8:3 Report Cards

It's Week 8 in the NFL. And that means it's time for Mid-term Report Cards. The general consensus of this season is "What the heck just happened?" Teams that were once celebrating in confetti and hoisting trophies are now cowering from first-overall draft teams. Teams once laughed at are now laughing. It's been one crazy year of football filled with shocking surprise wins and equally surprising losses. With that said, our beloved NFC East hasn't quite avoided the chaos of 2010. Some of the season's most jaw-dropping stories stems directly from this division. Let's begin.

1. 2010 New York Giants (5-2)

Yes, I know. I thought the Dallas Cowboys would be on top too, but who's complaining? Actually, the New York Giants have established themselves as one of the top contenders in the NFC this year, and look like they could run away with this division. The Giants began the year with a 1-2 record after embarrassing losses to the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts, but have turned it around to win four consecutive games. The Giants season is by no means over though, as two division rivals sit just one game behind them. Their team looks consistent overall and if they don't putter out like they did in 2009, they can set their expectations high - very high.



2. 2010 Washington Redskins (4-3)

I promise you, this is the truth. The Redskins are only one game out of leading the division. This team.... This team can't win a game to save their life. Fortunately, they can't lose one to save their life either. The Redskins season has been one that has left fans holding their breath on the final play of every game. The Redskins began their campaign with a 13-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys that was decided on the last snap. The following week was a 30-27 overtime loss to Houston. Then, the Week 4 game in Philadelphia, where the Eagles came one dropped pass in the end zone from winning on the final play. An overtime field goal lifted the Redskins over Green Bay. Two of the Redskins' three losses have come by only three points. They hold an undefeated record against division rivals compared to their winless record in 2009. The Redskins are finding ways to win, and have set themselves in the position to contend for an unthinkable division title.



3. 2010 Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)

Ups and Downs have been the story for Philadelphia. They began the season looking mediocre at best under the leadership of Kevin Kolb. However, Kolb suffered a concussion in Week 1, putting the starting quarterback job in the hands of Michael Vick. Vick caught the football world by storm with two dominant victories in the following weeks. Philadelphia looked like the favorite to win the division, however the Washington Redskins injured Vick in Week 4, and pulled off a surprising victory over Philly. Kolb took control again, and this time, shined in the spotlight. This team looks inconsistent at the midway point, yet hold an impressive record of 4-3 after eight weeks. Vick should return to the starting position in the upcoming weeks giving the Eagles hope for 2010.

4. 2010 Dallas Cowboys (1-5)

?........What can even be said about this team? Favored to win the division in early predictions, the team has found no unity. The Cowboys biggest opponent this season has been themselves. They have continued to shoot themselves in the foot week after week with penalties and dumb decisions. This team has the talent to be 5-1 or 6-0, yet they are tied for the worst record in the NFC. In Week 1, the Cowboys appeared to throw the game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds, but a penalty erased it resulting in a 7-13 loss to Washington. Chicago ran over them in the following week. The Cowboys seemed to put the missing pieces together against Houston and destroyed the Texans. However, three straight losses have followed, and now Tony Romo, the starting quarterback, is out for 8 weeks with a broken collarbone. It's time to start considering the season lost for Dallas.

8:2 Goin' Bank

Like Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks came from low places to find himself as the Redskins' primary kick returner. Faced with the adversity against his size, he has used the asset of speed to silence the critics. At 5'7 and 148 lbs, you don't get much positive recognition as a potential threat. You might get plenty of attention for looking like a high-schooler, but a 290 lb. linebacker won't be focusing the defense on you. Strangely for Banks, he's usually the one smiling after a play is blown dead.

Banks came from the small rural town of Garner, North Carolina. He started all four years at Garner Magnet High School despite his small size. His speed stood out enough to be named to the USA Today All-USA Team for his record times in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. He spent his first year after high school at a junior college known as Bakersfield. The team was ranked first in the nation for junior colleges at the end of 2007. His talent took him to Kansas State where he stood out as one of the school's all time leading receivers. Banks' strength came on special teams, especially on kick returns. In the 2010 NFL Draft, Banks watched as his name was overlooked and his hope for an NFL career seemed to vanish. All that changed when Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins signed Banks to aid competition for wide receivers. Brandon Banks was immediately recognized by his tiny size, but it was his speed that ultimately overshadowed his height. In the Redskins' first pre-season game against Buffalo, his punt return for a touchdown caught many people off-guard, and turned the heads of the coaching staff. Banks was given a miracle chance as he made the final roster as one of six finalist at receiver. He beat out five other competitors with better resumes making his roster spot more accomplished.



Banks was soon sent down to practice squad, but by Week 4 of the regular season, his number was called upon to mimic that of Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick. His job was to evade pass rushes using his speed to prepare the defense for the quickness of Vick. Again, his speed caught the attention of Shanahan, who moved him to the starting kick and punt returner. His debut at punt returner resulted in a 53-yard jaw-dropping return against a stunned Philadelphia crowd. He followed that with a 30-yard return the next week against Green Bay. The next week against Indianapolis he blocked a crucial field goal by Adam Vinateri at the end of the half.


Time and time again Banks has sneaked out of the cellar and into the light. His entire life he has been neglected and downplayed because of his small stature, but sometimes it's not the size that matters. Banks plays with heart and adds electricity to the Washington sideline. For the first time in over a decade, the Redskins have some hope at returning kicks.

8:1 A Cinderella Story

Long shot was an understatement for this player on the Redskins very diverse roster. He was an absolute nobody before the first snap this year. But now teams are scheming against him as he has turned in better performances than some 1st round draft picks. At wide out, Anthony Armstrong has sneaked out of the basement and practice squads onto the big stage and has not disappointed. Shanahan was criticized for holding onto him as opposed to some more popular wide receivers such as Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, but he has failed to disappoint. No one is complaining now.

Anthony Armstrong grew up in Carrollton, Texas as a Dallas Cowboys fan and a wide receiver at Newman Smith High School. His quick speed made him a star on the school's track and field team. It would not be the last time his speed would be a factor. After high school, Armstrong moved on to West Texas A&M, a Division II college. He lettered all four years in football and was the school's fourth all time leader in receiving. He also graduated with a degree in marketing. The NFL seemed an unreachable goal for Armstrong, who began his career in the Intense Football League, playing for the Osedda Rednecks and making $200 a game. He caught what seemed to be his biggest break of his career when he was signed to the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League. Armstrong shined within the walls of Arena Football enough to be noticed by the Miami Dolphins, who signed the player to their practice squad.

After Miami no longer needed their practice helper they released him on waivers to the Washington Redskins. Destined to be a practice player for all of his career, Armstrong spent the 2009 NFL Season catching passes as practice against the starting defense. After the Redskins posted a horrible 4-12 record in '09, change swept through Washington. While many players worried about the change, Armstrong embraced it. He put 110% into the practice reps, which caught the eye of the Redskins new head coach Mike Shanahan. He offered the player an opportunity to compete for a roster spot - something the young wide out had never had before.


The rest is history. Armstrong now starts games along side the veteran Santana Moss. He now catches passes from Donovan McNabb. On October 10th, Armstrong's incredible 48-yard touchdown paved the way for an unlikely come-from-behind win. His route running is now schemed against by the best defenses in the country. Only time will tell if this Cinderella story has a fairy tale ending.