The Dallas Cowboys were seconds away from possibly winning their first-round playoff game last year when QB Tony Romo botched the snap from center, and the season was suddenly over. The 'Boys have all of the tools to get back to the playoffs this year. Romo comes off a good season, and should only get better from here. He gives Dallas instant credibility and consistency at the game's most importnant position that the team never had under Drew Bledsoe. The strong running game should promote good balance on offense. There is a ton of speed on defense. Look for a breakout season from linebacker DeMarcus Ware. On paper, this is the best team in the division. (11-5)
QB Eli Manning struggled through an inconsistent season last year. His 2006 stats (24 TD, 18 INT) were eerily similar to his 2005 stats. At times, he looked dominant, but also appeared dazed and confused on many occasions. The New York Giants will struggle this year because of the QB play, the depature of Tiki Barber, and the inconsistent play of Plaxico Burress. On defense, the G-Men are in the bottom half of the league. The secondary, which gave up over 200 passing yards per game in '06, is a big concern. The Giants will surprise a few teams, but will also lose some games that they should win. (6-10)
The Philadelphia Eagles played over their heads in '06, winning the division on a late season surge led by QB Jeff Garcia. This year, Donovan McNabb is back and healthy, and the team should respond with another winning campaign, although the record might not be any better than last year's 10-6 mark. McNabb is the guy who makes the Eagles a Super Bowl contender every year. RB and all-purpose stud Brian Westbrook provides McNabb with a great weapon who puts up a lot of all-purpose yardage. The receiving corps is marginally better this year, with the addition of Kevin Curtis (Rams). The defense will be sound, but not spectacular. The coaching of Andy Reid almost always makes the Eagles better than they appear on paper. (10-6)
Mediocrity has been the theme in D.C. for several years now. Although they made the playoffs in 2005, competing with the other tough teams in this division has left the Washington Redskins out in the cold. In fact, '05 is the team's only winning season this decade. QB Jason Campbell will see if he can light a fire under an offense that has traditionally struggled. The RB tandem of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts is very talented, but should be even more productive than they have been. Look for Portis to be the odd man out here. The defense should be above average, but the secondary is somewhat suspect. Even a Hall of Fame coach like Joe Gibbs will have a tough time getting wins out of this squad. (5-11)
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