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PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2012 NFL regular season will open just as the 2011 regular season ended -- with a game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants.

The NFL announced Tuesday that the Super Bowl champion Giants will host the Cowboys in the Wednesday, Sept. 5 season opener. It's the ninth year in a row that the league will open its schedule with a prime-time game hosted by the defending champs.

If you're a regular reader, you know this comes as a surprise to me. Looking at the Giants' 2012 schedule for home opponents, I thought it made the most sense to open with the Packers. That would have been a game between the past two Super Bowl champs that had widespread national appeal. But I guess the Cowboys have as much widespread national appeal as the Packers do, and in spite of this being a divisional game, it does cross geographical lines and span a couple of time zones. The added oomph of the Giants-Cowboys rivalry can't be overlooked, either. The Giants beat the Cowboys on Jan. 1 in the final game of the regular season -- a game that decided the NFC East title and put the Giants into the playoffs while eliminating the Cowboys.

No word on other Week 1 games or any other regular-season scheduling at this point. But Giants and Cowboys fans can circle Sept. 5 on their calendars if they want to. And I'm pretty sure I'll be there.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The very premise of what you are about to read is ridiculous. The idea that a football team that has lost four games in a row to drop its record to 6-6 has reason to feel better about its playoff chances than the team one game in front of it in the standings? Doesn't make sense. But little about this year's New York Giants or this year's NFC East has made sense, and so here we are, with four games left in the season, and the ridiculous has become reality.

In the division no one seems to want, all four teams lost this week. Out in the desert, the Dallas Cowboys gave away their chance to control the NFC East race. A short time later, out here in the swamps of Jersey, the Giants had their hearts broken by the Green Bay Packers. But the Giants' loss -- a 38-35 thriller in which they came back to tie the score with 58 seconds left only to watch sharpshooting Aaron Rodgers fire his way into field-goal range -- left them emotionally better off for the season's final four games than the Cowboys' loss left them. Whether it was because of how close they came, how much better they looked than they had in their past two games or how firmly they still hold their destiny in their hands, the Giants walked out of MetLife Stadium on Sunday night feeling pretty good about themselves.

"Today we learned that anything is possible when we put our minds to it as a team," Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. "We're going to keep fighting. We're going to fight to get into the playoffs. And once we get into the playoffs, there's not going to be anything that stops us there."

Ridiculous, such talk from a player on a defense that has allowed 87 points in the past two weeks to two of the conference's playoff-bound teams. But the point here is not whether the Giants or the Cowboys or anybody else from the NFC East is capable of making a Super Bowl run. The point here is that (A) someone will win this division, (B) it's probably not going to be a very good team and (C) the Giants have more reason than they did 24 hours ago to believe it could be them.

"We have four games to go and three of them in our division," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "I think this game brings us together even tighter than we've ever been before as a team. Guys laid it on the line for each other tonight."

Big difference from two weeks ago, when the Giants were furious after inexplicably losing to the sinking Eagles on this same field. And a big difference from Monday night, when the Giants were sad and resigned after getting blown out of the water by the Saints in New Orleans. The Giants who spoke in the wake of this game were a forward-looking bunch that wanted to talk about the opportunity it still has in front of it rather than the one it had just let slip away.

"We've got to try and take something from this game," said quarterback Eli Manning, who added 347 passing yards and three touchdowns to his gaudy season numbers. "We have four big games left and we have to take whatever we can from this game, clean up a few things and play good football if we're going to run this thing down."

Twice during his news conference, Manning inexplicably referred to the Washington Redskins as the Giants' next opponent. He was corrected as he left the room and reminded that the Giants' next game is next Sunday night against the Cowboys in Dallas. But he knew that, of course. Everyone in the Giants' locker room knows there are two games left against Dallas, which still has that one-game lead that coulda/shoulda been two.

"We know we have to play them twice," Manning said. "And we we know that if we handle our business and play the way we can and win out, then we'll be in the playoffs."

Simple as it can be, really. If the Giants beat the Cowboys twice and win their other two remaining games, they're division champs. If they beat the Cowboys twice, beat the Jets on Christmas Eve and the Cowboys lose to the Eagles, they're division champs. Heck, if they win their next three in a row and the Cowboys lose that Christmas Eve game to the Eagles, the Giants will be division champs no matter what happens in the second head-to-head matchup against Dallas.

