can throw in a clunker anytime,
especially in front of a very hostile crowd at the
Linc.

Wins in Minnesota against old buddy Brad Childress,
followed by a home win in the grudge match vs. TO and
the Cowboys.  The Redskins follow.  When the Miami
Dolphins invade South Philly on November 18th, Trent
Green will already be out of commission.

Now the troubling part of the schedule.  At New
England, Seattle and Giants home, at Dallas and New
Orleans.  Of those five, I think the best chance is a
division victory again against New York.  Toss ups
with Seattle and New Orleans.  There’s a good chance
of looking at 1-4 during that span, but by then the
season is on ice, with the Birds easily covering the
regular season finale in Buffalo, where the Bills had
quit a month earlier.

Dallas (10-6)
Can Dallas without Bill Parcells be better off with
Wade Phillips?  Didn’t think so.  Look for a rosy
training camp in Big D, and an opening season win
against the Giants, but then things take a turn for
the worse.

Pencil in more wins vs…
St. Louis (H), Minnesota (H), @ Giants, Washington
(H), Green Bay (H), @ Detroit, Philadelphia (H).

Likely losses vs…
@ Chicago, New England, @ Philadelphia, @ Washington.

Toss Ups…
At Miami week 2 (remember, Trent Green will probably
still be playing in week 2), at Buffalo (always tough
territory up there, especially when the Bills are
still in the hunt), Jets home (Jets could contend all
season with a healthy Pennigton), at Carolina
(especially if John Fox can figure out a way to
squeeze some offensive life into his team).  Let’s say
they split those four.

Even with the coaching change and not a whole lot of
personnel additions this year, Dallas could put
together a win streak late in the season to make the
playoffs, after what looks to be a 3-4 mark at their
bye week.

Giants (8-8)
And they aren’t that good.  Here are a few things we
know about the Giants in no particular order.  They
have no leadership on that team.  Michael Strahan, if
he decides to return with the bad wheel is probably as
much a distraction anymore then the All-Pro player he
was.  Tiki Barber will be missed.  Jeremy Shockey
won’t play 16 games.  Coach Coughlin is another year
closer to wearing out his welcome.

Within the division, they lose both to Philly and
Dallas and split with Washington.  I’ll pencil them in
for a 3-1 record vs. the NFC North.  The rest, losses
to the Jets and SF in Jersey.  Wins in Atlanta, London
(vs. Miami), and Buffalo.  To win the 8th, I think
they beat New England at home the last game of the
season, which is meaningless to the Patriots who
should clinch by Thanksgiving.  Could be meaningless
as well though to Coughlin, and serve as his final
head-coaching job in the NFL.

Washington (6-10)
Again, I don’t think the Skins are even this good, but
the schedule makers were kind.  Clinton Portis is
already nicked up, and his mouth is in mid-season
form.  Let’s break down the logical wins and losses…

Victories against…
Detroit (H), Buffalo (H), Dallas (H).

Losses vs...@ Philadelphia, @ New England, @ Jets,
Philadelphia (H), @ Dallas, Chicago (H), @ Giants.

Toss ups…
Miami (H) in the season opener.  The Dolphins made
some nice off-season moves, but how well they gel this
early in the season remains to be seen, and FedEx
Field’s 91,000 plus will be rockin.  Giants (H), @
Green Bay, Arizona (H), @ Tampa Bay, @ Minnesota.
Splitting the difference once again in these six
games, combined with the above results in the
Washington Redskins season at 6-10.  Not good enough
for Daniel Synder, Coach Gibbs, or even big mouth
Clinton Portis.  Two of the three won’t remain heading
into the 2008 campaign.  Any guess who they are?

So there you have it.  The Eagles will win the
division, and will earn home field advantage
throughout the playoffs courtesy of that week seven
defeat of fellow 12-4 Chicago Bears.

Next up, the rest of the NFC followed by my AFC
breakdown..

Also, don’t forget to check back here each week during
the season for weekly selections all throughout the
NFL season.

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