The Giants walked tall last time out but can expect some fierce competition from all three of their divisional rivals.
Eagles hoping this is their year as Redskins spend big in the summer
Considering the fact that no team had a losing record last season, it is fair to say the NFC East is one of the toughest divisions in the NFL.
Last year it was the New York Giants who came out on top only to stutter in the play-offs. Coach Tom Coughlin will hope for better this time with many of the players who triumphed in the Super Bowl two years ago still around.
Having enjoyed a superb run in the play-offs, the Eagles - boosted by the signing of Michael Vick - will be hoping this is finally their year to win it all.
However the Dallas Cowboys will also be expected to challenge, while the Washington Redskins have splashed the cash in free agency after finishing with an 8-8 record.
New York Giants (12-4)
It is tough not to see last season as a failue for the Giants. Having come out on top in the tough NFC East with an impressive 12-4 record, the defending Super Bowl champions then fell at the first hurdle in the play-offs.
A shock home defeat to Philadelphia ended the Giants' reign as they paid the price for a lacklustre run-in to the regular season which saw them win just one of their last four outings.
However, Tom Coughlin's side still proved to be one of the top teams in the NFL and look primed for another post-season push this year.
Once again they have a strong running attack, even with the departure of Derrick Ward to Tampa Bay, as the powerful Brandon Jacobs is backed up by the speedy Ahmad Bradshaw.
The ground game will need to fire to help Eli Manning, who can no longer look in the direction of Plaxico Burress. The absence of the receiver means the quarterback has no clear number one target to throw to.
Steve Smith could emerge as Manning's main man, along with improving tight end Kevin Boss, though there is no longer the wise old head of Amani Toomer to help out. Having drafted receivers regularly over the past few years it is time for some of these youngsters to step out of the shadows.
But while the offence may be steady if unspectacular, the defence looks superb. After missing the entire last campaign through injury Osi Umenyiora is back to team up with fellow defensive end Justin Tuck in a fearsome front four.
A youthful secondary also appears strong enough to cope in a competitive division that will see the Giants once again start as favourites.
Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1)
The arrival of Michael Vick in Philadelphia has perhaps over-shadowed the fact that the Eagles look like a team primed to make a run at the Super Bowl.
With a balanced offence and a solid defence which is capable of making big plays, head coach Andy Reid has all the tools to try and finally end the franchise's 49-year wait for a championship.
So, having come so close in recent years, including playing in four consecutive conference championship games between 2001 and 2004), what will take them further than their play-off run from last season?
Donovan McNabb is once again the quarterback in charge of an offence that has added depth to compliment the star names.
Brian Westbrook has rookie LeSean McCoy to help share the load on the ground while another draft pick, Jeremy Maclin, should compliment a solid receiving unit led by the explosive speed of DeSean Jackson.
Vick - who will be available from week three - adds another intriguing element and, while he may not throw too many passes, expect to see several wildcat formations to get the former Atlanta Falcon involved.
However, perhaps most importantly, the front office stengthened the offensive line, bringing in Stacy Andrews to play alongside younger brother Shawn and also trading for tackle Jason Peters.
As for their defence, the strength comes in the backs. Asante Samuel leads a stellar secondary despite the loss of Brian Dawkins, who was released.
Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
The Terrell Owens era may be over in Dallas but the Cowboys stil have plenty of star quality as they begin life at their brand new stadium in Arlington.
Head coach Wade Phillips is perhaps surprisingly still the man in charge having failed to steer the franchise to the play-offs last year, their season ending with a humiliating 44-6 loss to divisional rivals Philadelphia.
Owens, and safety Roy Williams, were the big-name casualties from the failures, as Dallas looked to tweak their roster to try and find the right formula for success.
However, there have been no major overhaul of either the offence and defence, where linebacker Keith Brooking has come in to take the place of another veteran, Zach Thomas.
Roy Williams (not the one mentioned above) will now be the number one receiver with Owens gone having arrived in a surprising deadline day trade from the Detroit Lions during the last campaign.
Romo, though, has often looked in the direction tight end Jason Witten, while running back Felix Jones gives the Cowboys a passing option out of the backfield, though he will only got carries on the ground to spell starter Marion Barber.
Defensively Dallas looks powerful up front and in sack machine DeMarcus Ware they have a man capable of wreacking havoc on opponents.
The secondary does not look so strong, however, and much will depend on the fitness of cornerback Terence Newman.
Washington Redskins (8-8)
Washington have often responded in one way to failure - by splashing the cash - and this off-season has been no different.
Within minutes of free agency starting the Redskins had sealed a deal for Tennessee's defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, signing him to a seven-year deal worth a staggering $100 million.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was the next to be shown the money, while guard Derrick Dockery returned to the team that originally drafted him after a spell with the Buffalo Bills.
Defensive end Brian Orakpo also arrived via the draft to become the latest new face available to head coach Jim Zorn, who will be under pressure this year to get results.
Last season the 'Skins started out superbly, charging out to a 6-2 record mainly thanks to the stellar play of Clinton Portis.
However, as the running back was slowed down by injuries, so too the campaign began to come to a grinding halt.
Despite speculation to the contary, Jason Campbell will once again start under centre in what will be a make-or-break season for the quarterback who was a former first-round selection.
Defensively the Redskins look solid, particularly if Haynesworth continues to play the way he did for the Titans, but having averaged just 14.5 points a game last year, it appears the offence will hold the key to their play-off hopes.
