NFC EAST Preview

 Being an unapologetic Redskins homer, naturally I think the NFC East will be the division of note during the 2010/2011 season. In addition to their normal division schedule, the teams in the division play their counterparts from the NFC North and AFC South and these contests will have direct impact on both conferences’ playoff pictures. They also have one game apiece against the NFC South and NFC West.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

 The memories of 4-12 will be long gone at the end of the season. The optimism starts at the top with the addition of head coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb.

 In 2009, the Skins played 12 games decided by 10 points or less and were 2-7 in games decided by six points or less. With McNabb’s experience I can’t help but think they will pull out games this year that slipped away at the end last year. This will include two wins against McNabb’s former employer, the Philadelphia Eagles.

 Shanahan was known for his running attacks in Denver and reunites with Clinton Portis. Portis will most likely spearhead the Redskins running back-by-committee with veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker depending who is on the roster at the end of camp. The Skins will need to get production from their young wideouts but are talented at tight end with the return of Chris Cooley and Fred Davis.
 Defensively the Redskins switched to the 3-4 and hopefully the disgruntled, overpaid and underperforming Albert Haynesworth will get off his big duff long enough to help free up the Skins proven linebacking corps to let them wreak havoc.
 Special teams were anything but in 2009 and they need to shore them up in all areas to give both their offense and defense a fighting chance.
 Overall, the early season schedule is seemingly-brutal as five of their first eight opponents come off nine-win or better campaigns, but four of those contests are at home. I think they pull off wins in five of those games and finish the season with a 10-6 record.

The Rest
Being a Redskins fan I don’t particularly care for the rest of teams in the division and that may show.

DALLAS COWBOYS

 With a lot at stake riding on the season-mostly for Wade Phillips-they start with a loss on Sunday night at the Redskins and try to move forward from there. They have a nasty schedule with games at Houston, Minnesota, Green Bay and Indianapolis as well as one at home against New Orleans and will be lucky to win two. They finish wish a 10-6 record and finish second in the division due to tie-breaking procedures. No home Super Bowl this year.

NEW YORK GIANTS

 Eli Manning gets over his head-butt incident but headaches abound for the Giants. Injury woes haunt them at running back and the real Steve Smith is the one who plays for the Panthers. They muster seven wins for a third-place finish, but the good news is nobody gets shot at a nightclub.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

 The Eagles will live and die on the performance of Kevin Kolb in 2010, and mostly they will die.

 Kolb may have looked good against the patsies he played against in 2009 and in the preseason, but the Eagles open the year against a strong Packers team and it only gets worse from there. They may scrape out a win against the New York Giants, but a 1-5 division mark and five wins total places them dead last.