NFL Preview Part 5: NFC East

Here we go....

1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3) - On paper, this is the clear favorite in the NFC....talent abounds on both sides and especially on offense....Tony Romo has made the leap to Top-5 QB status even if some of us (namely me) aren't totally sold....The RB combo of Marion Barber and Felix Jones could be dynamic and they still have TO and Jason Witten (and underrated Patrick Crayton) to throw to...The question mark for Dallas is in the secondary...the Pass defense was very questionable and though they added Pacman Jones, they still have the non-covering Roy Williams in back....all that said, I'm taking Dallas....
2. New York Giants (10-6) - The schedule is fairly easy for a defending champ...but without Strahan and Umenyiora the defensive strength could be limited....the secondary is much improved with shear experience and the additions of Sammy Knight and rookie S Kenny Phillips....Oh yea....Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, and Plax Burress are back to and this time returning as the Champs....I don't love this team, but I didn't last year either and it worked out....I don't see a deep run this year simply from the inevitable complacency that sets in after a title run....but a good team nonetheless...Watch for rookie WR Mario Manningham as a deep threat alongside Plax...
3. Washington Redskins (10-6) - I like Washington alot....for the defensive side of the ball...especially in Pass D...They have 3 legit cover guys in Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers....plus a very good safety in Laron Landry...This offense has some question marks though...Jason Campbell is developing but he doesn't have a ton of help at WR...bigger names than the production they get out of Santana Moss and Randle El....Chris Cooley is underrated and effective and if they get a full season out of Clinton Portis, this team could end up with 12 wins...but they won't...he'll miss 3 or 4 games and they'll win 10....
4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) - It's weird that 9-7 may be last place in this division...but that's what I think....The offense has firepower at QB and RB with the usual suspects...but the WR was bad before injuries...and now it's "league worst" dreadful...DeSean Jackson is a rookie and no matter how explosive, he's still a rookie...and that's really about it....LJ Smith? lol....I have no idea...the defense added Asante Samuel and returned most of the rest of the unit that was pretty good last year...Watch out for unheralded LB Chris Gocong...a former D-2 standout that they are raving about....just saying....