NFC: East | Central | West    AFC: East | Central | West

With realignment looming, ESPN The Magazine bids farewell to the NFC East (as we've known it).

THE DEAL

1. New York Giants: The G-Men still get no respect ... and that's just the way they want it. Grade: B

2. Philadelphia Eagles: If last year was a fluke, the tougher schedule will fry these Birds. Grade: B-

3. Washington Redskins: New coach. New QB. No Neon. Old D. Old owner. And same old story. Grade: C+

4. Arizona Cardinals: It'll take more than moving a stadium for the Cards to get off the ground. Grade: D+

5. Dallas Cowboys: The owner's saying 10 wins. We're saying way too much PlayStation. Grade: D

THE DIVISION

Motto: Get ball. Run ball. Win game.

What It Was: In a single word? Dominant. From Lilly, Randy and Too Tall to Dorsett, Riggins and Emmitt, the Smashmouth Division featured marquee heavies. Mammoth offensive lines -- Hogs! Attacking defenses -- LT! LT! The motto -- Control the Trenches, Win the Game -- worked in the postseason, too. No unit of the NFL's old setup has produced more conference champs (17) or Super Bowl winners (10). Think of it as America's Division.

What It Is: In a single word? Balanced. Flash takes a backseat to substance. Solid outranks spectacular. Efficient offenses, stingy defenses. Sounds like the Giants, right? Special teams loom large because field goals win so many games here. No domes, so come November and December, the passing attack gives way to the ground game and time of possession becomes the key stat. The Parcells Way or the highway. Can't run? Then you can't compete. Can't stop the run? Ditto. That's why the Giants (who could do both) were division champs in 2000, not the Eagles (even with Donovan McNabb).

To Rock It: If you can't keep McNabb in check, start thinking about next week's game. The Giants had his number last season. The Eagles' hope is that the off-season broadening of their offensive arsenal -- signing James Thrash, drafting Freddie Mitchell, getting Duce Staley healthy -- will counter the Giants' focus on their big, powerful, New Age QB. If not, Big Blue will wreck McNabb's crew again.

This preview is excerpted from the September 3 issue of ESPN The Magazine.