NFC East preview: QBs, suspensions, newcomers headline division
Washington won the NFC East last season with a 9-7 record.
No other team in the division had a winning record with Philadelphia (7-9), New York Giants (6-10) and Dallas (4-12) falling in order behind the Redskins.
After finishing in last place in the division in 2014, the Redskins won their final four games to win the division last season. They started the season 2-4, but ended up qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
However, they were quickly dispatched by Green Bay in the wild-card playoffs 35-18.
The division will have two new head coaches this season with the Eagles’ Doug Pederson and the Giants’ Ben McAdoo. The Eagles will also have a rookie starting quarterback in Carson Wentz.
The Cowboys are leaning on a pair of rookies too, running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott, and a healthy wide receiver Dez Bryant and cornerback Orlando Scandrick contend this season. They’ll be without starter Tony Romo for a while. He fractured a bone in his back during a preseason game in Seattle.
The Redskins are hoping high-priced cornerback Josh Norman will spark its defense and quarterback Kirk Cousins can repeat the success he had in 2015.
Here are are some angles, facts and figures on the NFC East:
Witten watch
Dallas Cowboys tight Jason Witten (1,020) became the second tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions and the youngest tight end to reach the milestone (33 years, 215 days old) last season. Tony Gonzalez (1,325) was first. Witten needs 83 receptions to pass Isaac Bruce (1,024), Andre Johnson (1,053), Reggie Wayne (1,070), Terrell Owens (1,078), Tim Brown (1,094), Cris Carter (1,101) and Marvin Harrison (1,102) for the third-most all-time.
Beckham’s hands
New York Giants acrobatic wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has 187 catches for 2,755 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first two years in the league. His 2,755 receiving yards are the most in NFL history by a player in his first two seasons, passing the previous mark of 2,726 set by Randy Moss in 1998-99. His 187 catches are the second-most by a player in his first two seasons and his 25 touchdown receptions rank fourth all-time in a player’s first two seasons. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 150 catches, 2,000 receiving yards and 20 touchdown receptions in a player’s first two seasons.
Suspension game
Does anyone want to play this game for money? Five players in the NFC East have been suspended for at least one game this season and another might join the list. They are kicker Josh Brown (1 game) of the Giants, running back Silas Redd (indefinitely) of the Redskins, and Randy Gregory (four games), Rolando McClain (10 games) and DeMarcus Lawrence (four games) of the Cowboys. Lane Johnson is awaiting word from the NFL on a possible 10-game suspension, but is still on the roster and will be in the lineup until further notice.
Purple passion
The Redskins selected former TCU and Mansfield Legacy High School standout wide receiver Josh Doctson in the first round of the NFL Draft. Doctson is the 10th player from TCU selected by the Redskins all-time, joining tackle Wilson Groseclose (1936), Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh (1937), tackle I.B. Hale (1939), tackle Weldon Edwards (1947), tackle Clarence Marable (1951), tackle Doug Conaway (1952), guard John Groom (1958), running back Marcus Gilbert (1983) and linebacker Robert Henson (2009). Doctson joins Baugh and Hale as the only TCU players selected by the Redskins in the first round.
Monday night
It doesn’t have the wow factor that it used to have, but it’s still a big deal to play in a Monday Night Football game. All four NFC East teams will appear on MNF this season. The Redskins, Eagles and Giants each have two appearances. Dallas has one. The Redskins will play in the opening night MNF doubleheader, hosting Pittsburgh on Sept. 12 and later hosting Carolina on Dec. 19. The Giants play at Minnesota on Oct. 3 and host Cincinnati on Nov. 14. The Eagles play at Chicago on Sept. 19 and host Green Bay on Nov. 28. The Cowboys lone appearance is on Dec. 26 at home against Detroit.
Franchise numbers
The Giants need three victories to become the third team in NFL history with 700 total victories. The Giants (697- 591-33) would join Chicago (758-573-42) and Green Bay (752-568-37) as the only teams to accomplish the feat.
London bound
Two NFC East teams will play in London this season. The Los Angeles Rams will host the Giants on Oct. 23 at Twickenham Stadium. On Oct. 30, Cincinnati hosts the Redskins at Wembley Stadium.
This story was originally published September 6, 2016 at 12:36 PM with the headline "NFC East preview: QBs, suspensions, newcomers headline division."