1. Philadelphia Eagles

Another late season collapse will likely spell the end for head coach Nick Sirianni. Which would be the most Philadelphia thing since they let go of Doug Pederson not long after winning a Super Bowl.

2. Dallas Cowboys

Owner Jerry Jones is as defiant as ever. Yet, I can’t imagine him staying with the status quo if the Cowboys don’t at least get to the NFC Championship game.

3. New York Giants

I have a feeling that letting RB Saquon Barkley go will bite them in the butt for a long time.

4. Washington Commanders

If rookie QB Jayden Daniels can stay upright, they could push towards a .500 season with the pieces they’re putting in place around him.

Head Coach: Nick Sirianni

Key Position: Defensive Line

This was the strongest unit of the defense in the 2022 season. It was the most underachieving unit in 2023. Their best pass rusher, Haason Reddick was traded to the Jets, but the Eagles signed Bryce Huff from the Jets to replace him. Huff had a career high 10 sacks for the Jets last season. Josh Sweat and Jalen Carter had 6.5 and 6 sacks respectively, but that isn’t good enough. Brandon Graham will likely be playing in his final season and will be sparingly used in rush situations. Jordan Davis and Nolan Smith must play up to their first round selections. If the pass rush isn’t there, it exposes their issues on the backend of the defense.

Key Acquisitions: RB Saquon Barkley (NY Giants), LB Zack Baun (New Orleans Saints), OL Mekhi Becton (NY Jets), WR Jahan Dotson (Washington Commanders), DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Detroit Lions), DE Bryce Huff (NY Jets), QB Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers), LB Devin White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Key Rookies: CB Quinyon Mitchell, DB Cooper DeJean

Head Coach: Mike McCarthy

Key Position: Defense

That playoff exit last season was an unmitigated disaster and the defense didn’t play their part. Former coordinator Dan Quinn left for Washington to be their head coach. Enter Mike Zimmer who was the Cowboys defensive coordinator once before many years ago. The formula won’t change much, but many players must have bounce back seasons. DE/LB Micah Parsons needs to stop disappearing when the playoffs come around. CBs Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland are two of the best ballhawking corners in the league. If they both remain healthy that will keep the defense near the top of turnover differential. LB Eric Kendricks came as a free agent. He has experience in Zimmer’s defense recently when he was the head coach in Minnesota.

Key Acquisitions: RB Ezekiel Elliott (New England Patriots), LB Eric Kendricks (LA Chargers), RB Dalvin Cook (NY Jets)

Key Rookies: OT Tyler Guyton, DE Marshawn Kneeland, OL Cooper Beebe, LB Marist Liufau

Head Coach: Brian Daboll

Key Position: Offense

Buyers remorse is quickly taking place with the Giants as QB Daniel Jones hasn’t been the same quarterback since getting a massive extension after the 2022 season. This might be his last chance to prove it wasn’t a one year wonder. They mysteriously let RB Saquon Barkley go for nothing and replaced him with Devin Singletary. Drafting WR Malik Nabers in the first round was a smart move. Hopefully it lasts longer than when they drafted Odell Beckham Jr. The offensive line got some more fine tuning with the additions of Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan and Aaron Stinnie. Andrew Thomas is the stalwart left tackle, but must remain healthy. Evan Neal as the right tackle has been a disappointment and is on thin ice. WRs Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson aren’t household names, but they have done well for themselves with the uncertainty at quarterback.

Key Acquisitions: DE/LB Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers), OT Jermaine Eluemunor (Las Vegas Raiders), QB Drew Lock (Seattle Seahawks), OL Jon Runyan (Green Bay Packers), RB Devin Singletary (Houston Texans), OL Aaron Stinnie (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Key Rookies: WR Malik Nabers, DB Tyler Nubin, CB Dru Phillips, TE Theo Johnson

Head Coach: Dan Quinn (Dallas Cowboys)

Key Position: Everything

Dan Quinn is getting another chance at being a head coach since he was the coach of the infamous 28-3 Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl team. Washington isn’t nearly as good as Atlanta was when Quinn was hired there. The Commanders drafted their quarterback of the future with Jayden Daniels and the hope is that his extended time in college pays off in the pros. The reigning Heisman trophy winner should be thankful this franchise is under different ownership now. The last time they took a quarterback with similar attributes his name was Robert Griffin III. It didn’t end well. WR Terry McLaurin has emerged as a top notch receiver. RB Brian Robinson Jr. will now have Austin Ekeler to rotate with. TE Zach Ertz is approaching the end of the line, but can still stretch the field and be a redzone target for Daniels. Quinn’s defense will be much like he had with the Cowboys. LB Bobby Wagner is familiar with this style since Quinn coordinated the ‘Legion of Boom’ defense in Seattle when Wagner was there. DE Dorance Armstrong was signed from Dallas and provides a good edge rusher to pair with DTs Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen the stalwarts in the middle of the line. DB Jeremy Chinn is a much needed safety net for the secondary. The defense as whole still needs fine tuning, but they should be better than being dead last in total defense like they were last season.

Key Acquisitions: OL Nick Allegretti (Kansas City Chiefs), DE Dorance Armstrong (Dallas Cowboys), OL Tyler Biadasz (Dallas Cowboys), DB Jeremy Chinn (Carolina Panthers), CB Michael Davis (LA Chargers), OL Michael Deiter (Houston Texans), RB Austin Ekeler (LA Chargers), TE Zach Ertz (Arizona Cardinals), DE Clelin Ferrell (San Francisco 49ers), DE Dante Fowler Jr. (Dallas Cowboys), LB Frankie Luvu (Carolina Panthers), QB Marcus Mariota (Philadelphia Eagles), LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks)

Key Rookies: QB Jayden Daniels, DT Jer’Zhan Newton, CB Mike Sainristil, TE Ben Sinnott, OT Brandon Coleman, WR Luke McCaffrey