NFC East outlook
PHILADELPHIA

LAST SEASON: Won NFC East for the first time since 1989 and nearly made the Super Bowl, losing to St. Louis in the NFC championship game.

ADDITIONS: SS Blaine Bishop, LB Shawn Barber, CB Lito Shepherd, RB Dorsey Levens; RB Brian Westbrook.

SUBTRACTIONS: LB Jeremiah Trotter, LB Mike Caldwell, SS Damon Moore, RB Correll Buckhalter.

WATCH FOR: WR Freddie Mitchell, a first-round pick last year, could be ready to become a star. LB Barry Gardner, a backup to Trotter last year, has to replace a two-time Pro-Bowler.

EXPECTATIONS: Favorite for another division title as QB Donovan McNabb moves up among the elite. Anything less than reaching the NFC title game will be a disappointment.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

  • Sep. 8 at Tennessee, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 16 at Washington, 3 p.m.
  • Sep. 22 Dallas, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 Houston, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 at Jacksonville, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Open date
  • Oct. 20 Tampa Bay, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 28 New York Giants, 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Chicago, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 Arizona, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 25 at San Francisco, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 1 St. Louis, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Seattle, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Washington, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 21 at Dallas, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 28 at NY Giants, 8:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON

LAST SEASON: Became first team to go from 0-5 to 5-5, and finished 8-8 under new coach Marty Schottenheimer. That wasn't enough for owner Dan Snyder, who replaced Schottenheimer with University of Florida's Steve Spurrier.

ADDITIONS: Lots of former Florida players: Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews at QB, and Jacquez Green, Reidel Anthony and Chris Doering at WR. OLs Rod Jones and Larry Moore, LBs Jeremiah Trotter and Jessie Armstead, and DE Renaldo Wynn.

SUBTRACTIONS: QBs Tony Banks and Kent Graham, WR Michael Westbrook, C Cory Raymer, Gs Dave Szott and Ben Coleman, TE Stephen Alexander, DE Marco Coleman, DL Kenard Lang, LB Shawn Barber, KR Michael Bates.

WATCH FOR: LB LaVar Arrington, whose goal is defensive player of the year to follow his Pro Bowl season.

EXPECTATIONS: Defense will have to carry Spurrier's talent-challenged offense. A third straight 8-8 season might be the most realistic goal.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

  • Sep. 8 Arizona, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 16 Philadelphia, 3 p.m.
  • Sep. 22 at San Fran., 10:15 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 Open date
  • Oct. 6 at Tennessee, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 New Orleans, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 at Green Bay, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Indianapolis, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Seattle, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Jacksonville, 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 at NY Giants, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 St. Louis, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 28 at Dallas, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 New York Giants, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at Philadelphia, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 Houston, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 Dallas, 8 a.m.

NEW YORK GIANTS

LAST SEASON: Despite 3-1 start and DE Michael Strahan's single-season sack record, New York followed Super Bowl appearance with sub-.500 year.

ADDITIONS: Rookie TE Jeremy Shockey and new defensive coordinator Johnnie Lynn.

SUBTRACTIONS: Five-time Pro Bowl LB Jessie Armstead, three starters on the offensive line — Lomas Brown, Glenn Parker and Pro Bowler Ron Stone, TE Howard Cross and backup QB Jason Garrett.

WATCH FOR: Shockey, who's expected to open up the offense and Dhani Jones, who replaces Armstead.

EXPECTATIONS: QB Kerry Collins and CB Jason Sehorn must play the way they did in 2000 and a good but thin defense must stay healthy. If that happens, they might sneak into the playoffs, but 6-10 is more likely.

NEW YORK GIANTS

  • Sep. 5 San Francisco, 2:30 p.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at St. Louis, 10:05 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 Seattle, 10:15 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at Arizona, 10:05 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 at Dallas, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Atlanta, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 Open date
  • Oct. 28 at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 3 Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Minnesota, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 Washington, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at Houston, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Washington, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Dallas, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 at Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 28 Philadelphia, 8:30 a.m.

DALLAS

LAST SEASON: Used four starting QBs, and rookie starter Quincy Carter played in just eight games. Defense was a surprise, ranking fourth in the NFL.

ADDITIONS: DT La'Roi Glover, LB Kevin Hardy, CB Bryant Westbrook plus rookies — S Roy Williams, WR Antonio Bryant, C Andre Gurode and QB Chad Hutchinson.

SUBRACTIONS: TE Jackie Harris, DB Izell Reese, C Mark Stepnoski, S George Teague, QB Ryan Leaf.

WATCH FOR: Glover and Williams to make immediate impact on defense.

EXPECTATIONS: Emmitt Smith needs just 540 yards to overtake Walter Payton for the career rushing record. Could be a surprise in a weak division if they get decent work at QB.

DALLAS COWBOYS

  • Sep. 8 at Houston, 2:30 p.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 Tennessee, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 at Philadelphia, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at St. Louis, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 New York Giants, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Carolina, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 at Arizona, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Seattle, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Detroit, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Open date
  • Nov. 17 at Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 Jacksonville, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 28 Washington, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 San Francisco, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at NY Giants, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 21 Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 29 at Washington, 8 a.m.

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