NFC EAST: BIRDS FLYING HIGH AFTER TITLE, BUT LOOK OUT FOR BIG BLUE
1 EAGLES
COACH: Doug Pederson 2017 RECORD: 13-3 O/U WINS: 10 ¹/2
SUPER BOWL ODDS: 9/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: When healthy, Carson Wentz (right) is the class of the division. Pederson is a fearless playcaller (see Philly Special). The formidable offensive line returns intact and has the chemistry everyone craves. WRs Alshon Jeffery, emerging Nelson Agholor and veteran Mike Wallace form a solid trio. TE Zach Ertz is elite, and backup Dallas Goedert will be a red-zone weapon. RB/PR Darren Sproles is still dangerous at 35. RB
Corey Clement is a nice safety valve behind Jay Ajayi. Jim Schwartz has a loaded defensive line, anchored by DT
Fletcher Cox and DE Michael Bennett. Man mountain Haloti Ngata holds the fort for Timmy Jernigan (herniated disc surgery). MLB Jordan Hicks is healthy again alongside strongside LB Nigel Bradham. The secondary is loaded.
FOURTH-AND-LONG: OC Frank Reich accepted the Colts HC job that Josh McDaniels spurned. Jeffery (shoulder) won’t be ready until Week 3. LT Jason Peters is 36 and returning from a torn ACL. CBs Sidney Jones or Avonte Maddox will endure growing pains replacing Patrick Robinson at the nickel.
2 GIANTS
COACH: Pat Shurmur | 2017 RECORD: 3-13 O/U WINS: 7| SUPER BOWL ODDS: 22/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: $95 million man Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley are the division’s version of Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Then throw in the emerging Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram. NYTD Blue. LT Nate Solder stabilizes a remodeled offensive line. When his ankle heals, OLB Olivier Vernon (right) will be a terror in coordinator James Bettcher’s 3-4 defense. Good luck running into Snacks Harrison. Special teams have been upgraded. Shurmur is the calm after the storm and a damn good play-caller. Eli Manning doesn’t look 37. Shurmur thinks his completion percentage can be a career-best 65 percent … or better. FOURTH-AND-LONG: Jason Pierre-Paul was their best pass rusher; he’s in Tampa. The secondary is counting on Eli Apple and lacks depth. Who will return punts and kicks? Can PK Aldrick Rosas be trusted? Can Ereck
Flowers solve RT? Manning is 37. COMPLETE GIANTS PREVIEW, PAGES 48-49
3 COWBOYS
COACH: Jason Garrett 2017 RECORD: 9-7 O/U WINS: 8 SUPER BOWL ODDS: 25/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: RB Ezekiel Elliott (left) will be a marked man and more of a factor in the passing game behind an offensive line that can be great again. QB Dak Prescott is an instinctive improviser. Rookie WR Michael Gallup looks like a playmaker. DE Demarcus Lawrence is a double-digit sacker and LB Sean Lee is the brains of the operation, although he’s 32 and injury-prone. The pass rush could be ferocious once DE David Irving (seven sacks in eight games last season) returns from a four-game suspension and if DE Randy Gregory stays on the straight and narrow. OLB Jaylon Smith is rewarding Jerry Jones for his patience. Converted safety Byron Jones has impressed at cornerback. FOURTH-AND-LONG: The vaunted line will miss C Travis Frederick (Guillain-Barre Syndrome). Prescott isn’t your protypical pocket passer and he no longer will be throwing to TE Jason Witten — Geoff Swaim, anyone? — or Dez Bryant. Allen Hurns is not a No. 1 receiver. Garrett has the perfect temperament for Jones, but he needs to make the playoffs and maybe win a game there. Can former CFL PK Brett Maher really replace Dan Bailey?
4 REDSKINS
COACH: Jay Gruden 2017 RECORD: 7-9 O/U WINS: 6 ¹/2 SUPER BOWL ODDS: 100/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: QB Alex Smith (below) is more than a game manager. OLB Ryan Kerrigan hasn’t missed a game in seven seasons and has 71.5 sacks. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan is elite, and LT Trent Williams and G Brandon Scherff are Hog Heaven. Slippery WR Jamison Crowder will catch his 60 passes. RB Chris Thompson returns from a broken fibula as an elite safety valve in the passing game. Backto-back Alabama first-round pick DTs Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne should bolster the interior run defense in front of LB Zach Brown. Trash-talking sparkplug D.J. Swearinger and Montae Nicholson should make a nice safety tandem. FOURTH-AND-LONG: Smith is a game manager. Second-round rookie RB Derrius Guice (ACL) was expected to juice the ailing ground game. A 33-year-old Adrian Peterson scares no one. They’re still waiting for pogo stick WR Josh Doctson to break out. Can TE Jordan Reed avoid the injury bug? OBJ nemesis Josh Norman is 30. Kerrigan would welcome a bookend pass rusher. Or the young Dexter Manley. WR Paul Richardson has 95 career receptions but got $20 million in guarantees to be Gruden’s deep threat. Crowder slumped as a punt returner last season.