NFL Preview Extravaganza 2014: NFC East

Photo courtesy of Hound Sports

This is definitely not the worst division in football, which I've been hearing a lot recently. There are two teams that definitely have a chance of making the playoffs, and two teams that could potentially be fine.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Philadelphia Eagles
2013 Record: 10-6
Yards Per Game: 417.2 (2nd in the NFL)
Points Per Game: 27.6 (4th in the NFL)
Yards Per Game Allowed: 394 (29th in the NFL)
Points Per Game Allowed: 23.9 (tied-17th in the NFL)

Chip Kelly's arrival in Philadelphia brought a great amount of offensive success, as the league could not catch up with him. Their run and gun offense was super successful, allowing them to overcome their defensive faults.

Coming into this season, they added Darren Sproles in a trade with the Saints, a move that I absolutely loved at the time, while getting back Jeremy Maclin from injury. They did however, lose DeSean Jackson by cutting him after a whirlwind of trade rumors was followed up by an accusation of gang ties before he was finally cut loose. Of course, the Eagles and Chip Kelly insist that the release was only for "football reasons," but I guess we'll never know the truth on this one. The bottom line is that Philly lost a very good wide receiver, leaving them with Maclin and Riley Cooper as the starting wideouts.

They also didn't do much to improve the defense, as signing Malcolm Jenkins to replace Patrick Chung was a lateral move.

Overall, I think that the defense is about the same as it was last year, as the very good pass rush struggles to make up for the deficiencies at the back end. Meanwhile, Nick Foles and the offense regresses just enough to where the Eagles will not be a playoff team in 2014. I love Chip Kelly and I think that his system may have created a new paradigm in the NFL, but with a full offseason of adjustments under their belt, the other 31 coaches will figure out ways to stop them.

In order for this team to make the postseason, the offense has to be just as good as last season, when they were probably the second best in the league. This year, I think they'll be more like the fourth or fifth best in the NFL, a difference that will cost them a shot in the playoffs.

NFL Picks: Wild Card Round and Playoff Preview

While it won't quite be a repeat of last year's Divisional Playoffs, Colin Kaepernick and the Niners will win this week's game over the Packers. Photo from sfgate.com

We have reached the playoffs! Finally! It's time for all the non-football fans in your life to be completely shocked that the NFL has now taken over both Saturday and Sunday. It's time for you to randomly and nonsensically adopt a team for the next month, going through the ups and downs that come with being a devoted fan of theirs, and you can't explain why your mind selected that team.

First, we should take a quick look back at my preseason predictions. I got 7 out of the 12 playoff teams correct, but, I'd like to credit myself for the Panthers as well. I know you may not believe me, but, the day before I posted that article, I had the Panthers at 11-5 winning the NFC South. But, my ex boyfriend Josh Freeman sent me a long, drunken text about why I should trust him again, and how he's sorry for the mistakes he's made in the past.

So, he went out and got benched before Week 4, and released the week after. Thanks a lot Josh. He talked me out of supporting the Panthers. But that's my fault for listening to him, so I'll accept that, and know to never put my faith in Josh Freeman. Ever again.

(Smash cut to him in a Jets uniform and me begging that they start him over Geno Smith)

Anyway, I wasn't surprised by the Panthers suddenly rising to the top of the NFC. I was surprised by the Texans and Falcons completely falling apart, which, frankly, surprised everyone. Where I made one of my bigger mistakes, was on the Chargers. A lot of people thought they'd be fine, maybe even a little worse, but of course, I went to the extreme, pegging them as the 29th best team in the NFL. And now, of course, they are playing in the playoffs. My bad.

Coming off a much improved season in terms of my weekly picks, in which I ended the year at 132-119-5, I'm feeling good about making a run much like my 9-2 playoff outing last year. Some of this week's games are kind of hard to predict, but don't worry, I'm here. I will also have my revised predictions for the rest of the postseason.

UPSET ALERT next to games in which I think the underdog will win outright, not just cover. Home team in CAPS. 

