The 2009 season marks the ten year anniversary of the last NFC East title for the Washington Redskins.  Through eight games last year, ending that drought looked possible, promising even.

A near-epic collapse ensued and the ‘Skins now find themselves back at the drawing board.

Six games against hated rivals in a 16 game season can take its toll.  It creates a long and arduous road to the playoffs.  While the journey down that road presents a daunting task, it also provides the opportunity to become battle-tested, a tremendous quality for a playoff team.

The Redskins finished a respectable 3-3 in the division last year.  They somehow swept the Eagles, should have swept the Cowboys, and were totally dominated by the Giants.

Whether it involved shipping out big names or bringing big names on board, no NFC East team had a quiet off-season. Successfully addressing needs in March and April ultimately decides where a team is come January.

In a division where three teams should make the playoffs, staying out of the cellar becomes a chance to play a 17th game.  The question is: Can the Redskins avoid finishing dead last in the league’s most brutal division?

Head Coach Jim Zorn said he believes the team is finally on the same page and headed in the right direction; however, its unfortunate existence in the NFC East is its biggest obstacle towards a playoff push.

 

The New York Giants

Early on in 2008, the Giants looked more than capable of defending their Super Bowl title…Exit Plaxico Burress…Exit offensive balance…Exit league dominance.

After the 11-1 start, the G-men faltered down the stretch, dropping three of their last four and earning an early playoff exit with a home loss to Philadelphia.

Burress kept defenses honest last year.  Without him, there was no depth to the passing game, allowing teams to key on stuffing the box to slow up Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw.

In the last five games of the 2008 season, including the playoffs, Eli Manning threw four interceptions to just two touchdowns.  Without some appearance of balance, the Giants’ offense struggled, and they became a slightly better than average football team.

Despite the disappointing finish to the 2008 season, New York is still a football team that knows its identity. The Giants want to pound the football (led the NFL in rushing last year) and pound the quarterback (sixth in the NFL in sacks last year).

New York addressed its glaring need at the wide receiver position in the draft, grabbing Hakeem Nicks, a talented wide receiver out of North Carolina, with the 29th overall pick. 

Anyone who watched Nicks showcase his skills in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against West Virginia last year knows that this guy has major play-making ability. 

The Giants also drafted Ramses Barden, a 6’6”, man-child of a receiver out of Cal Poly.  His size and physicality should give Manning an opportunity to eventually forget about the departure of Burress.

Derrick Ward also parted ways with the Big Blue.  He provided the home run hitting ability in the Giants’ running attack last year.  Andre Brown, a fourth round steal out of N.C. State, will most likely challenge to be the third leg of the triumvirate of talented backs.

There is no reason to think the Giants won’t lead the NFL in rushing again next year, and if Eli Manning can be efficient in the passing game, this team will chew up clock and finish off drives with the human tank that is Brandon Jacobs.

Defensively, the Giants should be even better next year.

They ranked fifth in the NFL in total defense in 2009.  They were sixth in the league in sacks (42), and that was without Osi Umenyiora.  His return is a frightening development for the rest of the NFC East.

DE Christ Canty was also acquired from the Dallas Cowboys, adding depth to an already stellar defensive line. 

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo left to take the head coaching job with the St. Louis Rams, but his absence shouldn’t be a concern; linebackers coach Bill Sheridan will take over the coordinator duties and there shouldn’t be any major changes to what the Giants want to do defensively.

They will put a plethora of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and in doing so, will generate plenty of turnovers.

The Giants will be the most balanced football team in the NFC East.  The Redskins, who struggled offensively for most of the season, did so particularly against New York, scoring just seven points in each contest.

New York also controlled the football for more than 35 minutes in both games, primarily because the Washington offense couldn’t convert on third downs, going a combined 7-26 (27 percent).

The Redskins have dropped five of their last six in this rivalry which continues in Week One at the Meadowlands.  The Giants will likely take the first meeting and will occupy a playoff spot in the NFC. 

A split for Washington would be a bonus and would likely mean that the ‘Skins are playing their best football at the right time, in December.

The Philadelphia Eagles

As previously mentioned, the Redskins inexplicably swept the Eagles last year.  The Week 16 loss at FedEx field seemed to be a wake-up call for Philadelphia, who then steamrolled over Dallas in Week 17 en route to an eventual trip to the NFC Championship game.

Because of their success last year, it’s unsettling to think the Eagles may be the most improved football team in the NFC East this year. 

