NFL: NFC East Division Preview

I start off my preview of every team in the National Football League by taking a look at the NFC East.

Divisional Overview: The NFC East is considered by many, myself included to be the toughest division in the entire NFL. The division features 4 quality head coaches and last year saw the 4 teams go a combined 36/28 tying it with the AFC West for the best combined record in the NFL. How will it play out in 2006?


Dallas Cowboys

• 2005 record: 9/7 (third place)
• Click Here for Roster & Depth Chart
  
• Key Question: How long before Mt. Janelle Owens erupts in a fit of PMS rage ruining any semblence of team Chemestry?
  
• Team Strength: You have to like the Dallas Defense. The Cowboys also have a strong stable of Wide Receivers with Terry Glenn and Janelle Owens as long as she's healthy and happy but...
  
• Team Weakness: Owens. Seriously, look at his time in Philadelphia for a tale of 2 seasons. He can be a major asset on the field and is a major ass off of it. Other than that, there is a question of Drew Bledsoe or Tony Romo at Quarterback and I think the team would be better with Romo as Bledsoe tends to do the wrong things at the exact worse times and spend more time on his back than a WWF jobber from the 1980's.
  
• Outlook: I personally don't see the Cowboys finishing anywhere but the middle of this division. I don't believe that they are better than the Giants, nor do I think that they are worse than the Eagles. The question of whether or not they finish ahead of the Redskins will be determined in the head-to-headmatchups.

New York Giants

• 2005 record: 11/5 (First Place)
• Click Here for Roster & Depth Chart
  
• Key Question: The Giants season will be determined by the play of Eli Manning, as goes Manning so goes the Giants. Does Manning improve, regress or stay at roughly the same point?
  
• Team Strength: The Giants have quality at a lot of positions all over the field, it is hard but not impossible to find weaknesses on this football team.
  
• Team Weakness: Oh yes, I found a couple. This isn't what I would consider to be the deepest team in the NFL and outside of Sam Madison I'm not a big fan of the secondary in New York.
  
• Outlook: I have the Giants winning this division another 11/5 record seems about right to me. Probably bounced in the second round of the playoffs by either my NFC South Winner or NFC West Winner (not revealing those until I do those previews).

Philadelphia Eagles

• 2005 Record: 6/10 (forth place)
• Click Here for Roster & Depth Chart
  
• Key Question: Who can step up on offense to help McNabb and Westbrook?
  
• Team Strength: I still after all of these years like the Eagles in the Secondary. They have a top level QB in Donovan McNabb and a solid Running Back in Brian Westbrook.
  
• Team Weakness: I don't like the rest of the skill positions on offense for this team. Reggie Brown and Donte Stallworth don't inspire fear at the Wide Receiver position.
  
• Outlook: I see the Eagles as a slightly better team than last year if only for having no Janelle Owens distraction this season. I'm not sure that it will result in a much better record though as the division is just so tough. I predict another last place finish for the Eagles this season.

Washington Redskins

• 2005 Record: 10/6 (second place)
• Click Here for Roster & Depth Chart
  
• Key Question: How much is left in Mark Brunell's tank? How will all of the newly signed free agents fit in? Will Clinton Portis be healthy?
  
• Team Strength: The Redskins have perhaps the most talented coaching staff in all of the NFL. This is also a team that has a lot of depth due to an owner that is willing to spend money. It doesn't always translate to victories however.
  
• Team Weakness: The Redskins still are in a position where they spend money without much concern for chemestry. I would also not consider the QB position to be all that strong with Brunell's age, Todd Collins as the backup and Jason Campbell being untested.
  
• Outlook: The Redskins could challenge the Giants for the division title. It is more likely that the Redskins battle the Cowboys for second place again this season. I like the Redskins over Dallas because of the Owens cancer factor.

Projected Finish:

1. Giants
2. Redskins (wildcard team)
3. Cowboys
4. Eagles