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.