NFC EAST: Widely regarded as the best division in the NFL with 4 legitimately quality teams. I also think it is the most overrated division in the NFL. It's always kinda funny how people always consider the NFC East the best division in the NFL but the Giants were awful defensively last year, the Redskins have been a mess for years, the Eagles are switching to a completely untested Quarterback and the Cowboys are perpetually the most overrated team in the NFL, plus they have the worst coach in the league as well.
Washington Redskins, last season: 4-12 (ESPN: 20, SI: 22): The Redskins had a tumultuous season last year with the whole Jim Zorn saga, Jason Campbell's frustrating inconsistencies and the severe lack of rushing depth behind an injured Clinton Portis. Things can only get better for the Skins, and there's a chance that things can get much better. Jason Campbell finally ran out of time in DC. Which is unfortunate for him, he is a solid QB and is settle down that awful QB situation in Oakland. They added Donovan McNabb, which might end up being the most important addition for any team in the league. McNabb is one of the top-10 QBs in the NFL and should make this offense considerably better. As far as the rest of the offense, they get a lot of help with their running back situation with some much needed insurance for the oft-injured/overworked Clinton Portis by adding Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. They now have 3 rushers who have at one point rushed for 1000 yards in a season. Their receiving corps isn't all that impressive. They lost Antwan Randel-El to the Steelers, but they have Santana Moss, who will remind McNabb very much of DeSean Jackson (both had extremely similar numbers last year: Jackson- 62- 1167-9Td Moss- 70- 902- 3). McNabb also has Chris Cooley, who is probably one of the best pass catching TEs around. So, offensively things are looking pretty good for the Redskins. Defensively the Skins are middle of the pack in terms of yds allowed and points allowed. Where they struggled is forcing turnovers in which they finished last in the entire NFL last year with just 17 forced. THe more I think about it, the more I think that the 'Skins could surprise a lot of people. Their schedule outside of the inter-division games against the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys looks pretty easy. Three of the eight road games they play are against Jacksonville, Detroit and St. Louis. And their 3 toughest games outside of the interdivision games against Indy, Minnesota and Green Bay are all at FedEx Field where they always have a considerable home-field advantage.
And after all that positivity, I have yet to mention the biggest and most important addition, Mike Shannahan. Shannahan is my favorite coach ever, other than Don Shula, of course. He is going to add some stability to the Redskins and maybe take some of the control away from their crazy owner Dan Snyder. Mike Shannahan and Donovan McNabb would improve any team out there and that includes the 'Skins. The biggest factor is going to be competing in the NFC East, which they can do.
New York Giants, last season: 8-8 (ESPN: 16, SI: 19): The Giants struggled mightily on defense last year giving up more than 30 points 7 times and losing their last two games of the seasons, with the playoffs on the line, 85-16. They have the most overrated QB in the league in Eli Manning and they don't get nearly enough from their talented stable of running backs. They only had 2 100-yard rushers the entire season. They put way too much faith on the arm of Eli Manning. ALthough, they do have 3 terrific receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, and Mario Manningham which helps Eli, but he throws too much. He has great games against bad teams, which leads to his hefty Passer Rating and passing yardage. This year it doesn't seem like much has changed. They had the 3rd worst points allowed in the NFL and they haven't added too much, other than Keith Bulluck and Antrel Rolle. They will help, but not enough. THe offense if formidable though. If Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw stay healthy, the Giants could have a top-5 offense. In terms of coaching, I think Tom Coughlin is very close to wearing out his welcome. It's a crazy world we live in when a Super Bowl winning coach can be on the hot seat after only 2 seasons, but if the Giants miss the playoffs again, Coughlin might be gone after this season.
Philadelphia Eagles, last season: 11-5 (ESPN: 17, SI: 11): I still like the Eagles quite a bit. Grooming QBs has become quite the art, and I think that the Eagles are going to strike gold with Kevin Kolb. I think that Kevin Kolb will have an Aaron Rodgers/Philip Rivers type impact with the Eagles. In the two games that Kevin Kolb started last year against the Saints and the Cheifs he went 55/85 65% for 718 yards 4TDs and 3 picks. Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson offer fantastic and fast as crap targets on the outside. Lesean McCoy is a talented back, but he might struggle to be the main guy now that Brian Westbrook is gone. It will help Kolb to have the steadying hand of Andy Reid as his coach. The offense should be able to compete against the somewhat bad defenses of the Redskins and Giants. Philly gave up a ton of rushing yards a game but was great against the pass. The defense (just like every other team in the division) will be the key to a playoff season. If they can do better against the run, Kolb and McCoy will offer a new QB/RB that everyone will be familiar with at the end of the season. The schedule is hot and cold. It opens with the Packers but then a winnable sequence with Detroit and Jacksonville on the road then Washington at home. But the finishing stretch is brutal; Dallas and the Giants on the road followed by Minnesota and the Cowboys again at home. They will not go to the playoffs if they go into that stretch with 8 or less wins.
Dallas Cowboys, last season: 11-5 (ESPN: 4 SI: 8): I hate the Cowboys. I would love to not be biased about this, but it will be hard not to. The Cowboys are always the most overrated team. Everyone always talks about how much star-power they have but every year that they actually make it to the playoffs, they get destroyed, or completely crumble. Yes, they wont their first playoff game in 13 years last year. But they were playing at home, against a division opponent that they played the week before. Any time they need to prepare for a good opponent in the playoffs they crumble. The team is filled with prima-donnas, who are talented, but play together like it's an all-star game. Tony Romo is a terrific QB who might be the worst "leader" on the planet. He has no control over his team. Also, Wade Phillips is the worst coach in any sport. He has so much talent at his disposal but he can't do anything with it. It is terrifying to think about how good this team would be if they had Bill Cowher as their head coach.
With all that being said, on paper, this is the best team in the the NFC East by far. They have established players at every position. Great QB, awesome RB trio and a star receiver in Miles Austin. Dez Bryant will have a huge impact on the offense and Patrick Crayton is a #1 receiver on half of the other rosters in the NFL. Felix Jones is a stud, Marion Barber is a stud and Tashard Choice is a stud. The o-line is scary good as well. The defense was one of the best in the league last year. They only allowed 15.6 points per game. Almost 5 points per game better than any other team in the division.
It would be a disaster in Dallas if they were to fall short of the NFC Championship. Maybe they should just do it on purpose so Wade Phillips can get fired.
Look out tomorrow for the preview on the AFC East.
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