And while it may seem ridiculous to be projecting all of these wins for a team that hasn't won a game in a month, it's anything but impossible. The Cowboys are clearly beatable, and the Giants have been in every game they've played this year but one. Manning is playing quarterback at a top-five level, and armed with wide receiver weapons as dangerous as Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, he's repeatedly shown the ability to deliver in the clutch. The run game has looked better the past two weeks, and clearly the return of Ahmad Bradshaw gave it a boost Sunday. If the defense can just find a way to stop someone -- which could start happening simply because they're not playing the best offenses in the NFC anymore -- they have every justification for the confidence they were articulating Sunday night. May sound ridiculous to you and me, but the Giants are still right in this mix.

"Seeing the way we came out and played against an undefeated team like we did today, I think that gives us momentum going forward," Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. "It's only about the future, and we have a lot of work to do this week to get ready for Dallas."

If they manage to end their losing streak and win at Dallas next Sunday night, the Giants will be 7-6 and tied for first after all they've gone through in a miserable past month. You can call that ridiculous. This year, we're calling it life in the NFC East.

LANDOVER, Md. -- These games between the Cowboys and Redskins are never pretty. It's always quirky, close and in some cases heartbreaking.

The Cowboys can go home happy thanks to a 27-24 victory at FedEx Field on Sunday afternoon. Dallas has won a season-high three games and moved to a season-high two games over .500.

What it means: The Cowboys have six wins and are just a half-game behind the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East. If the Giants lose Sunday night vs. the Eagles, there will be a first-place tie. This win for the Cowboys is just another example of how gritty this team is.

Bailey wins it: Dan Bailey converted his 24th consecutive field goal attempt to win it, a 39-yarder with 5:39 remaining in overtime. Bailey hasn't missed a kick since his 21-yarder in Week 2 at San Francisco. Just before the game winner, the Redskins called timeout, but quarterback Tony Romo, who is the holder, called timeout as well. The Cowboys had no timeouts left. If the referees had seen Romo make the call first, the Cowboys would have been charged with a 15-yard penalty.

Missed kick for Washington: Kicker Graham Gano had a chance to win it for the Redskins but was wide right from 52 yards with 9:27 left in overtime. The miss set up the Cowboys' chance to win the game.

Cowboys' defense can't hold the lead: It appeared the Cowboys' defense was going to stop the Redskins after the offense had taken a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. But it was not to be. Donte' Stallworth made a clutch catch in the corner of the end zone over Alan Ball with 14 seconds to play that tied the game at 24-24. There was a clutch play by Marcus Spears on a pass breakup inside the 5, a hit by Jason Hatcher on another pass play and a tackle for loss by Anthony Spencer, but there was an Orlando Scandrick holding call on third down.

Witten responds: He didn't have any catches in the first half, but tight end Jason Witten responded with a strong second half. He ended the day with three catches for 85 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown. Romo spun out of the pocket and found Witten at the Redskins' 35 with a long pass. Witten outran the speedy DeAngelo Hall for a 59-yard touchdown reception. The touchdown with 8:48 to play in the fourth quarter gave the Cowboys a 24-17 lead.

Jones' day: Felix Jones made his return to the active roster after missing four games with a left high-ankle sprain. Jones finished with five carries for 18 yards and one catch for 4 yards. DeMarco Murray got the bulk of the carries on the day with 25 for 73 yards. There was a thought Jones would return kicks, something he practiced this past week, but he didn't.

What's next: On Thanksgiving Day, the Cowboys will take on the hot Miami Dolphins and their three-game winning streak. The Dolphins started the season 0-7. Ex-Cowboys Kevin Burnett, Marc Colombo and Anthony Fasano are on the Dolphins' roster.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Seattle Seahawks provided the perfect opponent to solve the Dallas Cowboys' woes. Well sort of. Dallas played a nice, but not great game Sunday afternoon on the day they inducted Drew Pearson, Larry Allen and Charles Haley into the Ring of Honor. The Cowboys should have played better, but they have next week to solve their issues. For the record, Dallas 23, Seattle 13.

Here's a recap:

What it means: Not really sure. The Cowboys beat up a Seattle team ranking next to last in total offense and rushing offense. Its defense ranked 13th overall but 18th against the pass. Seattle rushed for over 100 yards for the first time in two weeks and the Seahawks completed numerous big plays in the passing game. But the Cowboys won, and that's all that matters in the NFL sometimes.

