NFC East X factors: Week 1

Of the four NFC East teams, only Philadelphia is favored to win in Week 1, but standout play from the right player could put them all over the top. Here’s a look at each team’s X factor heading into Week 1.

Rico Dowdle (RB) Dallas Cowboys

Dallas opens the season as slight underdogs on the road against Cleveland on Sunday. The Browns are coming off just their second playoff appearance since 2003 and boast the NFL’s top defense in terms of yards allowed per game (270.2) last year.

But while Cleveland’s defense allowed a league-low 164.7 yards per game through the air, it was less effective against the run, giving up 105.5 yards per contest. If the Cowboys hope to beat the Browns, they’ll need to run the ball and with running back Ezekiel Elliott coming off career-lows in yards (642), yards per carry (3.5) and touchdowns (three) as a Patriot, fourth-year running back Rico Dowdle could be the key to victory.

Dowdle had 89 carries for 361 yards and two scores last season but head coach Mike McCarthy has already said he’ll have an increased role on offense and will be used less on special teams. If quarterback Dak Prescott and well-rested wide receiver CeeDee Lamb can’t get things going against the league’s stingiest secondary, Dowdle could have a big day.

Darius Slayton (WR) New York Giants

Slayton led the team in receiving in four of the past five seasons but became the Giants No. 2 pass-catcher once they drafted Malik Nabers with the sixth pick in this year’s draft. 

Against Minnesota in Week 1, New York will face the league’s 24th-ranked secondary, a team that gave up 234.5 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks last season. Nabers had 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns for LSU last year and will receive plenty of attention from the Vikings defensive backs.