Photo Credit: The Star-Ledger/US PRESSWIRE
The NFC East has some of the oldest and most heated rivalries. There has not been one consistent winner of the division over the past five season, all four teams have won the title. Check out the NFL odds, there are teams out there that, if things break just right, could still be standing well into the playoffs. With both the Washington Redskins and New York Giants adding strong offensive linemen to protect their franchise quarterbacks, anything can happen. The Philadelphia Eagles have a completely new looking team and the Dallas Cowboys were able to make solid moves to help defend their NFC East crown.
The Redskins had a lot of issues to address after finishing at the bottom of the division. Washington and quarterback Robert Griffin III have had a tumultuous relationship since his arrival and it appears this year will be his final shot in the nation’s capital. The team added speedy receiver DeSean Jackson last season, along with second year running back Alfred Morris, and drafted top offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, both can only help Griffin finally return to his rookie form. While the team has multiple weapons on offense, its defense is still a question mark. The team was one of the worst on giving up the deep play, but made sure to address their secondary. Adding Duke Ihenacho and trading for Dashon Goldson will help Washington battle receivers like Odell Backham Jr. and Dez Bryant and hopefully return to the playoffs.
The New York Giants had a breakout star last season in receiver Odell Beckham Jr. whose one-handed catches became the only part of their season worth watching. There was not much to be optimistic about at the end of their season. Their defense was a shell of the 2011 Super Bowl team and it was time for a major overhaul which included dumping defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and bringing back a familiar face in Steve Spagnuolo, who was with the team during their 2007 Super Bowl run. The team targeted Scherff in the draft, but after losing him to Washington, they drafted Miami offensive guard Ereck Flowers. A little high for Flowers, but protecting Eli Manning was of top concern as he enters his second season with new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.
The Philadelphia Eagles are a completely different team. LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, and Nick Foles are now gone and Kiko Alonso, DeMarco Murray, and Sam Bradford are now here. All of the Eagles faith has been placed in head coach Chip Kelly who has yet to notch a playoff win despite winning the NFC East title during his first year. This will be a big year for Philly who chose not to draft up for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and will rely on Mark Sanchez and Sam Bradford, who is still recovering from a torn ACL. This team also has question marks with its defensive backs who struggled, finishing 31st in the league for passing yards allowed. To address it, the team added former Seahawks safety Byron Maxwell who guaranteed a Super Bowl win for Philly. A little premature or might Maxwell be on the money?
The reigning NFC East champions finally gained some respect in the league after one of their best seasons in recent history. Unfortunately, the team could not reach an agreement with leading rusher DeMarco Murray who left for rival Philadelphia. The team’s offense truly thrived on the balance provided by Murray and will now have to scramble to find his replacement. They signed Darren McFadden who has struggled to stay healthy his entire career. The Cowboys signed Greg Hardy who is coming off a suspension and will now face a ten game suspension stemming from his domestic abuse arrest. A very questionable move character-wise, but Hardy is a beast on the field. The Cowboys also won the La’el Collins sweepstakes, Collins went undrafted despite being a first round talent because he was being questioned about the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Collins was never named a suspect. If this defensive front could eventually play together, it could help keep the NFC East title in Dallas.