DeMarco Murray needs to start: Nothing personal against Felix Jones, but did you see the rookie from Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon? He rushed 22 times for 139 yards. He's now rushed for over 100 yards in two of the last three games. Jones has rushed for over 100 yards just twice in the regular season during his career. It might be time to move on from Jones and give things to Murray.

Defense plays OK: The Cowboys defense pressured Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson numerous times and picked up three interceptions. Terence Newman, Jason Hatcher and Gerald Sensabaugh were the men who did in Jackson. DeMarcus Ware didn't register a sack for the first time in three weeks. It seemed the Cowboys missed inside linebacker Sean Lee, who was out with a dislocated left wrist. Bradie James and Keith Brooking didn't do enough to slow the running game. It's clear the Cowboys need to clean up some things before taking on Buffalo next week. Anthony Spencer picked up his first sack since Week 3 vs. Washington, and now has three on the season.

Miles Austin is out: Wide receiver Miles Austin injured his right hamstring in the first half and didn't return. It's the second time this season that Austin has battled hamstring injuries. He finished the game with two catches for 53 yards. But it was OK because Laurent Robinson, once again, is looking like a man who knows what he's doing on the field. Robinson had five catches for 32 yards with one touchdown. Dez Bryant also had a nice game, though he had zero catches in the second half, with four receptions for 76 yards. Defenses are jamming Bryant at the line of scrimmage and he continues to struggle to get off the line.

Red zone problems: The Cowboys went 1-3 in the red zone Sunday. For the season, the Cowboys have 26 possessions inside the red zone with just 10 touchdowns and 12 field goals on the season. This has been a problem area for the Cowboys in 2011 and moving forward things have to get fixed.

What's next: The Cowboys host Buffalo on Sunday afternoon. It's Chan Gailey's chance to beat the man who fired him, Jerry Jones. Jones said firing Gailey was one of his biggest mistakes.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- This was the type of game you're supposed to win, no matter where you are as a team. The Cowboys beat up the winless St. Louis Rams on Sunday afternoon, 34-7.

The Cowboys dominated on defense and ran with power behind rookie DeMarco Murray.

What it means: The Cowboys ended two streaks on Sunday. They ended a two-game losing streak and an 11-game stretch where games were decided by four points or fewer. It was good for the Cowboys to have an easy game for a change, and with a new right guard (Montrae Holland) and running back (Murray), Dallas had few problems taking care of business.

Rookie's record day: Rookie running back Murray rushed for franchise-record 253 yards on 25 carries. Murray had a 91-yard touchdown run, the second longest in franchise history. He set the record on a run to the left side in the fourth quarter, and when he came out Dez Bryant was the first player to greet him. It was a magical day for Murray, who didn't even start the game.

Bryant shows up in second half: After going two games with no catches in the second half, Bryant had four in the second half and finished with five catches for 90 yards with one touchdown. There were questions about why Bryant couldn't get the ball in the second half. Bryant said defenses didn't do anything to him, he just couldn't get any passes. Wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson backed up that statement. Regardless of what it was, it was something to be concerned about.

What's next? The Cowboys visit the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday. The Cowboys can gain some ground in the NFC East with a victory and possibly gain some momentum heading into November.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rob Ryan's defense couldn't make a play when it counted, and Tom Brady sliced up the Cowboys with a game-winning drive in a dramatic 20-16 victory at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

It was a difficult loss for the Cowboys considering how well they played on defense. Despite losing starting running back Felix Jones, they were able to stay in the game until the end. Coach Jason Garrett decided to play it safe inside the red zone, and it might have cost his team.

What it means: The Cowboys have lost two consecutive games, as they fell two weeks ago versus Detroit. The Cowboys missed a wonderful chance to gain some ground in the sloppy NFC East. The Cowboys are now in the bottom half of the division at 2-3, a half-game ahead of the Eagles, whom they will play in two weeks.

No Felix Jones: Jones suffered a left ankle injury in the second quarter and didn't return. Jones finished with eight carries for 14 yards. Rookie DeMarco Murray and Tashard Choice took over for Jones, who was playing with a dislocated shoulder. Murray finished with 10 carries for 32 yards.

