NFL 2010 Preseason Predictions/NFC East

The NFC East remains the most talented division in football. With QB Donovan McNabb now slinging for the Redskins and the rest of the division making key improvements as well, it is unfortunate that all four of these teams have to compete against each other in the same division. The NFC East has been known as a division that features defense, but with the improvements to the offense of every team in the division they could all be a Super Bowl threat in 2010. While it is possible that three teams will make the playoffs, anyone of these teams would be a playoff threat if they played in a different division.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Washington Redskins(Wild card)
3. New York Giants(Wild card)
4. Dallas Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles traded QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins and handed the starting job over to 4th year QB Kevin Kolb. While I still don't think Kolb is as good as McNabb, the talent that surrounds him is better than what McNabb had to work with for a number of years, making the transition much smoother than it may have been a couple of years ago.

While the offensive line may struggle at times due to injuries, they are still just as good as almost every other team in the league and should be effective enough to open some holes for RB LeSean McCoy and provide protection for Kolb. McCoy will no longer have to worry about playing in the shadow of the departed Brian Westbrook, and should become a very productive running back for the offense. The Eagles also have one of the top FB's in the league in Leonard Weaver, who can not only provide a nice option for Kolb when the WR's are covered downfield, but can also be an effective runner when called upon. WR DeSean Jackson may be the most explosive player in the league and is a threat to score whether he is catching the ball, running the ball, or returning kicks. Jeremy Maclin should also continue to get better in his second year and Jason Avant provides them with a very reliable 3rd WR. Throw in veteran Kelly Washington as the fourth WR and you can see why having Kolb instead of McNabb at QB likely won't hurt them very much. TE Brent Celek is also a rising star at his position, giving the Eagles an offense that will be a threat to score every time they have the ball.

The Eagles also have a top ten defense, which is going to make them a tough team to beat in 2010. Trent Cole is one of the best DE's in all of the NFL and DE Juqua Parker is an under-rated talent that provides help on the other side. Rookie DT Jeff Owens will be an asset to the middle of the defense, and Akeem Jordan will get help at LB from a healthy Stewart Bradley and rookies Jamar Chaney and DE/LB Brandon Graham. CB Asante Samuel has a penchant for making big plays and Joselio Hanson may be a better nickel back than starter, but with the rest of the defense loaded with talent and depth, he should be an adequate starter. S Quinton Mikell is an excellent tackler and one of the better safeties in the league and 2nd year player Victor "Macho" Harris will likely take over at the other safety, giving them another talented player that can hit and play the pass.

With a good balance of offense and defense and some nice depth at almost every position, the Eagles should be a tough team to beat in 2010. Don't be surprised if the Eagles only suffer a couple of losses in the regular season and make it to the NFC Championship game against the Saints. While they have a lot of talent, they may fall just short of a Super Bowl appearance in 2010.

Washington Redskins

QB Donovan McNabb made the Eagles a winner without having a lot of talent at WR, and although he may be a little older, he may be able to do the same for the Redskins. Much like the Eagles of McNabb's earlier years, the Redskins have built a defense that is also very good and will likely make them a threat to win the division this season.

The Redskins have added ex-Saint T Jamaal Brown and rookies Trent Williams and Selvish Capers to an offensive line that needed help. If veteran C Casey Rabach and veteran G Derrick Dockery can stay healthy, the Redskins may just become one of the best teams in the NFL in 2010. RB Clinton Portis can be hard to stop when he is healthy, and the Redskins also now have RB's Larry Johnson and Willie Parker as insurance. FB Mike Sellers is also one of the better FB's in the league who is an excellent lead blocker and can also catch the ball out of the backfield and is also a valuable special teams player. WR Santana Moss is a better WR than anyone McNabb had prior to Terrell Owens coming to Philly, and Devin Thomas should be productive enough to be an adequate 2nd WR. With TE Chris Cooley coming back from injury, McNabb will also have him and TE Fred Davis at his disposal, making the Redskins an offense that should be able to put up enough points to win a lot of games.

This is because they likely won't need to be a consistent scoring machine with the defense the Redskins will be providing in 2010. DT Albert Haynesworth may be in the doghouse, but he is still one of the better DT's in the league. DE Andre Carter is also a dependable talent and the addition of veteran DL Vonnie Holliday to the bevy of young talent they have on the defensive line makes them a team that will be tough up front. Throw in the talented Brian Orakpo, a 2nd year player who can play DE and LB, veteran LB's London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh, and rookie LB Perry Riley and you can see that not only will the Redskins be tough against the run, but they will also be able to put pressure on the QB as well. CB's Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall will likely find their job much easier with the rest of the talent they now have on this side of the ball, and the Redskins are deep at safety as well, with Laron Landry being their best player but Kareem Moore, Reed Doughty, and Chris Horton also capable of starting and playing well. The Redskins have a nice mix of veterans and youngsters on this side of the ball, and I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up being one of the top three defenses in the league in 2010.

