2019 NFL preview, part 3

NFC East:

Talk about perfect timing. The Dallas Cowboys welcomed back running back Ezekiel Elliott on Tuesday, just in time for Sunday's opener vs. the Giants. Apparently, Elliott wasn't satisfied until he became the highest paid rusher in the league. That's what happens when the positions become competitions within themselves in a game of salary chicken.

Digression over. Dallas now has all the pieces for a championship run, save for receiver Cole Beasley (Buffalo), who left as a free agent. A full season of Amari Cooper should fix that problem.

Meanwhile, the Giants are having injury issues. Again. Sterling Shepherd opened the preseason injured, but should be ready to go in due course. However, Golden Tate, acquired from Detroit, is suspended for the first month for using a banned substance, a fertility pill, of all things. Yeesh. While rookie QB Daniel Jones, a first round pick from Duke, impressed, 2nd year coach Pat Shurmur and management don't see any reason to uproot Eli Manning as the starter, even though Manning has regressed somewhat in the last two seasons.

Philadelphia has injuries at the QB position. Carson Wentz is not 100%. No surprise there. Kinda makes the Eagles wish they never got rid of Nick Foles again (Jacksonville). The Washington Trumpets drafted Dwayne Haskins out of Ohio State, but he won't be under center at the start of the season. A year under the learning tree might not be so bad.

Projected order of finish:

1. Dallas.
2. Philadelphia.
3. Giants.
4. Washington.
======================================
NFC North:

The pundits will tell you there's a changing of the guard in the division, and all four teams will be jockeying for playoff position again.

Jordy Nelson came back to Green Bay just to retire. Aaron Rodgers might be getting hints that it's soon going to be time for him to leave the Packers, too. Green Bay has a hole in the offense with the departure of RB/WR/KR Ty Montgomery (Jets). And the Pack opens in Chicago tomorrow night. Ugh.

In Detroit, coach Matt Patricia's signature win in 2018 came against his former boss, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots. At least the Lions recovered from an opening night loss to the Jets last year. Matthew Stafford begins his 11th season with the Lions at QB, second only to Rodgers in the division.

For all intents and purposes, Chicago & Minnesota stood pat in the offseason, not making a lot of waves, which might actually be a good thing.

Projected order of finish:

1. Chicago.
2. Minnesota.
3. Green Bay.
3 (tie). Detroit.