Red zone issues: The Cowboys went 1-for-3 in the red zone on Sunday afternoon, and they're 6-of-18 on the season. One of the interesting play calls in the red zone came with about six minutes to play when on a third-and-5 from the 5, Garrett called for a shuffle pass to Choice. It seemed that Garrett was not trusting Romo or wanted to play conservatively and let Rob Ryan's defense win the game for him.

Special-teams penalties: The Cowboys were called for four special-teams penalties. Anthony Spencer, Barry Church, Keith Brooking and Phillip Tanner were flagged. The Cowboys can't have these things in close games. Spencer's penalty, running into the punter, extended a Patriots drive in the third quarter.

Injuries: The Cowboys lost two starters. Jones suffered an ankle injury and didn't play in the second half, and guard Bill Nagy also injured an ankle in the fourth quarter and didn't return. Kevin Kowalski replaced Nagy at left guard.

What's next? Cowboys will host the winless St. Louis Rams at Cowboys Stadium next week. This is almost a must-win game for the Cowboys considering where they are right now.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Cowboys blew a 24-point lead, the second time this season a double-digit second-half lead was blown resulting in a loss. Detroit 34, Dallas 30.

What it means: The Cowboys head into the bye at 2-2 and missed a chance to take momentum into the game against New England in two weeks. It was a bad loss, possibly worse than the Week 1 loss to the New York Jets. The Cowboys were booed when they walked off the field. This was terrible.

Romo's screwups: Tony Romo's three second-half interceptions led to three touchdowns for the Detroit Lions. The last turnover was on a pass to Jason Witten that came with 4:13 to play in regulation, and the Lions took the lead on the ensuing drive. In Dallas' Week 1 loss to the New York Jets, Romo committed two turnovers in the fourth quarter. You can't have that if you're trying to be an elite quarterback.

Johnson's day: He didn't have a catch in the first quarter, but as the game picked up, Calvin Johnson turned into Megatron. Johnson finished with eight catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 1:49 to play. The Cowboys' secondary struggled to cover him in man and zone coverage. The last score was a jump ball over Terence Newman. Rob Ryan said Dez Bryant and Miles Austin were better, and Jason Garrett said Johnson was the best player in the NFL. Looks like Garrett may have been right.

Where'd Dez go? After catching three passes -- including two for touchdowns -- in the first half, Dez Bryant was shut out in the second half. Bryant played with a bruised thigh but still was effective, catching touchdown passes of 25 and 6 yards. But with the Cowboys turning the ball over and running the ball, it made Bryant ineffective on the day.

What's next? A bye. The Cowboys take four days off and will get ready for a trip to New England in two weeks.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Cowboys did something that was done to them last week: come back from a 14-point deficit. And this time the Cowboys won, avoiding a 0-2 hole for the second consecutive season with a 27-24 win.

What it means?: The Cowboys head home 1-1 thanks to a gritty comeback that saw some of their top players get hurt, including Miles Austin, Tony Romo and Phil Costa.

Austin with big game: Wide receiver Austin had one of his biggest games of the season. He finished with nine catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns. He kept the Cowboys in the game when they were without starting quarterback Tony Romo and caught a game-tying score from backup Jon Kitna. Austin didn't start off well, dropping two balls, but he responded well.

Bailey ties it: After missing a 21-yard field goal try in the first half, Dan Bailey rewarded Jason Garrett for having faith. Bailey nailed a game-tying 48-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation to tie the game. After the first miss, there were serious concerns about Bailey's abilities to make clutch kicks. But with the game on the line, Bailey responded.

Romo plays with rib injury: Romo suffered a fractured rib on the third play of the game, then was knocked around some more on the first possession. Romo didn't start the second half due to the injury and Jon Kitna replaced him. Kitna threw a game-tying touchdown but he also threw two interceptions. Romo returned with 37 seconds to play in the third quarter. He finished 20-of-33 for 345 yards and two touchdowns.

Defense plays well: The 49ers scored 10 points in the second half, but they were the result of two turnovers. Other than that, the Cowboys' defense controlled the second half. The Cowboys had six sacks, including two each from DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher. The Cowboys also had an interception from Alan Ball.

