NFC East Preview

Washington Redskins first round pick QB Robert Griffin III.

Their is a lot of hope for the Washington Redskins after drafting QB Robert Griffin III of Baylor. The last time the Redskins could actually call a quarterback a franchise quarterback was in the 1970s and 1980s, when QB Joe Theismann was running the show. They did win two other Super Bowls with QB Doug Williams and QB Mark Rypien, but they quickly tailed off after winning their Super Bowls with Joe Gibbs. They drafted QB Heath Shuler with the third overall pick in the 1994 draft, but he turned out to be a bust. Redskins fans are hoping Griffin III doesn't turn out to be a bust.

The most daunting task for Griffin III, however, is living up to the other quarterbacks that are in the division. The Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and the defending champions New York Giants all have quarterbacks that are Pro Bowl capable players in QB Tony Romo, QB Michael Vick, and QB Eli Manning. Hopefully, Redskins fans won't be expecting Griffin III to be better than all three right away.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP New York Giants QB Eli
Manning.

While the Giants have been able to win their second Super Bowl in four years, the Giants continue to be disrespected with analysts as they predict the Cowboys or Eagles will win the division over the Giants. When  the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007, most people predicted the Cowboys will get back on top of the NFC East, as they done in that 2007 season when they won the division with a 13-3 record. However, the Giants came out smoking teams, starting out 11-1 in their first 12 games before losing three of their last four and losing a home playoff game to the Eagles. The Giants have proven they can have some kind of success following a championship, so they'll be looking to do the same this season.

The Giants have lost a couple of pieces, losing RB Brandon Jacobs and WR Mario Manningham to the San Francisco 49ers. However, as long as the Giants have Manning at the helm, they are solid. On the defensive side of the ball, they still have their three dominant pass rushers in DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DE Justin Tuck, and DE Osi Umenyiora. Other than their pass rushing, they have a lot to work on with their defense. Their secondary gave up a lot of huge plays, and they lost CB Terrell Thomas to an ACL injury for the second consecutive summer. Whoever plays opposite CB Corey Webster will have their hands full, but they will need to produce in order to improve upon their 9-7 record.

Philadelphia Eagles WR Desean Jackson.

When QB Vince Young was signed to a one-year deal with the Eagles last offseason, he instantly referred to the team as the "Dream Team." That quickly turned out to not be the case, as the Eagles lost eight of their first 12 games before catching fire at the end and winning their last four. However, they fell very short of expectations and they look to change that this season. Most of their team remains intact, with the exception of losing CB Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons via trade. The Eagles should be humbled by last season's failure and be ready to compete this upcoming season.

The Cowboys seem to go into every season with lofty expectations and I have not figured out why that seems to be the case. QB Tony Romo is definitely a solid quarterback, but outside of him and their offensive weapons, the Cowboys don't have a lot of hope. Their offensive line isn't particularly strong and their defense, despite their solid rankings, have not made stops when they need it most. They have reason to be excited, as their Achilles heal was their pass coverage. They traded up in the draft to take CB Morris Claiborne of LSU and they signed CB Brandon Carr from the Kansas City Chiefs to strengthen that part of their defense. With all of this being said, their season will depend on how they live up to expectations.

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo.

While the Redskins do have Griffin III, they have more concerns than their quarterback situation. While they weren't terrible with their run defense and their defense overall, they were still in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed. The Redskins did get off to a solid start last season, including an impressive season-opening win against the eventual champion Giants. However, as coach Mike Shanahan pulled a quick trigger and replaced QB Rex Grossman with QB John Beck, the Redskins season started to fall apart. With the signing of WR Pierre Garcon and the connection Griffin III and Garcon have developed thus far in the preseason, there is reason to be hopeful.

The NFC East is always unpredictable because no matter how good or bad a team is, anyone can be beat by each other on any given Sunday. The Giants recognized that when they were swept by the last place Redskins. With the NFC East playing the AFC North and NFC South, all four teams have a very difficult schedule on their hands, especially the Giants, who will have to see the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers as well.

The Eagles should have a lot to prove as they head into the season. I have a feeling they will not disappoint this time around, but QB Michael Vick has to stay healthy in order for them to fulfill all they want this season. Sadly, if the Eagles don't perform well again this season, it will probably cost Andy Reid his job. Performing well for the Eagles this season most likely means winning the division and winning at least one playoff game. Expectations are high. We shall see who delivers.

Predictions

Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
New York Giants 11-5
Washington Redskins 8-8
Dallas Cowboys 6-10