2009 NFL Season Preview: NFC East

The NFC East figures to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL this season. All four teams have formidable defenses and all of them have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. Expectations will surely be high for every team in the NFC East and it will be exciting to watch the drama unfold throughout the season. Here is a breakdown of each team.

Dallas Cowboys

2008 Record: 9-7

Strengths: The Dallas Cowboys are led by their strong defense. Last season, the Cowboys ranked 8^th in total defense. They were especially strong against the pass, ranking 5^th; due in large part, to their league high 59 sacks. The defense is led by DeMarcus Ware, who racked up an incredible 20 sacks last season. The Cowboys offense ranked in the top ten in the league last year and should be good this season, despite losing their leading receiver, Terrell Owens. The receiving corps is still impressive with Roy Williams and Tight End Jason Witten being the main targets.

Questions: The health of the Cowboys running backs is a big concern for them. They have a pair of talented backs in Marion Barber and Felix Jones, who can be a game changer. The question is their durability. Jones missed all, but the first six games last year and Barber struggled down the stretch while battling injuries. If both backs can stay healthy, they can add a dynamic aspect to the Cowboys offense. The other concern is the play of quarterback Tony Romo. He had a solid year last year, despite missing three games with injuries. The problem is he struggled at the end of the year, especially in the last two games, when the Cowboys had a chance to make the playoffs. He failed to get them in the playoffs last year and is yet to win a playoff game in his tenure with the Cowboys. He has more criticism on him than ever before entering this season. The Cowboys' success will rely on him being able to ignore the criticism and finally play up to his ability.

Outlook: The Cowboys have a good team and can be scary for their opponents if everyone can stay healthy and produce like they should. They are poised to have a big year and should be fighting the Giants for the NFC East title. I expect the Cowboys to make the playoffs. How they play once they get there and whether or not they win their first playoff game since 1996 remains to be seen.

New York Giants

2008 Record: 12-4; lost in NFC Divisional Round

Strengths: The Giants are a dangerous team due to their defense and their running game. In 2008, the Giants led the NFL in rushing, averaging 157.4 yards per game. They did lose their second leading rusher in Derrick Ward, but they should not miss him too much with Brandon Jacobs getting the bulk of the carries again. At 6 foot, 4 inches and 264 pounds, he is a headache for defenders trying to take him down. Jacobs rushed for 1,089 yards and 15 touchdowns last year and could have an even better year with Ward gone. The Giants defense is their other strong point. They ranked 5^th in the league in total defense last year and only allowed 18.4 points per game. Led by their star linebacker Antonio Pierce, the Giants should be hard to score on once again.

Questions: The passing game is really the only concern for the Giants. Eli Manning had a decent season last year, but really struggled in their disappointing home playoff loss to the Eagles. However, he was rewarded with a huge contract during the off-season and is just one year removed from leading the team to a Super Bowl Championship. He is a good quarterback and should have another solid year. He will not be spectacular, but he won't need to be. The real problem for Manning is that he lacks a superstar receiver to throw to. Since, losing Plaxico Burress, the Giants have not had a real go to receiver. They do return their top receiver from last year, Domenik Hixon, and also spent their first draft pick on North Carolina star Hakeem Nicks. If Nicks can step in and contribute right away, it will make the Giants even more dangerous.

Outlook: The Giants are once again the team to beat in the NFC East and possibly in the entire NFC. The Giants may once again find themselves in the NFC Championship game and quite possibly the Super Bowl, if they can perform in the playoffs.

Philadelphia Eagles

2008 Record: 9-6-1; lost in NFC Championship

Strengths: The Philadelphia Eagles are carried by their balanced defense. The Eagles ranked 3^rd in total defense last year and were equally strong against the run and pass. Opposing offenses struggled to score just 18.1 points per game. The defense should be strong once again and do their part keeping the Eagles in games. The Eagles offense is led by crafty veteran Donovan McNabb, who always seems to take a lot of criticism, but somehow managed to lead the Eagles to the NFC Championship game last season. He helped the Eagles win four of their last five games last season to grab the final playoff spot. He then led them to two road victories in the playoffs against Minnesota and New York, before being defeated by Arizona. He's not flashy, but he is always dangerous. McNabb also has a new weapon in first round draft pick Jeremy Maclin.

Questions: The Eagles have to be concerned about the health of Brian Westbrook. He has the ability to be one of the premier backs in the league, but he will turn thirty before the season starts and always seems to be battling injury. The Eagles did draft LeSean McCoy in the second round and he may see his fair share of carries if Westbrook is fighting injuries. The other question for the Eagles is how they will respond to the presence of Michael Vick. The Eagles took a risk in signing Vick this off-season and will likely be dealing with a lot of media attention surrounding him throughout the season. It will also be interesting to see if his skills have diminished after two years in prison and how the Eagles plan to use him in their offense. The Eagles have said they plan on using him in games and he could be a concern for defenses if he has the type of ability he had before his arrest.

Outlook: Led by a great defense and a veteran quarterback, the Eagles should once again find themselves in position to make the playoffs. They will probably stumble some during the season, but will be there at the end fighting for a Wild Card. As we saw last year, if they make the playoffs, they can be a dangerous team to face and have no problem going on the road to win games.

Washington Redskins

2008 Record: 8-8

Strengths: Like the other teams in the NFC East, the Redskins are carried by a strong defense. Last season, the Redskins ranked 4^th in the NFL in total defense. The defense should have another stellar year, led by their stud linebacker London Fletcher. The Redskins spent their first four picks in the NFL draft on defensive players and hope some of them will find the field this season. The Redskins are also carried by their rushing attack, led by Clinton Portis. Portis rushed for 1,487 yards last season, ranking him fourth in the NFL. He also led the Redskins with nine touchdowns. Portis will continue to be a valuable contributor, as long as, he stays healthy. The Redskins also have a big time receiver in Santana Moss, who had 1,044 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns last year.

Questions: The biggest concern for the Redskins is at quarterback. Jason Campbell is going into his third season as the starter, but has been mediocre for the Redskins so far. Last year, he only threw 13 touchdowns, compared to 7 interceptions. The Redskins were interested in acquiring Jay Cutler in the off-season, but failed to do so and are sticking with Campbell, at least for now. Campbell has been unimpressive so far this preseason, but his back up Todd Collins is unlikely to take his job any time soon. The Redskins also must have some concerns about Clinton Portis, who is going into his eighth year in the league and has shown a propensity to wear down late in the season.

Outlook: The Redskins are in a tough division, but their schedule is very manageable. They could be in the running for a playoff spot if they don't have to rely too much on quarterback Jason Campbell. If Portis can stay healthy and the defense is as strong as last year, they could easily win the Wild Card in the NFC. However, if Campbell has to win games late, they could be in trouble.

SOURCES: NFL Player Statistics - http://www.nfl.com/stats/player

NFL Team Statistics- http://www.nfl.com/stats/team