Interesting decision by the 49ers: Kicker David Akers converted a 55-yard field goal to give the 49ers a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. A penalty on Keith Brooking for leverage on the kick could have given the 49ers a first down and 15 more yards. But Niners coach Jim Harbaugh elected to take the points and not the yards. Dallas rallied to tie the score, but it would have been harder to get 14 points than 10 given how the offense struggled at times on Sunday.

Injuries adding up: First it was Romo and his fractured rib, then Felix Jones hurt a shoulder. Both played through it, but starting center Phil Costa left the game with a knee injury and didn't return. Kevin Kowalski replaced him with 11:12 to play in the quarter. The Cowboys were already without wide receiver Dez Bryant (quad), Bill Nagy (neck), Orlando Scandrick (ankle) and Terence Newman (groin).

What's next?: The Cowboys have their home opener next week at Cowboys Stadium vs. the 2-0 Washington Redskins.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jason Garrett always talks about playing with poise.

It's why he makes his team practice late-game situations. Well, the Cowboys messed up their late-game situations Sunday night, losing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in a 27-24 loss to the New York Jets in the season opener at MetLife Stadium.

The Cowboys should have won this game, but instead Garrett's young team heads home 0-1 and trying to figure out how to win a game like this in the future. It was special night as the last game of the day marking the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and the crowd was muted for much of the night as the Cowboys controlled the game.

But in the final six minutes of the game, the Cowboys fell apart.

What it means? The Cowboys have played better since Garrett took over as coach, but the key thing for this is finishing games and the Cowboys didn't. Nick Folk, the former Cowboys kicker, made the game-winner, a 50-yarder with 27 seconds left to seal the victory.

Romo fumble costly: As the Cowboys were moving to a potential game-clinching score, quarterback Tony Romo scrambled up the middle and fumbled at the Cowboys 2 with 8:59 to play in the fourth quarter. If the Cowboys had scored at least a field goal, it's a 10-point game. But the fumble kept the game alive.

Sean Lee with solid game: Sean Lee got the start over Keith Brooking on Sunday night and played a wonderful game. He picked off a pass, recovered a fumble and finished with nine combined tackles. If there were any questions about starting Lee, there should be none now after this effort.

Bryant shut out in second half: Dez Bryant finished with just three catches for 71 yards and one touchdown, but he had zero catches in the last three quarters. Romo directed a pass at Bryant late in the game but it was picked off by Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis with 49 seconds to play in the game. Bryant was covered at first by Antonio Cromartie, but Revis took over and held the second-year player with no catches the last three quarters.

Injuries hit cornerbacks: The Cowboys lost both of their starting cornerbacks, Mike Jenkins (shoulder) and Orlando Scandrick (ankle) to injuries. Scandrick went down in the first half and Jenkins left the game in the fourth quarter but did return and made a solid tackle on Burress. Jenkins took a vicious blind-side hit on a pass reception when Plaxico Burress laid a block on a Santonio Holmes reception. The Cowboys were left with Alan Ball and Bryan McCann at corner. Terence Newman, the regular starter, missed the game with a groin injury but could return next week at San Francisco.

What's Next? The Cowboys conclude their two-game road trip by taking on the San Francisco 49ers (1-0).

Wow. You never know what's really going on in people's lives, especially in the corners in which only they and their loved ones spend their most private time. And when those people are professional athletes, it becomes very easy to ignore their off-field lives while we focus on what we feel they should be doing on the field.

Today's gut-punch example of this phenomenon is Stephen Bowen, the former Dallas Cowboys defensive end who signed with the Washington Redskins in free agency. As Joseph White of The Associated Press reports, Bowen's wife, Tiffany, gave birth to twin sons, Skyler and Stephen III, on June 28. The babies were born four months premature. Skyler died 10 days later. Stephen III is still in the hospital. Stephen II is in Ashburn, Va., while his wife and 21-month-old daughter remain at home in Dallas, watching the baby get better little by little:

"Things are a lot better," Bowen said this week in an interview with The Associated Press following a Redskins practice. "It's still hard. I still think about the son we lost every day. He was just an inspiration for us. While he was here, he was fighting every day to try to be here for us. So the least I can do is just work my butt off and try to be the best football player I can be."

Kind of makes all those worries about adjusting to a new defense and whether the Redskins can win more than six games this season seem a little less significant. We do tend to outsize our concerns about our sports teams and the players who play on them. If remembering this story makes you a little less inclined to yell or curse at Bowen the next time he makes a mistake on the field, I think that would be a fine thing.

