Race in NFC East could be wide open

Of the four divisions in the NFC, the East looks to be the most wide open.

Defending champion Philadelphia and Dallas are considered the top two teams, but New York and even Washington are considered by some to be threats.

Dallas, which is beginning the Wade Phillips era after Bill Parcells’ retirement, is the 9-5 favorite to win the division on the website Vegasinsider.com. The main question for the Cowboys, besides how long will it be before Terrell Owens acts out, could be how quarterback Tony Romo rebounds mentally after botching a snap on a short field- goal try that cost Dallas a playoff win in Seattle last season.

The Eagles, who were thought to be finished after Donovan McNabb went down with another injury, went on a roll under quarterback Jeff Garcia to make the playoffs before losing to New Orleans.

Garcia has left for Tampa Bay and McNabb is expected to be ready for the opener at Green Bay on Sept. 9, but his troubling recent history of major injuries leaves the Eagles a shaky proposition. But Philadelphia, the 2-1 second choice to win the East on Vegasinsider.com, still has Andy Reid, a coach who seems to rally his team no matter the circumstances.

The Giants seem an underlay at 5-2, given Tiki Barber has retired, Michael Strahan probably will do the same and quarterback Eli Manning has yet to live up to his advance hype.

Washington is the longshot at 7-2. Despite a 5-11 record last year, the Redskins were in a lot of games, losing six of eight in games decided either in overtime or by four points or fewer.

Baseball

Before Boston comes to Anaheim for a series with the Angels, the Red Sox have to visit what has been a house of horrors for them.

Tonight, the American League East leaders play the first of three games in Seattle, a city where Boston has lost eight in a row. Swept in a June series in their first visit to Safeco Field in 2007, the Red Sox will start Jon Lester against the Mariners’ Horacio Ramirez, who is 6-0 with a 2.63 earned-run average at home.

Chicago, which has come from nowhere to reach first place in the National League Central, will try to keep its roll going today when the New York Mets make their first trip to Wrigley Field this season.

Carlos Zambrano, who leads the majors with 14 wins and is a big part of the Cubs’ resurgence, will pitch the series opener. He is 9-2 with a 1.41 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings in the last two months. Orlando Hernandez, who has been more effective at Shea Stadium than on the road, will pitch for the Mets, who won three of four against the Cubs earlier in the season.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com