2010 NFL Preview: NFC East

Standings
1. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
2. New York Giants (11-5)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9)
4. Washington Redskins (6-10)

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Tony Romo (QB, Dallas)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: DeMarcus Ware (OLB, Dallas)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Donovan McNabb (QB, Washington)
Mr. Irrelevant: Roy Williams (WR, Dallas)

I guess the Dallas Cowboys are my least favorite team in the NFL, so it saddens me that I have to admit that they are en route to have a really good if not totally great season. I could see the New York Giants giving them some trouble as long as their running backs and defense stay healthy at least most of the season, but the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins are entirely out of the picture for reasons I will disclose in coming paragraphs. Tony Romo has developed into an outright stud at quarterback who makes few mistakes and adding rookie Dez Bryant to the receiving equation should potentially make up for the fact that Roy Williams is a baby, an idiot and simply a bad wide receiver who doesn't give two shits about shit. Miles Austin could be the best receiver in the game within the next few years. If Felix Jones continues to develop and Marion Barber remains somewhat tough, the running attack should be formidable. I was going to say that their defense shouldn't be as good as it is until I remembered that their four starting linebackers are great to fantastic.

The New York Giants had an off year in 2009 thanks to injuries to both of their talented running backs and pretty much all their defensive players who matter. Eli Manning finally sort of came into his own with his first 4,000 yard season. He cut down his number of interceptions as well, which is exactly what this offense needed. Now, it turns out that the Giants probably could be an excellent passing team lead by Steve Smith and three more young, fast and flashy receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Domenik Hixon and Mario Manningham. If Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were to remain healthy, they should be back at the front of the pack in rushing offense. New York has also had one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL in recent years, and if their front four can get back to being consistent and healthy, combined with the way the offense is expanding, they will at least contend for a Wild Card spot, if not for the division title.

I believe that the Philadelphia Eagles' 2010 season will be much like the Green Bay Packers' 2008 one. That was Aaron Rodgers' first year starting at QB, and while his stats were impressive if not amazing, it was an awkward, transitional year. And, now they're completely sweet. With a couple years as Donovan McNabb's understudy, I definitely see a similar thing happening with Kevin Kolb's Eagles. However, like Rodgers was in '08, Kolb is relatively untested, having started in only two games last season in relief for an injured McNabb. Kolb's stats were completely sick in those two games, but they were against bad teams. I don't think anyone saw Rodgers coming right out of the gates and being as good as he has been in his first two seasons, and the same stands for Kolb. But, Rodgers is proof that it can happen. As for the rest of the offense, there are young stars (wide receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end Brent Celek) and enough potential stars in Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy that this transition period might last only as long as Green Bay's did. Philly's defense, which is usually very good, seems to be a sizable weakness for the team now.

Yes, sure, the addition of quarterback Donovan McNabb instantly makes the Redskins better, however, unfortunately, he doesn't have much to work with on offense. Chris Cooley can be one of the best tight ends in the game, and when he was injured last season, Fred Davis came in and proved that he is pretty awesome as well. But, other than that, the offense is lacking. Santana Moss is an overrated, under-performing wide receiver, and the running back situation has turned into a platoon featuring two injury prone ex-studs in Clinton Portis and Willie Parker and another ex-stud who happens to have, like, the worst attitude in the entire NFL (Larry Johnson). This does not bode well at all. Thankfully for Washington, the defense has turned to be quite good. LaRon Landry and DeAngelo Hall are talented defensive backs, the linebacker corps have the potential to be completely dominant and when Albert Haynesworth's head isn't in his ass, he's the best defensive lineman around.