Dallas is favored to win the NFC East and at least one Cowboys blogger thinks that’s the right pick. He responded to our query for assistance with not just a few paragraphs but a complete report on why he thinks the Silver and Blue will head strongly into the playoffs. His picks follow mine.

Andy Tellijohn, Zoneblitz.com

Dallas
New York Giants
Philadelphia
Washington

The NFC East generally is as competitive a division as there is, with several long-standing rivalries dominating television coverage and piquing the interests of football fans. This year those individual games might be big but I don’t think there will be as much suspense as in some years.

I don’t think that it’s a given that the Dallas Cowboys will win the NFC East this  year but it seems pretty clear that they’re the favorites. They finished strong last year, shed some dead weight this offseason and added some strong talent, including wideout Dez Bryant. If the offensive line can keep Tony Romo upright it should be another good year as the Cowboys attempt to become the first team to host a Super Bowl on their home field.

The Giants are my pick over Philadelphia for second place, though I’m not a real believer in either team this season. Both have question marks. Philly is breaking in a new quarterback. New York has to show that the defensive woes that plagued the team the second half of last season are past them. I like Kevin Kolb’s upside, but in the early going I’ll take Eli Manning’s experience, which will allow the Giants to squeek past the Eagles for second place.

Washington has a new direction but Mike Shanahan hasn’t fully had an opportunity to bring in his people. Donovan McNabb will help, but an aged collection of running backs and internal strife with regard to Albert Haynesworth will be just a couple reasons the Redskins need a year or two before they can emerge from the cellar.

My picks are pretty close to Randy Maltz, who writes for the Silver and Blue Report. To read his thoughts click past the jump:

Randy Maltz, Dallas Cowboys
www.silverandbluereport.com

Dallas
New York Giants
Philadelphia
Washington

There is not a more intriguing division in the NFL than the very competitive NFC East.  The Dallas Cowboys won their first playoff game of the Tony Romo-era last season and will look to build upon that moderate success in 2010 season. The team also drafted highly touted wide receiver Dez Bryant, which will give Romo one more playmaker.

The Washington Redskins have made numerous changes this off-season and look, on paper, to be a greatly improved team. These changes started with the hiring of Mike Shanahan as head coach and trading for Quarterback Donovan McNabb to improve the team’s passing game.

There is a new era in Philadelphia this season, as Kevin Kolb will be taking over for the departed Donavon McNabb.  If their questionable OL holds up, the Eagles should once again have a good offense.  The Giants made a few changes this off-season, highlighted by signing safety Antrel Rolle and by drafting defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in the first round.  Latest Predictions … Dallas 11-5, Giants 9-7, Eagles 8-8, Redskins, 6-10

Jerry Jones cut ties with Flozell Adams, Bobby Carpenter, Ken Hamlin, and after training camp possibly another big name or two.  The Boys are not holding tight on their 11-5 season.  Through the draft, they added a very talented WR Dez Bryant.  Bryant, Miles Austin, and Roy Williams, will need to keep up with last year’s Top 5 Offense and will have to be effective scoring touchdowns, unlike last year.  Doug Free, who replaced Flozell Adams, will help improve an older vetran group of lineman.  Staying away from injuries on the OL will be a key for a Super Bowl Run.

New linebacker Sean Lee and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah will help with the depth on the pass defense that was ranked at 20th in the league.  The tough schedule could bring some tough losses, but the Cowboys have a great chance to play in their own stadium for the Super Bowl this year.

The Giants have too many weapons not to compete for the NFC East Title by the end of the season.  Eli Manning need to be a vocal leader for the Giants.  Manning had a fantastic fantasy QB year on 2009, but that does not necessarily wins games, because their defense was ranked an awful 30th in the league in 2009.  Osi Umenyiora will need to rise up and stay healthy.

Their draft picks will need some time to develop, but Linval Joseph and Jason Pierre-Paul show a lot of talent.  Their safety play needed help, so they brought in Antrel Rolle, who will have to be the leader in the backfield.  Because of the unfortunate car accident of draft pick Chad Jones, Kenny Phillips will need to step up his play and recover from injuries.

The new starting QB, Kevin Kolb will need to learn quickly how to win football games.  No more relying on McNabb’s veteran leadership and vision.  The new defenders will need to learn their roles.  This season will be a completely new look for the Eagles, so it will take a few losses in the early games to learn their roles.  The Eagles have speed with their young and athletic guys on their defence like Sapp, Allen, Graham, Lindley, who will pressure the quarterback for many years to come.  With the talent of their RB and WR units, they will be competitive … possibly .500.

Big changes in Washington for 2011.  Dan Snyder brought in aging quarterback Donovan McNabb and traded Jason Campbell to the Raiders, who was disappointing.  Mike Shanahan, the new coach from Denver, tries to put puzzle pieces together for this dismal 2009 team.  The Redskins defense will depend on the issues with Albert Haynesworth attitude and injuries.  All that money and still all those issues come with it.  They did not make much noice in the NFL Draft, except OT Trent Williams.  I do not see much improvement from a dismal 4-12 season in 2009.

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