From: v106nm43@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Kenneth J Ruggiero)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: The Mighty NFC East
Date: 10 Apr 92 16:58:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


	I'm looking forward to football season already...and I think the NFC
East will be the most exciting division anyone's ever seen.  The AFC just
doesn't have any great teams in it, the four best teams in the NFL exist in the
NFC...three of those in the NFC East.
	In the AFC, the Bills and Oilers are probably the two best, and will
most likely have the two best records again in the regular season.  I think the
Jets are on the rise, and the Patriots should be interesting to watch.  The
Bengals should rebound, although not enough to overpower the Oilers, and the
Chiefs won't be easy to beat now that they have a good qb in Krieg.  In fact,
if Krieg puts up the numbers he's had in the past, the Chiefs could end up
representing the AFC in the Superbowl.  I really don't think it matters,
though.  The NFC will most likely add another win to that streak in the
Superbowl.
	Four teams in the NFC stand out above the rest : the 49ers, Cowboys,
Redskins and Eagles.  Granted, the Saints have shown they can be contenders,
the Falcons look as though they're on the rise, the Giants have
potential to return to old form, and the Bears can never be counted out, but
let's look at the top four teams once again.  
	The 49ers are strong contenders after missing the playoffs with a 10-6
record this past year (remember, everybody with a record above .500 made the
playoffs in the AFC).  After a 4-6 start, with a Steve Young-led team, Bono
finished up the season in good fashion.  Young is a great quarterback on the
wrong team.  The 49ers need a right-hander if they want to succeed in getting
the ball to Rice more often.  Montana and Bono are perfect starter and backup
for the 49ers.  The 49ers won their last six games, and convinced the world
that they would've been very tough to beat had they made the playoffs.  I
believe with the return of the great Joe Montana, they will continue this drive
and win the NFC West without much trouble.
	The Eagles also finished up the season at 10-6, also just barely
missing the playoffs.  The Eagles are an entirely different team than the
49ers...they were a team without a qb to guide them, but a defense that
wouldn't quit.  McMahon did a good job as a starter, but when he was injured,
the Eagles were dead.  As the number one defense in the league returns this
year, it will be protecting the offensive firepower that Randall Cunningham
brings onto the field.  Randall, unlike Pat Ryan of all people, can put enough
points on the board to win games.  Although the Eagles don't have much of a
running game, again Randall provides this...in his last complete season rushing
for over 900 yards.  The Eagles will be tough to beat and interesting to watch.
	The Redskins are the Redskins.  They just won the Superbowl, and they
aren't losing much at all.  They will not be easy to beat, as they are an
all-around balanced team.  They won't fall like the Giants did, Gibbs is too
smart for that.  They'll be as strong as ever.
	Last but not least, the Cowboys.  If this draft can provide the Cowboys
with the defense they need to succeed, the Cowboys can go over the top.  After
a 1-15 season, Johnson led them to a 7-9 season in which they just missed the
playoffs.  Last season, they went 11-5, winning an imperative game over the
Eagles in week 16 of the season that shot them into the playoffs on a 5 game
winning streak.  They won their first playoff game in five (?) years in
Chicago, proving they can win a big game under pressure, ON THE ROAD.  That is
the sign of a true contender.  With all the improvements over the last few
seasons, the Cowboys won't give up now.  Their fight to be the NFL Champion
will be tough, but they're willing to give it all they've got.  They return
with last years rushing champion, Emmitt Smith, AND last years receiving
champion, Michael Irvin, along with two other pro-bowlers in Jay Novacek and
the rising Troy Aikman, who comes back from his injury at the end of last
season.  
	The NFC, especially the East, will be great to watch this year.  I
can't wait!  I only wish the AFC were this exciting...

							Ken Ruggiero
							University at Buffalo
							GO COWBOYS!!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro