DALLAS COWBOYS

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC East: 9/2
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 35/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 80/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 7.5

2014 Preview:
Offense:
Offensive line coach Bill Callahan is expected to relinquish play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan in order to focus on improving the Cowboys’ anemic rushing attack. They end up abandoning the run early in many games, as the zone-blocking scheme that Callahan implemented has yet to take hold. DeMarco Murray will take a headlining role again in this backfield, especially in the red zone, and he’ll keep that role until his next injury. Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar will fight for scraps.

Linehan ran a pass-happy offense in Detroit, similar to what the Cowboys have run. He’s an Air Coryell disciple with a system that uses a lot of top-down reads, looking to take advantage of the deep ball. Dez Bryant is the obvious No. 1 receiver in this offense, and Linehan will likely move him around more than Dallas has done in the past. Tight end Jason Witten provides another chess piece type of weapon to wreak some havoc. Terrance Williams steps in as the No. 2 and will be used primarily as a deep threat. The Cowboys will use two tight ends as often as they go three-wide, meaning third wideout Cole Beasley and second TE Gavin Escobar will essentially split playing time. Dallas was one of the league’s most pass-heavy red zone teams last year, a trend that’s likely to continue this season. Bryant is the top target near the goal line, with Witten a close second.

Defense:
Dallas DL coach Rod Marinelli will take over defensive coordinator duties in 2014, hoping to generate more turnovers like he did with the Bears (44 TO in 2012). But the Cowboys still give up tons of yards and will have much fewer sacks after losing both DE DeMarcus Ware (117 career sacks) and DT Jason Hatcher (11 sacks in 2013).

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
QB Brandon Weeden (Browns)
QB Caleb Hanie (DNP in 2012 and 2013)
RB Ryan Williams (Cardinals)
G Uche Nwaneri (Jaguars)
DE Jeremy Mincey (Broncos)
DT Terrell McClain (Texans)
DT Henry Melton (Bears)
DT Amobi Okoye (DNP in 2013)
LB Rolando McClain (Ravens)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB Kyle Orton (released)
RB Phillip Tanner (Colts)
WR Miles Austin (Browns)
C/G Phil Costa (Colts)
DE Jarius Wynn (Bills)
DE/OLB DeMarcus Ware (Broncos)
DE/OLB Edgar Jones (Browns)
DT Jason Hatcher (Redskins)
ILB Ernie Sims (Cardinals)
OLB/DE Everette Brown (Redskins)
FS Danny McCray (Bears)

StatFox Take: The Cowboys have not had a winning season since 2009, and that shouldn't change this season with a horrendous defense that lost three key cogs in DE DeMarcus Ware, DT Jason Hatcher and ILB Ernie Sims. The 2014 schedule is also quite difficult, especially late in the season when they could be underdogs in each of their final six contests (at Giants, vs. Eagles, at Bears, at Eagles, vs. Colts, at Redskins). The NFC West is a tough division to be pitted against, and despite the steep price, the correct play for this disappointing franchise is the Under.
Prediction: UNDER 7.5 wins (-175)

NEW YORK GIANTS

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC East: 4/1
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 26/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 50/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 8

2014 Preview:
Offense:
Long-time offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is gone, but O-Line coach Pat Flaherty remains in place to improve an awful run game (83 YPG in 2013, 29th in NFL). The Giants lean toward a lot of gap blocking, and their upgraded personnel on the offensive line should create more opportunities this season. New top back Rashad Jennings fits what they do as a downhill, no-nonsense type of runner. He’ll take the bulk of the work with David Wilson, if he’s back from neck surgery (a big if), taking on a change-of-pace role. Andre Williams and Peyton Hillis seem to be insurance in case Wilson can’t go this fall.

This will be Eli Manning’s first year without Gilbride either calling plays or working with him as QB coach. New offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, a tight ends and quarterbacks coach in Green Bay, should bring more creativity and a West Coast look to the passing game. Expect more underneath, catch-and-run work for Victor Cruz and slot options Odell Beckham Jr. and Jerrel Jernigan, with Rueben Randle working as more of a traditional field stretcher. McAdoo would like to utilize a lot of two-tight end sets, but he’ll do so only if he can find two that are good enough to stay on the field. The backs will do more pass protecting than most, but McAdoo will mix in the screen game to utilize Jennings’ receiving ability. Assuming they mirror what the Packers typically did inside the 20 last year, expect a lot of throwing inside the red zone until they get inside the three.

Defense:
The Giants lacked a pass rush in 2013, but then let team sack leader Justin Tuck walk. But they bolstered their secondary by adding tough CBs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond, and also signed stud LB Jameel McClain.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
RB Rashad Jennings (Raiders)
WR Mario Manningham (49ers)
WR/KR Trindon Holliday (Broncos)
TE Kellen Davis (Seahawks)
G John Jerry (Dolphins)
G/OT Geoff Schwartz (Chiefs)
OT Charles Brown (Saints)
DE Robert Ayers (Broncos)
DE Israel Idonije (Bears)
ILB Jameel McClain (Ravens)
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Broncos)
CB Walter Thurmond (Seahawks)
CB Zackary Bowman (Bears)
SS Quintin Demps (Chiefs)

SUBTRACTIONS
RB Andre Brown (Texans)
RB David Wilson (retired)
WR Hakeem Nicks (Colts)
WR Louis Murphy (Buccaneers)
TE Brandon Myers (Buccaneers)
TE Bear Pascoe (Falcons)
C David Baas (released)
G Chris Snee (retired)
G/T Kevin Boothe (Raiders)
DE Justin Tuck (Raiders)
DT Linval Joseph (Vikings)
OLB Keith Rivers (Bills)
CB Aaron Ross (Ravens)
CB Terrell Thomas (Seahawks)
SS Ryan Mundy (Bears)
S Will Hill (Ravens)

StatFox Take: The Giants are always a tough team to figure out, but eight wins isn't a lot to ask for a franchise that just suffered its first losing season since 2004 last year. Even with a disastrous 0-6 start to the 2013 season, the club still managed to win seven of its final 10 games. An improved defense and four games against the weak AFC South should make this a winning team again. Take the plus-money and expect the Giants to be in the thick of the playoff hunt in 2014.
Prediction: OVER 8 wins (+120)

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook 2014 season preview for the Giants:

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC East: 21/20
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 15/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 30/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 9

2014 Preview:
Offense:
Head coach Chip Kelly may not have brought his Oregon playbook to the NFL, but what he’s running is fairly close. The tempo and overall spread principles are what make this the league’s best rushing attack, as well as LeSean McCoy’s ability to exploit cutback lanes when defenses flow too fast to the perimeter. McCoy might have his workload lightened a little bit, but he’s still going to get an enormous number of carries. Unlike during the Andy Reid years, the Eagles are run-heavy in the red zone under Kelly. McCoy takes most touches inside the 20, often taking advantage of exhausted defenses at the end of drives. All-purpose back Darren Sproles could end up being used as a runner a bit more often than he was in New Orleans, while Chris Polk is more of a traditional back-up.

The Eagles use a lot of crossing routes that become high-percent- age due to the threat of the running game, plus quarterback Nick Foles holds onto the ball for a long, long time. They’ll use a lot of two-tight end looks, most often targeting either Jeremy Maclin or tight end Zach Ertz over the middle. Foles has good chemistry with No. 2 receiver Riley Cooper, who often takes advantage of single coverage against smaller defensive backs with a lot of comeback routes. Rookie Jordan Matthews will play inside in three-receiver sets. They also love the screen game, with McCoy and Sproles.

Defense:
Defensive coordinator Billy Davis was brought in before 2013 to improve the team’s pathetic 13 takeaways, and he did just that with 31 forced turnovers, which tied for third in the NFL. FS Malcolm Jenkins was the only significant free-agent pickup, but first-round draft choice DE Marcus Smith should be able to contribute right away.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
QB Mark Sanchez (Jets)
RB Darren Sproles (Saints)
OT Andrew Gardner (Texans)
OLB Bryan Braman (Texans)
CB Nolan Carroll (Dolphins)
FS Malcolm Jenkins (Saints)
FS Chris Maragos (Seahawks)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB Michael Vick (Jets)
RB Bryce Brown (Bills)
WR DeSean Jackson (Redskins)
WR Jason Avant (Panthers)
FS Patrick Chung (Patriots)
FS Kurt Coleman (Vikings)
FS Colt Anderson (Colts)

StatFox Take: The Eagles have finished below .500 just twice in their past 14 seasons, and it's unlikely that this talented squad won't win its division this season. Chip Kelly has scrubbed the roster clean of players he never wanted, such as Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson, and the addition of RB Darren Sproles and healthy return of WR Jeremy Maclin gives QB Nick Foles two reliable pass-catching options in this up-tempo offense. If the defensive unit can play as well as it did last year, Philadelphia will win its division with double-digit victories.
Prediction: OVER 9 wins (-120)

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook 2014 season preview for the Eagles:

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC East: 9/2
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 32/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 75/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 7.5

2014 Preview:
Offense:
New head coach Jay Gruden ran a pass-heavy offense in Cincinnati, much more so than the Shanahans did the past two years. Gruden has strongly hinted toward scrapping the zone read option, which fueled a big part of Washington’s success in the running game. Alfred Morris figures to lose a little more playing time to Roy Helu as the Redskins show a little more of a finesse game, but Morris will still do a solid amount of between-the-tackles grinding. Quarterback Robert Griffin III will see far fewer designed runs in an attempt to keep him healthy.

Gruden and new offensive coordinator Sean McVay, Washington’s former tight ends coach, are both versed in a West Coast offense, so the passing game shouldn’t look drastically different. They’ll move Griffin around and rely on the catch-and-run ability of Pierre Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed, who is in for a much larger role in this offense. He’s a matchup nightmare in the middle of the field who will also be used heavily in the screen game. When they throw inside the 20, Garcon has always been Griffin’s favorite red-zone target. They figure to work some different looks for Reed, and second tight end Logan Paulsen saw a fair amount of play-action looks inside the five. They’ll use a lot of three-receiver sets with Andre Roberts stepping in as a slot guy, while DeSean Jackson will be an every-down deep threat.

Defense:
The Redskins made some strong free-agent signings like defensive tackle Jason Hatcher, free safety Ryan Clark, cornerback Tracy Porter and linebacker Akeem Jordan. But this defense has a long way to go to reach respectability after a season where they ranked tied for 30th in the NFL in scoring defense and 27th in yards per play.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
QB Colt McCoy (49ers)
WR DeSean Jackson (Eagles)
WR Andre Roberts (Cardinals)
G/C Mike McGlynn (Colts)
G Shawn Lauvao (Browns)
DT Jason Hatcher (Cowboys)
ILB Darryl Sharpton (Texans)
ILB Akeem Jordan (Chiefs)
ILB Adam Hayward (Buccaneers)
OLB/DE Everette Brown (Cowboys)
CB Tracy Porter (Raiders)
FS Ryan Clark (Steelers)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB Rex Grossman (Browns)
WR Josh Morgan (Bears)
TE Fred Davis (suspended UFA)
C Will Montgomery (Broncos)
DE Adam Carriker (released)
DE/OLB Darryl Tapp (Lions)
DT Kentwan Balmer (released)
ILB London Fletcher (retired)
CB Josh Wilson (Falcons)
P Sav Rocca (released)

StatFox Take: The Redskins have had only one winning season in the past six years, and it looks like another season of 10-plus losses is in the cards for 2014. The schedule is pretty tough, especially on the road where they will face three difficult division foes plus the 49ers, Colts, Cardinals, Texans and Vikings. Even if QB Robert Griffin excels in new head coach Jay Gruden's offense, the big problem on this club is defense. Washington allowed 29.9 PPG last year (T-2nd worst in NFL) and gave up a league-worst 7.6 passing yards per attempt. At nearly even money, expect another disappointing campaign in the nation's capital.
Prediction: UNDER 7.5 wins (-105)

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook 2014 season preview for the Redskins:

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