High Five: 5 Bold Predictions for the 2014 NFL Season

Aug 16, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) hands off to running back DeMarco Murray (29) in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Baltimore beat Dallas 37-30. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

In a rare bout of first person monologue, your ol’ pal Norwood would like to go on record with a few things before the regular season starts.  Like any other 24-hour media outlet, ESPN has a tendency to become a bit of a self-licking ice cream cone when it comes to objectivity in prognostication.  Moreso than CNN or FOXNews who have each other to rail against, ESPN often becomes insular and fixated on singular teams or historical trends, offering no credence to the idea that if all things were so predicable the season itself would be a mere formality.  With that being said, I will also caveat the following by saying these predications are not “stone-cold lead-pipe locks.”  Rather, I’m simply suggesting there is more evidence to the contrary within these favored courts of public opinion.  Feel free to disagree, and without further adieu; my five bold predictions.

1) The Cowboys and Giants will both pick in the top 5 of next year’s NFL Draft.

The NFC East has been the Alice in Wonderland Division of the NFL for the past several years consisting of a group of teams to whom seemingly anything can happen at any point in the season.  This year the bottom drops way out.  Both teams will have to strike their way through the AFC South and NFC South this year, which while not the worst match ups, should still present significant challenges to these teams nonetheless.

The Cowboys defense is abysmal, almost as bad as the Giants offense with new Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo.  Both these teams will be easy to game plan against, and each will struggle heavily.  Most interesting of all to consider, if both teams tank what will become of their high priced and deeply controversial quarterbacks?