Folks, it’s prediction time.
NFL training camps are right around the corner, meaning that the actual kickoff of the 2019 season is creeping up fast. Which, of course, means that it’s time for everyone in the football world to make their 2019 season predictions.
Bleacher Report trusted their predictions of each division champ to a panel of 8 writers, each placing their votes and justifications for their projected 2019 contender.
And while Cowboys Nation is as optimistic as ever that their team will be the ones hosting a playoff game come January 2020, this group of writers is not so sure. 5 of the 8 votes went to the Philadelphia Eagles, claiming them as the NFC East champs for 2019.
“There’s an intriguing mix of youth and Super Bowl experience. And the only serious challengers in the division are the Cowboys, who can be counted on to slip into a slump at the first sign of adversity. There’s a lot of MVP buzz around Carson Wentz, and it’s legit. If he’s healthy—and he sure looked and sounded healthy in minicamp—nothing will stop this team from winning the division and probably much more.” – Mike Tanier
While I think “can be counted on to slip into a slump at the first sign of adversity” is quite harsh, Mike does have a point about the biggest difference between the Cowboys and Eagles. Philly has championship-level experience all over their roster, while the Cowboys haven’t been out of the Divisional round of the postseason in a long time.
That matters. It does. But what also matters is the content of each team’s roster right now.
Dallas is loaded with talent top to bottom, and should be one of the deepest teams in the NFL. For years people claimed the Cowboys were as talented as anyone, but they were always an injury or two away from totally crumbling.
That isn’t the case anymore.
Across the offensive line the Cowboys have depth and versatility, as they do in their secondary. At linebacker they now have two dynamic young studs, and they’ve increased their talent level across the defensive line as well. Their offensive skill players can match up with the majority of the league, and their quarterback is, well, good.
Philadelphia is skilled as well, of course, and has made the playoffs each of the past two seasons. This is likely a two team division race, no question about it, and I won’t argue too hard with anyone who names the Eagles as slight favorites over Dallas.
But there’s also no doubt that the Cowboys are a legit threat to repeat as NFC East champions in 2019, as 3 of the 8 voters on this Bleacher Report piece predicted.
Let’s hope the clock speeds up and gets us to September already.
