If you’re one of those NFL fans who can’t stomach the idea of something positive being written about the Dallas Cowboys, well, this 2013 season preview isn’t for you.
Because it says here that Dallas is the NFC East team to beat this year and will play for its first Super Bowl this February in 18 seasons.
Tony Romo finally as a full arsenal of weapons around him -- a stud wideout in Dez Bryant, an explosive halfback in DeMarco Murray, a future Hall of Fame tight end in Jason Witten and an offensive line that still isn’t great but should be improved from last year. (Hey, they added Demetress Bell. That can’t backfire, right?).
Dallas’ uprising sets the stage for a Texas rodeo in the Big Apple this winter, as Houston will finally get over its hump and reach the franchise’s first Super Bowl. The door is closing on Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson but Arian Foster, rookie DeAndre Hopkins and an Ed Reed-led defense will help the Texans outlast New England and Denver in the AFC.
What else should we look for in 2013?
· Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel to edge Rams speed demon Tavon Austin for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Steelers linebacker Jarvis Jones to run away with Defensive Rookie of the Year.
· A three-way jockey between Andy Reid, Joe Philbin and Rob Chudzinski for Coach of the Year while Rex Ryan, Jason Garrett and Jim Schwartz play musical chairs to avoid the hot seat.
· The steady rise of the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, and gradual decline of the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens.
Of course, these are just predictions from one malnourished, sleep-deprived, absent-minded Eagles scribe. Other so-called CSN football experts made their picks, too.
Here they are:
Geoff Mosher
Regular season
NFC East: Cowboys (3)
NFC North: Packers (2)
NFC South: Falcons (1)
NFC West: Rams (4)
Wild Card: Lions (5)
Wild Card: Niners (6)
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AFC East: Patriots (1)
AFC North: Bengals (2)
AFC South: Colts (4)
AFC West: Chiefs (3)
Wild Card: Broncos (5)
Wild Card: Texans (6)
Playoffs
NFC Wild Card: Cowboys over Niners; Lions over Rams
AFC Wild Card: Texans over Chiefs; Broncos over Colts
NFC Divisional: Cowboys over Packers; Falcons over Lions
AFC Divisional: Texans over Patriots; Bengals over Broncos
NFC Championship: Cowboys over Falcons
AFC Championship: Texans over Bengals
Super Bowl: Texans over Cowboys
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player: Arian Foster
Offensive player of the year: Aaron Rodgers
Defensive player of the year: DeMarcus Ware
Top offensive rookie: E.J. Manuel
Top defensive rookie: Jarvis Jones
Coach of the year: Jeff Fisher
Team on the rise: Cleveland Browns
Team on decline: New Orleans Saints
Hottest coaching seat: Rex Ryan
News
John Gonzalez
Regular season
NFC East: Giants (4)
NFC North: Packers (3)
NFC South: Falcons (2)
NFC West: 49ers (1)
Wild Card: Seahawks (5)
Wild Card: Bears (6)
AFC East: Patriots (2)
AFC North: Bengals (4)
AFC South: Texans (3)
AFC West: Broncos (1)
Wild Card: Colts (5)
Wild Card: Dolphins (6)
Playoffs
NFC Wild Card: Seahawks over Giants; Packers over Bears
AFC Wild Card: Bengals over Colts; Texans over Dolphins
NFC Divisional: Seahawks over 49ers; Falcons over Packers
AFC Divisional: Patriots over Texans; Broncos over Bengals
NFC Championship: Falcons over Seahawks
AFC Championship: Broncos over Pats
Super Bowl: Broncos over Falcons
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning
Offensive player of the year: Adrian Peterson
Defensive player of the year: Richard Sherman
Top offensive rookie: Eddie Lacy
Top defensive rookie: Dee Milliner
Coach of the year: Pete Carroll
Team on the rise: Kansas City Chiefs
Team on decline: Tampa Bay Bucs
Hottest coaching seat: Rex Ryan
Derrick Gunn
Regular season
NFC East: Redskins (4)
NFC North: Packers (3)
NFC South: Falcons (2)
