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The Honolulu Advertiser
NFC East Outlook | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Sunday, August 24, 2003

NFC East Outlook

Dallas Cowboys

  • Sept. 7 Atlanta, 10:15 a.m. HST
  • Sept. 15 at NY Giants, 3 p.m.
  • Sept. 28 at NY Jets, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 5 Arizona, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 12 Philadelphia, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 19 at Detroit, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 26 at Tampa Bay, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 2 Washington, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 9 Buffalo, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 16 at New England, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 23 Carolina, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 27 Miami, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 7 at Philadelphia, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 14 at Washington, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 21 New York Giants, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 28 at New Orleans, 8 a.m.

New York Giants

  • Sept. 7 St. Louis, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sept. 15 Dallas, 3 p.m.
  • Sept. 21 at Washington, 10:05 a.m.
  • Oct. 5 Miami, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 12 at New England, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 19 Philadelphia, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 26 at Minnesota, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 2 at New York Jets, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 9 Atlanta, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 16 at Philadelphia, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 30 Buffalo, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 7 Washington, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 14 at New Orleans, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 21 at Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 28 Carolina, 11:05 a.m.

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Sept. 8 Tampa Bay, 3 p.m. HST
  • Sept. 14 New England, 10:15 a.m.
  • Sept. 28 at Buffalo, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 5 Washington, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 12 at Dallas, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 19 at New York Giants, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 26 New York Jets, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 2 at Atlanta, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Green Bay, 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 16 New York Giants, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 23 New Orleans, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 30 at Carolina, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 7 Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at Miami, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 21 San Francisco, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 27 at Washington, 3:30 p.m.

Washington Redskins

  • Sept. 4 New York Jets, 3 p.m. HST
  • Sept. 14 at Atlanta, 7 a.m.
  • Sept. 21 NY Giants, 10:05 a.m.
  • Sept. 28 New England, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 5 at Philadelphia, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 12 Tampa Bay, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 19 at Buffalo, 7 a.m.
  • Nov. 2 at Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 9 Seattle, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 16 at Carolina, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 23 at Miami, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 30 New Orleans, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 7 at New York Giants, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 14 Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 21 at Chicago, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 27 Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m.

Outlook

EAGLES

  • LAST YEAR: Reached NFC championship game for second consecutive season, losing to Tampa Bay at home.
  • STRENGTHS: QB Donovan McNabb is among NFL's best, OL is solid and secondary may be league's best.
  • WEAKNESSES: Lack No. 1 receiver and pass-rush specialist, and have inexperienced returners. Also rebuilding LB corps.
  • Top additions: FB Jon Ritchie, LB Mark Simoneau, LB Nate Wayne, P Dirk Johnson.
  • Rookies to watch: DE Jerome McDougle, TE L.J. Smith.
  • Key losses: DE Hugh Douglas, CB Al Harris, LB Shawn Barber, KR Brian Mitchell, LB Barry Gardner, G Doug Brzezinski, FB Cecil Martin, P Sean Landeta, RB Dorsey Levens, S Blaine Bishop, WR Gari Scott.
  • goals: Replacing several important cogs lost in free agency. Will try to see if RB Correll Buckhalter, injured last year, is ready to push Duce Staley.

GIANTS

  • LAST YEAR: Won last four games as offense flourished after coach Jim Fassel took over play-calling. Earned wild-card slot but blew a 38-14 lead over San Francisco and lost 39-38.
  • STRENGTHS: Overall offense led by QB Kerry Collins, RB Tiki Barber, WR Amani Toomer and TE Jeremy Shockey, below left, who had huge impact as rookie last season. Starting DL, and CBs Will Allen and Will Peterson.
  • WEAKNESSES: Defensive depth. Terrible special teams upgraded in off-season. OL is question for second straight year.
  • Top additions: KR Brian Mitchell, P Jeff Feagles, DT Ryan Kuehl, S Ray Green, FB Jim Finn, RB Dorsey Levens, DL Keith Washington, K Mike Hollis.
  • Rookies to watch: DT William Joseph, TE Vishante Shiancoe.
  • Key losses: OT Mike Rosenthal, OL Jason Whittle, CB Jason Sehorn, TE Dan Campbell, RB Sean Bennett, C Dusty Ziegler, K Owen Pochman.
  • Goals: Rebuilding offensive line again with untested candidates. Specials teams have been entirely revamped with newcomers. Shiancoe looks like good counterpart for last year's sensation, Jeremy Shockey.

REDSKINS

  • LAST YEAR: Steve Spurrier, rookie coach, realized castoffs from Florida can't make his offense go in NFL. Five starting QB changes.
  • STRENGTHS: Team speed, OL, LB.
  • WEAKNESSES: Safety, DL line depth, RB.
  • Top additions: QB Rob Johnson, K John Hall, WR Laveranues Coles, KR Chad Morton, RB Trung Canidate, G Randy Thomas, DE Regan Upshaw, WR Patrick Johnson,
  • S Matt Bowen, DT Jermaine Haley, G Lennie Friedman.
  • Rookies to watch: WR Taylor Jacobs, G Derrick Dockery, QB Brad Banks.
  • Key losses: RB Stephen Davis, DL Carl Powell, G David Loverne, DT Daryl Gardner, WR Derrius Thompson, QB Shane Matthews, OL David Brandt, TE Walter Rasby, WR Chris Doering.
  • Goals: Spurrier gets a faster team and must develop second-year QB Patrick Ramsey. LB Jeremiah Trotter must justify expensive signing.

COWBOYS

  • LAST YEAR: Third straight 5-11 season prompted owner Jerry Jones to replace Dave Campo with Bill Parcells.
  • STRENGTHS: Defense, especially in secondary led by safeties Darren Woodson and Roy Williams, plus No. 5 overall pick Terence Newman at cornerback.
  • WEAKNESSES: RB, where Emmitt Smith was cut for cap reasons; QB, where Chad Hutchinson and Quincy Carter have shown little.
  • Top additions: Head coach Parcells, WR Terry Glenn, RB Richie Anderson, P Toby Gowin, OT Ryan Young, LB Al Singleton, TE Dan Campbell, CB Donald Mitchell.
  • Rookies to watch: Newman, C Al Johnson.
  • Key losses: Smith, DL Brandon Noble, WR Raghib Ismail, LB Kevin Hardy, DE Peppi Zellner, OT Solomon Page, G Ross Tucker.
  • Goals: RB Troy Hambrick has been eager to replace Smith. Parcells must decide if he has one quarterback between inexperienced Hutchinson and Carter.

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