2009 NFL Preview Part 4: NFC East

The cream of the NFC crop...

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) - I had them here pre-Vick and that doesn't change...if anything it may add a W if they can figure out how to use him to maximum ability...they concentrated on offense in the offseason and came away with Pro Bowl OT Jason Peters, 2 rookie skill guys in McCoy and Maclin, and some additional O-line help to protect Donovan...this offense could be explosive if Westbrook can play at near 100% and Desean Jackson progresses as I think he will...crazy...on defense? Couple of losses (Lito Sheppard, Brian Dawkins), but still a top flight unit when you factor the addition of Ellis Hobbs at nickelback and the depth they still have in the secondary... Just a complete team and my favorite in the NFC period....One thing to watch though...the loss of DC Jim Johnson and how it affects their aggressiveness....
2. New York Giants (11-5) - Probably the 2nd best team in the conference....Eli Manning got paid and should be his usual consistent/not outstanding self....the loss of Derrick Ward in the backfield could be felt...but only if Brandon Jacobs can't stay on the field... and the O-Line remains outstanding....the real problem on offense? the Plaxico-less receiving corps is fairly ugly...Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith would be fine complimentary guys...but not worthy of starting status...and Eli isn't the type of guy who can do it alone....that hurts them... on defense, the return of Osi Umenyiora is huge, and along with Justin Tuck they form a crazy good DE combo... Michael Boley was a relatively cheap steal at linebacker and that young secondary should continue to improve with every year they play together...I like the Giants alot if they can get points in the passing game...but Brandon Jacobs health may be the overall key....
3. Dallas Cowboys (9-7) - If you were to look at a Cowboys offseason transaction list...you'd see alot of exits...and not many entries... TO is the big name...but also Chris Canty, Roy Williams, Tank Johnson and Greg Ellis....that's alot to lose...especially when the only real addition is Keith Brooking (and Felix Jones off injury)... The offense should hold its own if Roy Williams can bounce back (far from a lock) b/c the running back tandem was absolutely dynamic until Jones went down last year...he can score from anywhere and Barber is a masher...the OL is slow and plodding but overall reasonable...on defense... it's an incredibly talented unit but one that fails to achieve to their talent level regularly... Demarcus Ware will produce, but Brooking is on the downside, the safety play is suspect, and the Greg Ellis loss is huge....add in Wade Philips' influence and the Boys miss the playoffs....
4. Washington Redskins (7-9) - I'm the opposite of "high" on the 'Skins... they emptied the bank account on Haynesworth (who I have a feeling will hugely underachieve now) and Dockery...yes...those are improvements...but the offense still has trouble getting going behind Jason Campbell and a "bleh" receiving unit... and it doesn't help that they were shopping around for a QB all offseason...that ends badly.... I'm a huge fan of Brian Orakpo coming off the edge but he can only take you so far... and ahhh yes...Deangelo Hall and the experience that he is comes to Washington....good luck to you Redskin fans... Jim Zorn loses control of this team if Campbell underperforms...and he will... say hello to the basement