Title is up for grabs in NFC East
For the 2007 World Champion New York Giants, the impossible was done. Eli Manning maturing as a quarterback-happened. The Giants replacing Tiki Barber-happened. The Giants throwing in a rookie tight end in place of Jeremy Shockey-happened. The Giants beating the odds against the Cowboys, kicking the last second field goal up at the "frozen tundra of Lambeau Field,"
and beating the now-imperfect Patriots-happened. Most importantly, Tom Coughlin saving his job-happened.
Nearly all of the pieces of the 2007 puzzle of a team return intact for another year, and each of the younger players have matured in one way or another. But perhaps the greatest step was taken when little brother Eli, under the eyes of big brother Peyton, pulled a "Tom Brady"
with no timeouts in the final two minutes of the Super Bowl.
But Eli and the G-Men know that they are in the crosshairs of the three teams in the NFC East. Dallas, after beating the Giants twice in the regular season, already has their finger on the trigger. Expectations and the pressure under Jerry Jones are high in Big-D. Dallas has improved somewhat during the off season through the addition of disgruntled PacMan Jones and the drafting of Felix Jones to team up with Marion Barber to form a potent running game.
They've also declined, as five coaches left for Bill Parcells' attempt to resurrect the Dolphins. However, the trio of Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, and Jessica Simpson are back for another season. Indeed, Dallas has it all.
Philadelphia will return with the same roster intact, plus Asante Samuel. Samuel, the ex-Patriot, is a player that the Eagles and under appreciated defensive coordinator Jim Johnson can count on. It was Johnson who showed the league how to beat the Patriots last season. with a lesser defense by all-out blitzing Tom Brady and investing faith in his secondary.
It paid off. With Samuel coming into the mix, Johnson can send his quick front seven, plus safeties Brian Dawkins or Lito Shepard, to the quarterback with more confidence than ever. The question will be about Donovan McNabb, as there is no Jeff Garcia-type veteran behind him-just Kevin Kolb.
Running back Brian Westbrook is the best player of the division. Even at his age, he continues to run through defenses with his excellent vision, balance, and burst through running lanes made by a strong offensive line.
Washington won its last four games in dominating fashion in the wake of the tragic death of Sean Taylor. One and done in the playoffs, the biggest thing that they lost prior to 2008 was coordinator Gregg Williams, who left for Jacksonville. Jim Zorn replaced Joe Gibbs as head coach.
Other than that, the ‘08 ‘Skins are back. Year two of the Jason Campbell era is upon them. Campbell has a wide variety of targets, such as Santana Moss and Chris Cooley, who has quietly become one of the best tight ends in the league. Campbell can also dump it off to 1,500 yard-back Clinton Portis in a pinch.
This is a division that is very-much up for grabs.
