The Defending Champs again come from the East. Can Vick stay healthy? Is the window just about closed in Big D? Can RG3 turn things around in DC? Here's my NFC East preview:

At least the Redskins can kiss the John Beck/Rex Grossman era goodbye. It's been two straight seasons since the 'Skins weren't in the cellar in the NFC East, but with the drafting of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, it could be time for a turnaround in D.C. Washington returns everyone from their defensive front seven, where they were strongest last season. They now boast a couple of new receivers in Josh Morgan and Pierre Garcon to help aging vet Santana Moss. Roy Helu and Tim Hightower will split runningback duties. The only key loss was safety LaRon Landry. It's been five straight seasons with less than double digit wins, and three straight since they were at least at .500. Mike Shanahan wasn't brought in to keep this team in last place perenially.  One key stat with the 'Skins: they lost six games by just one possession last season. They also swept the eventual Super Bowl Champion Giants. Things might finally be headed in the right direction here, but don't expect too big a bite this season.

Once again, all the Giants needed was a late season run at just the right time, just like in '08. At 7-7, most figured the Giants were finished last year. All they did then was win their last two, and then march through Green Bay, San Francisco and then New England to win their second Super Bowl in the last four years. They did take a few free agent hits this offseason, with key losses in Aaron Ross and Deon Grant in the secondary, Brandon Jacobs in the backfield, and Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham at receiver. I'm not afraid to call Eli Manning an "elite" quarterback, especially when it's clutch time. I don't think there's a better quarterback when it counts right now than him. Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks make a formidable receiving corp, and you can count on the Giants throwing it a lot more this season with unproven David Wilson to counter the brittle Ahmad Bradshaw. When you've got the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umeniyiora and Justin Tuck up front, opposing quarterbacks should be scared. Don't forget the Giants went 11-1 following the win over New England in '08, and if it weren't for Plax's shooting incident, they might have gone farther. The Giants are also one of the best coached teams in the league, and are a definite threat to repeat.

All the talk around Big D this offseason has been about the window closing on vets like Tony Romo, Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware. Who can deny that's exactly what's happening? Injuries this summer during training camp have been key. Miles Austin's hamstring is back again, Dez Bryant has been hurt as well. Jason Witten's spleen is lacerated. In case nobody's noticed, the Cowboys top touchdown threat last year was Laurent Robinson, who left via free agency. The Cowboys are paper-thin at receiver, and injuries to the offensive line could make Tony Romo's season hellish. The good news: despite a major lack of depth, the secondary got a nice facelift, with Brandon Carr coming over from Kansas City ar corner and the drafting of Morris Claiborne out of LSU. Sean Lee will anchor the linebacking corp now, and Dan Conner comes over from Carolina to help in the middle with the departures of Keith Brooking and Brady James. The Cowboys signed six free agents in the offseason and hope all six are starters. Runningback DeMarco Murray could give the Cowboys their first 1,000 yard rusher since Julius Jones back in '06. But again, depth is a major concern with this team, and a few key injuries might derail a play-off run, which would make it three straight seasons since the Cowboys reached the postseason.

Besides the obvious concerns with Michael Vick's health, the Eagles have to also be concerned with the fact that the D blew fourth quarter leads five different times this season. I expected the Eagles to blow out Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo, but he's back, believe it or not. Philly did add linebacker DeMeco Ryans from Houston, and that's definitely a step in the right direction. The Eagles are anxious to drop the whole "Dream Team" thing from last season, and with DeSean Jackson assured another season in Philly, the specialists on offense are explosive. Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek team up with Jackson to give the Eagles a nice receiving corp, and runningback LeSean McCoy has turned into one of the top runningbacks in the league. Of course the concern is the health of quarterback Michael Vick. If Vick goes down (and based on past history I would expect it at some point), the Eagles season could grind to an immediate halt. If he can stay on the field, the Eagles are a definite play-off threat. This team is still young, and if Andy Reid can't get it done this season we could be seeing the last of him.

FINAL PREDICTION:

1. NEW YORK GIANTS

2. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

3. DALLAS COWBOYS

4. WASHINGTON REDSKINS