Meanwhile, I'm going to go pick my two boys up from camp, and maybe hug them a little extra tight.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid went on Mike & Mike this morning to talk about his team's recent free-agent spending spree and specifically addressed Vince Young's characterization of the Eagles as "Dream Team."

"Right now, we've got a lot of good looking guys standing around watching," Reid said. "Obviously, dreams aren't reality, so the reality will come when I get my hands on them and we get them into practice and start grinding here like the other guys are grinding. That's reality."

This is, of course, Reid already beginning the process of coaching this idea into his players -- all the great new ones they've brought in as well as all of the ones they already had. He'll tell them this stuff to their faces, and he'll say it in public so they hear it. Reid's job will be to manage the high expectations brought on by all of the offseason additions and the hype that will trail the Eagles into and through the season. I'm sure he feels very good about the talent he's got on his roster right now, but he must make sure his players don't start feeling too good and ignoring the work they have to do to make good on it.

Reid also was asked about the comments from Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who said earlier this week that the Cowboys would "beat their ass" in reference to the Eagles.

"I would have been pretty upset if he'd have said it was a hot dog eating contest," Reid said. "I would have been ready then. I don't really care about that stuff. Anybody can say what they want to say. Reality is when you strap it on and play. That's where it all takes place."

One more for the week in our continuing series of position-by-position looks at the proposed four-year unrestricted free agency and its potential impact on the NFC East. We turn our attention now to the inside linebacker position, where the Cowboys seem set, but the division's other three teams all could be looking for help depending on other developments.

NFC East teams in need

Giants: They've overlooked the linebacker spot in general for the past couple of years, and as a result there are a few ways they could go. They could stick with Jonathan Goff in the middle and beef up on the outside, or they could sign a good middle linebacker and move Goff outside, where he'd probably be an upgrade over Clint Sintim. There are a lot of potential middle linebacker targets for the Giants, if this is the time they finally decide to get serious about it.

Redskins: Washington could be fine even with Rocky McIntosh leaving, because there's a chance Lorenzo Alexander has to move inside anyway to make room for top draft pick Ryan Kerrigan. But after they address needs on the defensive line, there's a chance they could look to add depth here.

Eagles: Hard to imagine this is a major priority for them, since even if Stewart Bradley leaves they can probably just leave Jamar Chaney in the middle. But if Bradley leaves and they decide Chaney's better on the outside, there will be some interesting options for them on the middle linebacker market.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent inside linebackers

1. Stephen Tulloch. Likely out in Tennessee because they fear he'll cost too much to keep, the 26-year-old Tulloch is the cream of this particular crop. He's a bit small, but he has great range and has shown the ability to handle the middle linebacker's responsibilities for the Titans. Lots of people expect former Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, now the Lions' head coach, to be Tulloch's most aggressive pursuer as he continues to build a monster defense in Detroit.

2. Barrett Ruud. The question is how much responsibility he bore for the Buccaneers' miserable run defense in 2010. It's possible he was dragged down by those around him and he'll rebound with a big 2011. But his chances at a big free-agent deal certainly took a hit with his step-back 2010 campaign.

3. Paul Posluszny. The Bills will work to keep him, and there's some thought that he's better off as an inside guy in a 3-4 scheme than as the middle man in a 4-3. But we've heard the Giants connected to him a lot, so it's possible he's a name on their list of targets for their middle spot.

4. Kevin Burnett. Had a career season in San Diego, and the Chargers will try everything they can to re-sign him. It's more likely that his teammate, Stephen Cooper, will be free, and while slightly older than Burnett, Cooper could still be a helpful piece for a 3-4 team looking for help on the inside.

5. Bradley. If he still wants to play in the middle, and if he can convince teams he's fully recovered from his knee surgery, Bradley could leave Philadelphia in free agency. Will be interesting to see if the Eagles commit to keeping him in the middle and if that helps convince him to stay.

Predictions that mean nothing: Giants sign Ruud after Tulloch's price goes too high for their liking. Redskins stand pat or move further down this list (Dhani Jones?) as they focus on greater needs in the secondary and along the line. Eagles keep Bradley and play Chaney on the outside to start the season.

