NFL '13 Preview: NFC East

By Joe Pantorno

Just a few nights away, football will finally return, giving Sportscenter something to ACTUALLY talk about instead of which guy is practicing and who tweeted what.

In this eight-part segment, we'll break down each division and tell you where we think they'll finish and wrap things up with a playoff prediction that will most likely be absolutely wrong. But hey, in five months time, you can look back at this and see how dumb I am.

We'll start with the NFC East because I'm a Giants fan and am as stubborn as anything in thinking that this division is still one of the best in football. It isn't, but I won't hear any of it. It does however, provide some of football's most classic rivalries and exciting finishes. Any week where these teams play each other, fans know what to expect. It'll be hot-blooded, physical and a whole lot of fun.

Is this the Redskins division again? Or will we have another dramatic clincher in week 17? Here's what we think.


1. Washington Redskins

Yes, it is Washington's division again and there are two reasons why. One, is because of their running game. Alfred Morris is a physical back with feet like a dancer while even a 'hobbled' RGIII will do damage with that option that drives defenses, and me nuts.

The other thing I'm looking at is consistency. Of all the teams in the division right now, the Redskins seems to know what they're getting from top to bottom. Griffin will have options throwing the ball to some reliable receivers like Pierre Garcon and Fred Davis.

They don't have the best defense in the division, so there might be days where they have to win a couple shootouts, but they're capable of it. Put this all with a schedule that isn't too tough, and the Redskins will go 11-5.

X-Factor: The Offensive Line

For the Skins, it's simple, keep Robert Griffin III healthy and the division is theirs. Force him to start scrambling around while making himself vulnerable, you'll have to try and win the division with Kirk Cousins who is more than a capable QB, but no RGIII.




2. New York Giants

I'm not saying Washington is going to run away with the NFC East. It's never that easy and this choice wasn't that easy either. The Giants are the class of the division. Not always in playing ability, but in the way the organization is run.

Tom Coughlin won't let last year's late season slump and giveaway to the Skins happen again. The Giants will go 10-6 and nab a Wild Card spot.

Eli Manning will be determined to show off that he is still a top-5 quarterback in the league. With Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks back and healthy, plus the addition of a big tight end target in Brandon Myers, Eli will have plenty of targets. The offensive line has been solid for the past decade and though there were signs of aging, drafting Justin Pugh helped address those problems.

It's the defense that worries me the most. The secondary was burnt time and time again last year with little changes being made. There's a more than likely chance that this team really struggles against the passing game this year. That adds plenty of pressure to a defensive line that picked up Cullen Jenkins but has plenty of question marks at linebacker with Keith Rivers, Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger set to start.

X-Factor: David Wilson

The G-Men have always been a running team. Since the beginning of time, they've been a running team. So the past few years have been quite odd seeing platoons of a sissy Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw struggle. When Bradshaw took over, injury woes kept him sidelined and the rookie David Wilson showed glimpses of just how good he might be, if he can hold onto the ball.

He has devastating speed and what seems to be a pretty high football IQ, he just needs to limit turnovers and not try and do too much.



3. Dallas Cowboys

I don't want to think that Dallas is going to have a good season, but part of me says they will. Dez Bryant is due for even more of a breakout season where he might make a case as one of the top-five receivers in the league and there is iron man that is the ever reliable Jason Witten.

There's just one problem: the guy throwing the passes.

Tony Romo's been here long enough where he has to win a big game. He NEEDS to. But he won't. He never does. And it'll be the difference of the Cowboys going 10-6 and maybe snatching a Wild Card, to going 9-7. 

Demarco Murray needs to show us that he can stay healthy for a season, but I can see him and Shady McCoy battling it out for years to come. Both pretty similar runners, both sure to be headaches to opposing defenses.

X-Factor: Morris Claiborne

He hasn't played this preseason and said he just has to catch his body up with his mind. The truth is, he needs to be the kind of guy the Cowboys thought they drafted.

In a division with solid arms, and I'm even talking about Michael Vick, he has a cannon, Claiborne needs to lead that secondary ON the field. There's veteran presence for the locker room, but he has to be explosive if the D wants to be considered top-10.


4. Philadelphia Eagles

Things are somewhat looking up for Philly. Chip Kelly is going to bring in a super high powered offense with a collegiate mindset that might spark the Eagle's defense. LeSean McCoy is shifty as ever and if Michael Vick can stay on his feet, they might be able to run an option almost as effectively as Griffin and Morris in Washington.

Just one problem, Vick doesn't have a whole lot of protection. He was constantly on the turf last year and beyond banged up.

What also doesn't help is the fact that his targets are limited. Jeremy Maclin is out for the year, meaning all eyes and coverage will be on DeSean Jackson. I don't know about you, but I don't trust Riley Cooper as far as I can throw him.

The defense looks decent. Maybe could be ranked in the top half of the league, but nothing special. Trent Cole and Isaac Sopoaga are underrated in my book. Look for them to have big years.

X-Factor: Brent Celek

If there is to be some passing success for Philadelphia, Celek is going to have to shift into another gear. It will have to be a Romo/Witten type of connection at times, but it will be another thing to have defenses thinking about.

Last season he had 57 receptions for 684 yards. The year before that he had 62 for 811. He might need even better than those 2011 stats to help the Eagles.