2006 NFC East Predictions

It is a rare occasion indeed when one can say that the NFC East is a weak division. But that was clearly the case last year. The New York Giants won the division with an impressive 11 - 5 record, but even that record could be attributed to an easy schedule and one extra home game they weren't counting on after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. The 2006 season is an entirely different story. Count on strong showings from every team in the NFC East in the coming season. Here are my 2006 NFC East predictions.

The New York Giants will once again finish on top with a 12 - 4 record. Yes, their schedule will be considerably tougher, but Eli Manning with 24 career starts now under his belt is ready to emerge as one of the league's premier quarterbacks. If he can stay healthy, he can lead the Giants to victory in the big games. The big games, of course, will be the six games they play against their division rivals. If the Giants can split two of those three series and sweep one, they will win the division. That will account for two of the four losses they can allow. The other two defeats will be at the hands of the Colts in Indianapolis in their first game, and at Jacksonville in November. The New York Giants must defeat the Carolina Panthers, who eliminated them from the Playoffs earlier this year and the Seattle Seahawks, who represented the NFC in last February's Super Bowl.

Tom Coughlin, in his third year as Giants Head Coach, has what it takes to take New York to a championship this season. It will be imperative that the Giants defense stays healthy. New York improved its defense significantly in the off-season, acquiring LB Lavar Arrington from the rival Redskins, and CBs Sam Madison of Miami and R. W. McQuarters of Detroit. The New York receiving corps of TE Jeremy Shockey and WRs Toomer and Burress is among the NFC's best. RB Tiki Barber had an outstanding season last year and had my vote for league MVP. Expect another strong season from him, as well as from sack monsters Michael Strahan and company.

Finishing number two in the NFC East will be the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys' tough schedule will be made even tougher by their acquisition of the NFL's biggest distraction. Cowboys fans can thank owner Jimmy Jones for acquiring the league's biggest headache, Terrell Owens. Aging QB Drew Bledsoe will spend a good deal of time in the pocket and on the turf this season if Head Coach Bill Parcells permits Owens to change the Cowboys' offense to suit his style. Tensions were already apparent during spring training with T.O refusing to show up for practice because of a sore ______ (insert boo boo here). The Cowboys will lose their first two games, at Jacksonville in the opener and against Washington in the second week. They will regroup during their early bye week and take 10 of their last 14 to close at 10 - 6.

The Cowboys' acquisition of Kicker Mike Vanderjagt will win them several close games. But in the end, Terrell Owens' antics and speculation over whether Bill Parcells is going to retire (again) at the end of the season will prove to be too much of a distraction. That's why I have the Boys finishing second in my 2006 NFC East predictions.

The Philadelphia Eagles sure had an ugly post-Super Bowl season last year. This one will be prettier, but not pretty enough. QB Donovan McNabb is still adjusting to life in the pocket, where I envision him spending even more time this year, trying to avoid running and taking the big hits. If RB Brian Westerbrook stays healthy, he'll help keep the Eagles in contention. The Terrell Owens fiasco seems to have left management gun shy. The Eagles didn't make the big acquisitions you would expect from a team so used to winning, who just suffered such a terrible year. Head Coach Andy Reid, now in his 8th season, just doesn't have enough to work with. Expect an improved record from the Eagles, but no better than 9 - 7.

The Washington Redskins impressed just about everyone the second half of last season. But don't expect them to keep it up. They have earned themselves a brutal schedule, and I don't expect them to win the big games. Specifically, the Eagles will be out for blood after getting beaten twice by the Skins last season. Likewise with the Cowboys. Expect two of Washington's division rivals to sweep the Skins this year, probably New York and Dallas. Not only did the Redskins lose LB Lavar Arrington, but they lost him to the Giants. Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins will finish with a disappointing record of 8 - 8.

I welcome your comments and your own 2006 NFC East predictions.