We continue our position-by-position look at the way the free-agent seasons of the NFC East teams could be affected by the proposed return to the system that makes players unrestricted free agents after just four years of service time. Over the past couple of days, we've done cornerbacks, running backs, guards, outside linebackers and safeties. Today, we look at quarterbacks. And since Jon Kitna has proved himself a more-than-capable Tony Romo backup in Dallas and Eli Manning is as durable as any quarterback in the league, we're focusing on two of the division's teams.

NFC East teams in need

Redskins: Mike Shanahan has said he likes John Beck and is willing to give him a chance at being the starter. Rex Grossman, once re-signed, will hope to challenge for the position. Donovan McNabb is still on the roster, but there's no chance he'll be back. Clearly, if they intend to be a serious contender this year, Washington could use an upgrade at the most crucial position in sports. But with so many other needs, and with the projected first round of next year's draft deep at the quarterback position, it might not make sense for the Redskins to devote resources (especially long-term dollars) to a 2011 answer that isn't a long-term answer. So maybe they hunt for a veteran who can compete for the job in training camp, but they're not going to be looking to make a big commitment to a free-agent quarterback. Fortunately, the field leans heavily toward the former group.

Eagles: The Eagles are actually very strong at the position at the moment. But assuming they trade Kevin Kolb once the lockout ends, they will need to find a veteran backup for starter Michael Vick, a running quarterback whose style puts him at risk of injury. They like the way Mike Kafka has developed in a reserve role, but he's not the kind of guy they could put into a game right now, should Vick get hurt, and expect to win it. The Eagles are a win-now, go-for-it team and they'll want someone more reliable in there if Vick has to miss a game or two.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent quarterbacks

1. Matt Hasselbeck. Looks like he's out in Seattle, and if healthy he can probably help someone as a starter. If they could get him for one year, he'd make a lot of sense for the Redskins. But I wonder if a place like Miami or Minnesota might give him more than one year and a chance to start.

2. Alex Smith. Sounds as if he's staying in San Francisco. But if he were to leave, he probably has the most upside of this somewhat underwhelming bunch. Hard to see why he'd justify much more of Shanahan's faith than Beck, however.

3. Bruce Gradkowski. Has some starting experience over the past couple of years in Oakland, and he's managed to have a modicum of success with it. Seems to have an ability to get guys around him to play hard for him. Another guy who'd be a better short-term option in Washington but likely isn't worth investing any real part of the future in. Might make sense as the Vick backup in Philly.

4. Kerry Collins. If the Eagles are looking for a backup with experience who can competently manage a game should their starter have to leave due to injury...well...

5. Billy Volek. Career backup probably doesn't fit what either of these teams is looking for, though some have speculated that he could wander east from San Diego with new Panthers coach Ron Rivera and be the stopgap starter until Cam Newton is ready.

Predictions that mean nothing: Eagles wait to see if Vince Young becomes available and pounce if he does. If not, they sign Gradkowski. Redskins go with what they have, filling other needs and hoping to be or get in position to draft their franchise quarterback next April.

Welcome to part five in our very popular (at least here on the NFC East blog) position-by-position look at four-year unrestricted free agency and its possible impact on NFC East teams. (We're really going to have to figure out a catchier name ...)

We'll look now at the safety position. The Redskins managed to address safety pre-lockout by signing O.J. Atogwe. And while the Giants are likely to lose Deon Grant, they appear set at the position with Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle and aren't as likely to use three safeties as much this year after taking cornerback Prince Amukamara in the first round of the draft. But the other two teams in the division could be looking for safety help, although to different degrees.

NFC East teams in need

Cowboys: Even if they do bring back Gerald Sensabaugh, they'll need to find a safety to replace Alan Ball, who's slated to move back to his backup cornerback role. And if Sensabaugh finds employment elsewhere, Dallas will need to find two safeties on the market. The need at this position could be the biggest factor that prevents the Cowboys from signing star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. If they got him, they'd have to fix safety on the cheap.

Eagles: In spite of his popularity among fans and in the locker room, veteran strong safety Quintin Mikell appears to be out in Philadelphia. Philly is planning to go with second-year man Nate Allen at the free safety spot and could, theoretically, start Kurt Coleman at the other. But since neither seems like a sure thing, it's probably a good idea for the Eagles to at least look around for free-agent help.