With one of the better defenses in the league and the leadership of a winner like Donovan McNabb, the Redskins should be able to battle with the Eagles for the division title and have the chance to be a highly touted wild card team while only suffering a couple of losses during the regular season. The Skins will be a dangerous first round opponent and could even have success in the second round and advance to the NFC Championship depending on their 2nd round opponent, but a playoff win with McNabb in his first year in Washington should have Redskins fans jumping for joy and anticipating the 2011 season.

New York Giants

The defense and the running game should be back on track in 2010 and put the Giants in contention for a wild card playoff spot and a slim shot at beating out the Eagles or Redskins for a division title. The Skins have McNabb and a stellar defense, while the Eagles will likely have a good defense and one of the best offenses in football. The Giants have a chance to have one of the top 5 defenses in football in 2010, and if not for playing in the NFC East may have a better shot at a division title.

QB Eli Manning will never be mistaken for his brother Peyton, but he does have a Super Bowl win to his credit and is still a pretty good NFL QB. WR Steve Smith emerged as a viable replacement for the troubled Plaxico Burress and 2nd year WR Hakeem Nicks is an emerging talent that could see him develop into a true NFL star. WR Mario Manningham provides Eli with a nice 3rd option and TE Kevin Boss is also making people forget about the departed Jeremy Shockey. For the Giants to win, however, they must get the running game back on track in 2010. The offensive line may have had an off year last season, but C Shaun O'Hara, G Chris Snee, and T's David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie are always potential Pro Bowlers that should provide many holes for RB's Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw in 2010. The offense should be good enough to lead the Giants to another playoff bound season.

The defense will likely be better as well, even having a chance to be a top 5 defense once again. DE's Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora will get help from rookie Jason Pierre-Paul and should be able to provide the pass rushing skills that the Giants are used to again in 2010. Rookie DT Linval Joseph should provide help up the middle along with DT Barry Cofield, but the real improvement for the Giants will be at LB and in the secondary. The leader of the defense LB Antonio Pierce may have retired, but the Giants now have ex-Titan Keith Bulluck, who is even better than Pierce. Add that to the under-appreciated Michael Boley and DE/LB Mathias Kiwanuka and the depth provided by LB and special teamer Chase Blackburn and the Giants should be better at the LB position. Terrell Thomas has come on as a more than adequate CB and Corey Webster is also a better than adequate starter if he can stay healthy. Add in a healthy Aaron Ross and a much better than anticipated 2nd year CB Bruce Johnson and the Giants should be able to field a very good nickel and dime defense. Ex-Cardinal Antrell Rolle gives them an upgrade at safety along with ex-Panther/Jaguar/Seahawk Deon Grant, and safeties Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips will be ready for action in 2010 as well. All of this could add up to a dominating defense and catapult the Giants into the playoffs in 2010.

With the running game back on track and the defense again having the potential to stop most teams, the Giants should get at least double-digit wins and qualify for a wild card in 2010. While they won't be an easy out, it may be tough for the Giants to make it out of the first round, however, due to the talent at the top of the other divisions.

Dallas Cowboys

Were they not in the NFC East, the Cowboys just may be talented enough to make the playoffs. Although their defense may not be bad, it will still likely be the worst in the division, which will likely cost them a shot at the playoffs in 2010.

QB Tony Romo has proven to be the best QB in the division, and with an offensive line that may be among the top 5 in the league, he should continue to flourish. WR Miles Austin from Monmouth College in NJ proved to the entire league that he is a receiver that can make things happen. He is now Romo's favorite target and with Roy Williams now in his third year in Dallas, rookie WR Dez Bryant, and the ever reliable Patrick Crayton also at his disposal in addition to the phenomenal Jason Witten at TE, there's no reason to believe that the Cowboys will have trouble putting up points. RB Marion Barber will likely split time with Felix Jones, providing the Cowboys with a reliable running attack as well. RB Tashard Choice has also proven he can produce when needed, giving the Cowboys lots of depth at a key position.

The problem with the Cowboys is that they are occasionally susceptible to the run, and that may hold true again this season. NT Jay Ratliff is among the top 3 at his position, but the rest of the defensive line just isn't as good as most other teams. DE's Stephen Bowen, Marcus Spears, and Igor Olshansky must be more productive if their defense is going to be more consistent against teams with potent running attacks. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they do have one of the best LBing corps in the league. DeMarcus Ware presents matchup problems when rushing the passer, and Bradie James, Keith Brooking, and Anthony Spencer are all players that make plays and present their own problems for opposing offenses. Terrence Newman and Michael Jenkins have become one of the best CB tandems in the league, and DB Orlando Scandrick will likely move into a starting safety spot alongside Gerald Sensabaugh. The problem with the Dallas secondary is their depth, which could cause problems in nickel and dime packages.

While the Cowboys may have some nice talent as some key positions, their lack of depth on defense will likely cost them a few games and take them out of the playoff picture. With games at Green Bay, at Minnesota, at Indy, and at home against the Saints as well as having to deal with life in the NFC East, don't be surprised if the Cowboys have trouble finishing with more than six or seven wins in 2010.