32 in 32: Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles

Read the introduction here
Read the Cowboys preview here
New York Jets tomorrow

2011 Record: 8-8

Key Additions: O.J. Atogwe, Demetress Bell, Fletcher Cox, DeMeco Ryans
Key Departures: Ronnie Brown, Winston Justice, Asante Samuel, Owen Schmitt, Juqua Parker

Really disappointing start to the season in 2011, but they really ended the year on a hot streak. Overall, this team is up there with one of the most talented teams in the league. I can't even come up with a good reason why they were so bad at the beginning of the year. Their defense should have been much better, and I expect great improvement this year. Vick always gets hurt and I see him missing at least 2 games, as he always does. Hopefully for the Eagles, it comes at a weak spot in their schedule, because Andy Reid is very good at developing and teaching QBs. Whoever the backup is, (Trent Edwards, Mike Kafka, or Nick Foles) he will be at least average under Reid.

Offense
I'm not sure if Vick's explosiveness is still there, but his improved skills as a pocket passer makes him so good. At 32 years old, he probably won't be able to scramble around like Mike Vick, but his accuracy is decent enough for him to still be very good. We all know about his powerful left arm.

LeSean McCoy is one of the best running backs in the NFL. His elusiveness is great. Dion Lewis wasn't terrible has the second back last year.

DeSean Jackson had a really down year last year, but I'll chalk that up to the holdout combined with the shortened training camp. His downfield speed makes him such a great deep threat, and I think he'll return to form this season. Jeremy Maclin is a great second option with great hands. Jason Avant is a really consistent receiver. He's very sure-handed and is a great security blanket receiver.

Brent Celek really has to step up this year. He looked very average in 2011, but that's not what was expected of him. I don't consider him elite, but he has to play like the above average player that he has shown in the past.

Jason Peters has made the Pro Bowl each of the past 5 years, but he has a ruptured Achilles tendon right now, and I'm not sure if he's going to be available at the beginning of the season. Todd Herremans and Demetress Bell will do a good job in his absence, with one of them moving to the bench one he returns. Evan Mathis was a real rock at the left guard position last year. Hopefully he can continue to keep guys in front of him.

Defense
Somebody forgot to tell Jason Babin that he was supposed to be as bad as the rest of the team last year. He was a terror for all offenses last year. He found ways to get his hands on the QB. No matter what the situation, he found ways to get into the backfield. It was really impressive. Darryl Tapp and Brandon Graham were very good situational pass rushers last year. Trent Cole is a very good rush end himself. They'll do a  great job at pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Fletcher Cox is considered to be a great defensive tackle, so I'm excited to see him make some major stops this year. I haven't even gotten to Cullen Jenkins, who was a major piece of the Super Bowl team in Green Bay. He wasn't nearly as dominant as usual last year, but I see him just eating up space in the middle. Overall, the defensive line is the best unit on this team. I have no idea why the Texans traded DeMeco Ryans, but hey, that's a gain for the Iggles. He's a leader and a really good linebacker. He's very reliable. Akeem Jordan and Casey Matthews are decent linebackers.

Nnamdi Asomugha has a quietly good year last year as he continued to frustrate wide receivers. With Asante Samuelgone, DRC will stop playing the nickel corner position and move to the second cornerback position. He's a really good playmaker even if he didn't exactly show that last season. Joselio Hanson will take over at the nickel corner role. Oshiomogho (VICTORY!) Atogwe and Nate Allen are really good safeties. Atogwe has experienced a drop off in play lately, but he's still very good.

Special Teams
Alex Henery barely had any field goal attempts last year, but he only missed 1 of 11. I expect more attempts this year, and he showed great accuracy. Rounding out the all Henry/Henery special teams unit, is Chas Henry. He wasn't very good last year, but he has competition in Mat McBriar. I expect McBriar to win the starting job. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be the one back to receive kicks this year, and that means good things for this team.

10-6, 2nd in NFC East