UPDATE, 3:40 pm: As our first commenter points out below, rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett should have been mentioned here. I'd add him to the "not a sure thing" group with Coleman and Allen, since I don't think they view him as a starter in 2011. But the presence of Jarrett and Allen along with Coleman could, indeed, lessen the Eagles' desire to commit long-term to a free-agent safety.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent safeties

1. Eric Weddle. The total package. Hits hard, tackles, plays the run well and is capable of making the big interception and running it back. The Chargers will make keeping him a priority, and if he hits the open market he's likely in line for a very big contract. Probably too rich for the Eagles' blood, but he'd qualify as a big splash for the Cowboys if they aren't in on Nnamdi.

2. Dawan Landry. Playing opposite Ed Reed in Baltimore, Landry has been overshadowed. But he's improved every year in his coverage ability and has always been strong against the run. The Ravens are likely to let him go. Could be great in Philly or with the Cowboys, who could easily slide Sensabaugh to free safety if Landry came in to play the strong safety spot.

3. Danieal Manning. He turned down an extension offer from the Bears just before the lockout, and as one of the players who was caught in the restricted free-agent trap imposed by last season's uncapped rules, he's looking for a pay day. Might appeal to the Eagles for his ability to handle kick-return duties as well as start at safety.

4. Michael Huff. Came up with four sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles for the Raiders in 2010. He's going to draw enough interest that the Raiders won't be able to keep him. Multiple reports have indicated he's high on the Cowboys' wish list.

5. Mikell. There's also been some talk in Dallas of pouncing on Mikell, should the Eagles let him go, as a means of getting over on a division rival. But Mikell, while older than anyone else on this list, could bring a leadership element to Dallas that the team could use as it works to recover from its disappointing 2010 season.

Predictions that mean nothing: Cowboys sign Huff, Eagles look further down the list (Abe Elam? Atari Bigby? Roman Harper? There are lots of options.) as they pursue Asomugha for cornerback and address front-seven needs on defense.

We continue our position-by-position look at four-year unrestricted free agency and its potential impact on the NFC East teams and their plans. The fourth in our series will focus on the guard position, where, even with top guy Logan Mankins franchised by the Patriots, there are a number of good options available.

NFC East teams in need

Cowboys: Left guard Kyle Kosier is on the list below, and the Cowboys will make an effort to bring him back. But even if they do, they could cut ties with Leonard Davis at the right guard spot, and unless they think Montrae Holland or one of their late-round draft picks is ready to start there, they will be on the hunt for free-agent help.

Giants: Yeah, we've gone round and round on this topic. And if everyone's healthy, the Giants are fine at guard with Chris Snee and Rich Seubert. But if center Shaun O'Hara falters, Seubert moves in there and they could stand to add some depth. They've discussed moving left tackle David Diehl back inside, which could answer some of these concerns.

Redskins: They like the progress Kory Lichtensteiger showed on the left side last year, but if they're not convinced Will Montgomery and/or Artis Hicks can handle the right guard spot, Washington could be looking for a more established starter there.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent guards

1. Harvey Dahl. Most likely to stay in Atlanta, but he's a fearsome run blocker who would help in Dallas if they decided to commit to the run. Also a natural guard who could help the Redskins move Montgomery to center if Casey Rabach falters and they need to do that. The Falcons also have another solid guard, Justin Blalock, who would be unrestricted under the proposed new rules, so they may have to make a choice.

2. Davin Joseph. Loaded with talent and potential, but he's had some injury issues (including last season's broken foot) that could lead the Buccaneers to part ways with him and give other teams pause before signing him.

3. Daryn Colledge. He's got a Super Bowl ring, which will catch teams' attention if the Packers decide they have enough depth to let him go.

4. Kosier. Getting up there in years, but he's an important player for the Cowboys to re-sign because they like the way he worked with rising star Doug Free on the left side and would rather not break up that pairing.

5. Marshal Yanda. He played right tackle for most of 2010 in Baltimore in place of the injured Jared Gaither, but he's got experience at guard too. That kind of versatility -- the ability to play any spot along the line at a starter's level -- should have widespread appeal. He'd be a perfect guy for the Giants if they're looking to add reliable depth but don't feel they have a specific spot that needs filling.

Predictions that mean nothing: Cowboys re-sign Kosier but let go of Davis and pursue another free-agent option, such as Joseph. Redskins sign Yanda to play either right guard or right tackle. Giants do nothing.