2011 NFL Preview: NFC East

After a frustrating lockout and a historically hectic August, the 2011 season is nearly here.  With the Saints-Packers opening game kickoff less than 24 hours away, it's time for some predictions for the 2011 season.  I'll go division-by-division, continuing with the NFC East.

An accurate representation of the offseasons in Philadelphia and New York.

1. Philadelphia Eagles 

Why They'll Be Better - Because at face-value, the Eagles had the best offseason I've ever seen.  Those comparing Philly's moves to the past drunken spending sprees of the Redskins are mistaken.  Washington signed big names like Deion Sanders and Bruce Smith when they were 33 and 37 years old, respectively.  Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin are all in their prime.

Why They'll Be Worse - Issues on the offensive line aren't good when your quarterback is as injury-prone as Michael Vick is.  If Vince Young had a breakdown because he thought the fans in Nashville were harsh, I'd hate to see what happens if he's asked to face the Philly crowd for a few games.

My Prediction - The Eagles were already a dangerous team before they got three of this year's top 10 free agents (four if you count Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who they acquired in the Kevin Kolb trade).  A major injury to Vick is the only thing standing between them and a possible Super Bowl run.

2. New York Giants

Why They'll Be Better - For all that they lost, the Giants have a lot of young players ready to take a leap forward.  Kenny Phillips is another year removed from knee surgery.  Hakeem Nicks will be a Pro Bowler if he stays healthy.  And Jason Pierre-Paul will add to the formidable New York pass rush.

Why They'll Be Worse - As good as the Eagles' offseason was, the Giants' was that bad.  I've never seen a worse August for this team.  They were resigned to losing Kevin Boss and defensive tackle Barry Cofield, but they expected to have Steve Smith back.  More troubling is that, in the past three weeks, six defensive players have gone down with a season-ending injury.

My Prediction - Aside from losing the individual player contributions, the free agency departures and recent injuries have crushed the Giants' depth.  They are starting a sixth round rookie at middle linebacker this Sunday against the Redskins, and unless you expect Corey Webster and Aaron Ross to stay healthy all year, there's a very real chance that they'll have to face the Cowboy or Eagle receivers at some point with Michael Coe as their starting cornerback.  I think the Giants are still strong enough to make the playoffs, but they're only a couple major injuries away from complete disaster.

3. Dallas Cowboys

Why They'll Be Better - No player returning from injury will do more to help his team than Tony Romo.  Jon Kitna filled in admirably in Romo's absence, but no one can doubt that Dallas' season ended when their star quarterback broke his collarbone in Week 6.  At the time, he was on pace for a 4,000 yard, 30 touchdown season.

Why They'll Be Worse - Bring up the Cowboys, and you'll most likely hear the word "talent," as someone rattles off great skill players like Jason Witten and Miles Austin.  But equally important are the unglamorous positions like cornerback and offensive line, and Dallas has been lacking at those spots for years.

My Prediction - The Cowboys will be in the mix, as they always are.  But the minute they start believing the hype around them is the minute they start to fall apart.  I don't think Jason Garrett is the coach to change the culture of entitlement in Dallas.

4. Washington Redskins

Why They'll Be Better - The mishandled Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth situations hovered over Washington like a dark cloud.  With them gone, there seems to be a different feel around the organization.  Former Giant Barry Cofield is an underrated defensive tackle, and have I mentioned that I love Tim Hightower?

Why They'll Be Worse - With how much the coaches raved about John Beck in the preseason, I was shocked to see them bench the unproven Beck for the dis-proven Rex Grossman this week.  This has mid-season quarterback change written all over it, and that rarely works out for a team.

My Prediction - It's easy to dismiss the Redskins because of their recent drama and disappointing seasons, but my problem with them lies with their coach.  Mike Shanahan has won one playoff game in 11 seasons since John Elway retired.  He could not have handled the McNabb and Haynesworth situations any more poorly, and I don't hold much hope for the rest of his tenure in Washington.

Up next, the NFC North.

Image found here.