NFC East: Biggest question for each team in 2021

Dallas Cowboys: Are newcomers Micah Parsons and Keanu Neal immediate contributors at linebacker?

Dan Quinn got off to a 5-0 start as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. But the club fell apart and dropped eight of its final 11 games that year. A season later, the team made the first of back-to-back playoff appearances, the first in 2016 resulting in a trip to Super Bowl LI.

But the final two-plus seasons with the franchise resulted in a combined 14-23 record and he and general manager Thomas Dimitroff were dismissed after a 0-5 start in 2020. Now he’s back in the league as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. He helped recruit former Falcons’ first-round safety Keanu Neal to Dallas. The hard-hitting pro will make the conversion to weakside linebacker.

The team also added Penn State standout Micah Parsons with the 12th overall pick in April. The Cowboys used eight of their 11 selections on the defensive side of the ball. Can Neal at a new position and a rookie step in and make an impact from the get-go?

Philadelphia Eagles: Can a once-proud offensive line rebound from a forgettable season?

From Super Bowl LII champion to last place in the NFC East over the span of four seasons. The Eagles entered 2020 having reached the playoffs three consecutive years. But the Birds finished with only four wins and there was plenty of blame to go around.

Carson Wentz is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts after five seasons in Philadelphia. But regardless of who was playing quarterback a year ago, it was hard to function behind an offensive line that found itself behind the 8-ball before the season even began.

Left tackle Andre Dillard and right guard Brandon Brooks were lost for the year before the season began. Right tackle Lane Johnson (see NFL.com’s Kevin Patra) also missed the time. The Eagles allowed a horrendous 65 sacks in 2020. This unit must stay healthy this upcoming year.