NFC West: Seahawks (1)
Wild Card: Niners (5)
Wild Card: Panthers (6)
AFC East: Patriots (3)
AFC North: Bengals (4)
AFC South: Texans (2)
AFC West: Broncos (1)
Wild Card: Chiefs (5)
Wild Card: Colts (6)
Playoffs
NFC Wild Card: Packers over Panthers; Niners over Redskins
AFC Wild Card: Patriots over Colts; Bengals over Chiefs
NFC Divisional: Seahawks over Niners; Falcons over Packers
AFC Divisional: Broncos over Bengals; Texans over Patriots
NFC Championship: Seahawks over Falcons
AFC Championship: Broncos over Texans
Super Bowl: Seahawks over Broncos
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player: Adrian Peterson
Offensive player of the year: Peyton Manning
Defensive player of the year: J.J. Watt
Top offensive rookie: Eddie Lacy
Top defensive rookie: Ziggy Ansah
Coach of the year: Pete Carroll
Team on the rise: Cleveland Browns
Team on decline: Pittsburgh Steelers
Hottest coaching seat: Rex Ryan
Ray Didinger
Regular season
NFC East: Redskins (4)
NFC North: Packers (1)
NFC South: Falcons (3)
NFC West: Niners (2)
Wild Card: Saints (5)
Wild Card: Seahawks (6)
AFC East: Patriots (2)
AFC North: Bengals (3)
AFC South: Texans (4)
AFC West: Broncos (1)
Wild Card: Ravens (5)
Wild Card: Colts (6)
Playoffs
NFC Wild Card: Seahawks over Falcons; Redskins over Saints
AFC Wild Card: Bengals over Colts; Ravens over Texans
NFC Divisional: Packers over Seahawks; Niners over Redskins
AFC Divisional: Broncos over Ravens; Patriots over Bengals
NFC Championship: Packers over Niners
AFC Championship: Broncos over Patriots
Super Bowl: Broncos over Packers
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning
Offensive player of the year: Aaron Rodgers
Defensive player of the year: Brian Orakpo
Top offensive rookie: Tyler Eifert
Top defensive rookie: Desmond Trufant
Coach of the year: Andy Reid
Team on the rise: Kansas City Chiefs
Team on decline: Pittsburgh Steelers
Hottest coaching seat: Rex Ryan
Reuben Frank
Regular season
NFC East: Cowboys (4)
NFC North: Packers (2)
NFC South: Falcons (3)
NFC West: Seahawks (1)
Wild Card: 49ers (5)
Wild Card: Saints (6)
AFC East: Patriots (4)
AFC North: Bengals (2)
AFC South: Texans (3)
AFC West: Broncos (1)
Wild Card: Colts (5)
Wild Card: Ravens (6)
Playoffs
NFC Wild Card: Falcons over Saints; 49ers over Cowboys
AFC Wild Card: Patriots over Colts; Texans over Ravens
NFC Divisional: Seahawks over Falcons; Packers over 49ers
AFC Divisional: Broncos over Patriots; Bengals over Texans
NFC Championship: Seahawks over Packers
AFC Championship: Bengals over Broncos
Super Bowl: Seahawks over Bengals
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player: Russell Wilson
Offensive player of the year: LeSean McCoy
Defensive player of the year: J.J. Watt
Top offensive rookie: Tavon Austin
Top defensive rookie: Ziggy Ansah
Coach of the Year: Gus Bradley
Team on the rise: Kansas City Chiefs
Team on decline: Baltimore Ravens
Hottest coaching seat: Dennis Allen
Andy Schwartz
Regular Season
NFC East: Redskins (4)
NFC North: Vikings (3)
NFC South: Falcons (2)
NFC West: Seahawks (1)
Wild Card: 49ers (5)
Wild Card: Packers (6)
AFC East: Patriots (2)
AFC North: Bengals (3)
AFC South: Colts (4)
AFC West: Broncos (1)
Wild Card: Ravens (5)
Wild Card: Texans (6)
Playoffs
NFC Wild Card: Vikings over Packers; 49ers over Redskins
AFC Wild Card: Bengals over Texans; Colts over Ravens
NFC Divisional: Falcons over Vikings; Seahawks over 49ers
AFC Divisional: Patriots over Bengals; Broncos over Colts
NFC Championship: Seahawks over Falcons
AFC Championship: Broncos over Patriots
Super Bowl: Broncos over Seahawks
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning
Offensive player of the year: Calvin Johnson
Defensive player of the year: Geno Atkins
Top offensive rookie: Eddie Lacy
Top defensive rookie: Eric Reid
Coach of the year: Leslie Frazier
Team on the rise: St. Louis Rams
Team on decline: Baltimore Ravens
Hottest coaching seat: Rex Ryan Jason Garrett