As the halfway point of the 2013 season draws near, teams face more pressure than ever as each check in the win column brings clubs closer to the Promised Land. Just ten weeks remain until the NFL playoffs, and races are heating up across the NFL. The NFC East is no exception to this trend, and Week 7 features a battle for first place between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

While placing first in October means about as much as being undefeated in the preseason, division wins are a formula for regular season success. On the other end of this mediocre spectrum are the New York Giants and Washington Redskins; both of whom are in free-fall. Looking for a stat to back that up? The Giants just signed Peyton Hillis; signifying dire straits in the big apple. Washington returns home after an uninspiring performance in Dallas to take on the Chicago Bears, while New York will take the stage on “Monday Night Football” and look to grab its’ first victory against the Minnesota Vikings.
 

Chicago Bears(4-2) @ Washington Redskins(1-4)

Looking at this match up, the first thing that comes to mind is defense. The Bears are known for it, and Washington rarely plays it. Fortunately for the Redskins, Chicago’s passing defense has been sub-par at best thus far in 2013. Allowing 271 yards per game, the 23rd ranked secondary is a definite weak-point on a Bears’ team that looks rejuvenated after last season’s collapse down the stretch. A season ago, Chicago started 7-1 before fading down the stretch and missed a wildcard berth, which eventually cost Lovie Smith his job.  While Robert Griffin III is no elite passer, the sophomore quarterback will have a legitimate chance to tear this underperforming unit to shreds. Pierre Garcon and starting tight end Jordan Reed, who has emerged as a viable target in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, pose a significant threat on paper to a vulnerable unit.  Washington possess the offensive weapons to succeed, but has been unable to utilize them thus far into the season; things must change on Sunday for the Redskins’ fortunes to improve.

Chicago is no favorable opponent, even at home. Jay Cutler’s vertical offense is ranked 13th in the league with an average of 280.8 yards per game. With the emergence of Alshon Jeffery across from perennial pro-bowler Brandon Marshall the Bears’ offense is ripe with talent, and should dominate a porous Redskins secondary. Pressuring the quarterback will be the key for both teams in this contest. When Cutler is pressured he struggles, and if Griffin III can be pushed out of the pocket to the left, his arm-strength will be nullified. To win this match up, the Redskins will have to limit carries by Matt Forte while getting consistent pressure on Cutler, or it will be another long afternoon in the nation’s capital. Hey, at least someone is working in Washington these days.

Prediction: Bears 31 Redskins 24

Luckily for fans of the NFL, the government shutdown won’t shutdown league action, even in the center of the union. The Bears’ front-seven should prove too much for Washington’s offensive line, and Griffin III will be running for his life all afternoon. Expect Chicago to take an early lead, leaving Alfred Morris ‘s skill set virtually useless for the home team. Chicago will make a strong move in the NFC North, while the Redskins will lose yet another game on the NFC East division leaders.
 

Dallas Cowboys(3-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles(3-3)

This is the one we have been waiting for. Tony Romo versus…Nick Foles? With Eagles’ starting quarterback Michael Vick expected to miss yet another contest due to his hamstring injury, Foles will take the reins of the Eagles offense again in Week 7, on the heels of his three-touchdown effort in Week 6. The keys to this contest are simple: run the football, and pressure the quarterback. Whichever team can more-effectively do these two things should be sitting solo in first place atop the NFC East.

With Dallas losing star rusher DeMarco Murray and benchmark of the defense Demarcus Ware, the Cowboys will have to adjust their game plan against an explosive Eagles offense. A unit that was already decimated by the loss of the injured Anthony Spencer, and Jay Ratliff who is no longer with the team, will face an uphill battle for relevancy until Ware returns. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin runs a Tampa-2 style of defense, the success of which depends solely on pressuring the quarterback with the four down-linemen. Without the core of his defensive line, Kiffin’s unit faces an uphill battle for pass rushing relevancy. If Dallas cannot pressure Foles, the Eagles’ sophomore gunslinger should have no problem picking apart the Cowboy’s slightly-above average secondary.

Prediction: Eagles 31 Cowboys 27

Without Murray, Dallas will be forced to implement a pass-heavy game plan and utilize bit-time weapons Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. While the Eagles’ defense isn’t exactly formidable, Billy Davis’ unit has looked much improved in two consecutive wins, and will attempt to continue their momentum on Sunday. After allowing 25 plus points in the Eagles’ first four games, Davis’ group has not allowed more than 21 points in consecutive victories. Without a pass rush, and forced into a one-track game-plan, Dallas will struggle in Philadelphia on Sunday. Look for the Eagles to continue their win-streak at home, and take sole possession of first in the NFC East.
 

Minnesota Vikings(1-4) @ New York Giants(0-6)

Honestly, this start by New York’s finest should not come as a surprise. A team that had zero depth at linebacker, an aging and beat-up defensive line, a sub-par secondary, and more injuries on the offensive line than Antonio Cromartie has kids, an 0-6 start was not far-fetched for those covering this team closely. Eli Manning continues to turn over the ball with reckless abandon, Brandon Jacobs is leading the Giants’ rushing attack, and Hakeem Nicks can’t shake trade rumors.  At this point, New York is more likely to win the race for South Carolina University defensive lineman Jadaveon Clowney than the NFC East.

The Minnesota Vikings announced this week that new free agent signing Josh Freeman formerly of the Buccaneers would be lining up under center come Monday night. This bodes well for the league’s 21st ranked passing offense. Greg Jennings should finally be able to backup the smack he talked prior to the season with something resembling a competent quarterback finally at the helm. Freeman’s unit will go up against one of the worst defenses in the league, which is giving up 268 yards per game through the air, not to mention the field-day Adrian Peterson is in for. Facing a Giants’ defense that is allowing 123 rushing yards per game, last season’s MVP should have no problem finding success on Monday night.

Prediction: Vikings 21 Giants 20

This one will be ugly. Expect a slobber-knocker of all time hilarity as two incompetent offenses will have their way with a pair of poor-excuse defensive units. Heavy doses of a motivated Peterson is in store of a Giants’ front-seven that lacks a degree of tenacity, and is still recovering from injury in the cases of Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul. Minnesota should eke out a tough road win in prime time, while the Giants will be back to the drawing board for a seventh consecutive week.