2006 Preview: NFC EAST

In most circles, the Philadelphia Eagles are being picked to finish fourth in the NFC East, with the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins fighting it out for first. The division is commonly regarded as the most difficult in the league, with potentially three playoff teams. The Cowboys have looked great on offense and defense in the preseason, even with all the TO nonsense looming as a distraction. The Redskins return a talented defense from 2005, and a solid offense with the additions of wide receivers Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd to complement Santana Moss and Clinton Portis. The Giants also will be strong again with a maturing Eli Manning and 31-year old running back Tiki Barber, who is looking to have one more monster season before he likely retires after the season is over.

The schedule makers certainly didn't do the Eagles any favors this year, despite a last place finish in the division in 2005(6-10, 0-6). They have the second most difficult schedule(based on 2005 records) in the division, including a brutal stretch in December when they face all three of their division opponents on the road in consecutive weeks. However the Eagles could easily get out to a 7-1 or 6-2 start with early matchups against the Texans, Saints, 49ers, and Packers. McNabb has looked great in the preseason, and he is out to prove that 2005 was a fluke and that he can lead a team to the playoffs without a marquee receiver. The Eagles built some momemntum last year by attempting to establish the run after McNabb got hurt and TO flamed out, so look for a much more balance offense in Philadelphia. Don't be surprised if the Eagles are near the top of the division for much of the season, and then fall out of the playoff race amid their horrendous road trip through Dallas, Washington, and New York.

The Giants have the second toughest schedule in the NFL, and a rough start to the season, with a Manning showdown in week 1 and early road dates in Seattle, Washington, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. But the Giants have great balance on offense (6th in the NFL in rushing and 11th in the NFL in passing in 2005), and will likely hover around .500 for much of the season. If Eli Manning can cut down on his interceptions(he threw 17 interceptions in 2005) and become a more accurate pass, the Giants have a shot at taking the division at 9-7 or 10-6. But Eli will continue to make poor decisions at key times in 2006, and the Giants will miss out on the playoffs. Manning had a completion percentage of 52.8 in 2005. I just don't see his accuracy improving in 2005. Most quarterbacks have a difficult time improving their accuracy as their careers go on, and Manning is no exception.