Yes, Brian Dawkins resides in Denver now, and leaders of that caliber don’t exactly grow on trees.  But his departure was a sign that the organization is cleaning house a bit.

Dawkins, at 35 years old, is no spring chicken.  Quintin Demps had a year to learn under Dawkins’ tutelage and should form a pretty good tandem with veteran Quintin Mikell.

The addition of ex-Patriot Ellis Hobbs to compliment former teammate and Pro-Bowler Assante Samuel shores up the Eagles secondary. 

In 2008, the Eagles finished third in total defense and fourth against the run.  There just isn’t any reason they won’t be one of the NFL’s  best yet again in 2009.

Offensively, the word explosive comes to mind.  Brian Westbrook, when healthy, is the most versatile back in the league.  He does it all. 

Until last year, Westbrook was the only real threat the Eagles possessed offensively.  Then DeSean Jackson came along to provide another show-stopper.

The 2009 draft gave Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb a few more toys to play with. 

Jeremy Maclin, the 19th overall pick out of Missouri, has drawn comparisons to “Action Jackson;” however, at 6’0”, and nearly 200 lbs., Maclin will be more physical, and perhaps equally explosive.

Maclin should make an immediate impact, giving the Eagles another deep threat as well as a sturdy slot option.

LeSean McCoy, the Eagles’ second pick, will replace RB Correll Buckhalter who joined Dawkins on a flight to Denver, another case of out with the old and in with the new.

Tra Thomas, arguably the best left tackle to ever don the Eagles jersey, is gone too.  So, the Eagles went out and got another Pro Bowl-caliber tackle in Jason Peters in a trade with Buffalo.  In doing so, they got a guy seven years younger than Thomas.

They also signed Stacy Andrews, formerly of Cincinnati, via free agency to replace aging veteran John Runyan, putting a very solid offensive line in place.    

Philadelphia addressed each and every need this offseason, and by doing so, will win the NFC East outright this year.

Washington’s improbably sweep of the NFC’s runner-up last year was only the second time in twenty years it had bested Philadelphia twice in the regular season.  It just can’t happen in back to back years.

Splitting the season series would keep the Redskins afloat in the division. 

They only have to avoid the bottom of the barrel and Dallas seems ready to step into that role.

 

The Dallas Cowboys

Maybe it’s the Redskins fan in me, but nothing would please me more than to see Dallas start the new era in its $1.25 billion stadium with a dead-last finish in the NFC East.

The Cowboys were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender last year.  They finished 9-7 when 10-6 would have put them squarely in the playoffs.

With its season on the line in Week 17 at Philadelphia, Dallas went out with a whimper, losing 44-6 in a no-contest.

That is not the sign of a team that has any fight in it.  Wade Phillips, the “marshmallow with headphones,” as Colin Cowherd refers to him, has no control of that locker room.

Yes, Terrell Owens was a distraction.  His exodus to Buffalo will certainly lessen the constant turmoil that infected the organization last year.

In an offseason where each NFC East team made a splash, Owens’ exit was the only splash made in Dallas.  The Cowboys didn’t have a first or second round pick to bolster their roster in the draft.

Their failure to counter the moves made by New York, Washington, and Philadelphia may leave them the odd man out.

It’s not for a lack of talent, however.  Offensively, the Cowboys are chock full of weapons, even without T.O.  Marion Barber is a beast, Felix Jones is a freak, and Tashard Choice turned out to be a solid little running back.

Jason Witten is the best pass catching tight end in all of the land. Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, and Miles Austin make up a pretty good corps of wide receivers.

If Tony Romo stays healthy, he does have weapons at his disposal.  Had he been healthy last year, Dallas would have almost certainly made the playoffs.

Defensively, Dallas was eighth in the NFL in total defense last year.  That was good enough for worst in the division.  If you were looking for a testament to how good the NFC East actually was in 2008 that should suffice.

Dallas also led the NFL in sacks last year by a considerable margin (59 was eight more than Pittsburgh). Demarcus Ware had 20.  Somebody say,” that guy’s a freak.”

I’d look pretty silly if I said this wasn’t a playoff-caliber football team because it is one.

But the lack of unity in the locker room won’t be solved by removing one loud-mouth, show-boating, pop-corn eating receiver. 

It starts with the head coach.  Look around the league.  Some coaches demand team continuity, demand respect.  Wade Phillips demands neither, and the Cowboys will suffer while he is at the helm.

Here’s the long and short.  Dallas is the only NFC East team not to win a playoff game this decade.  That’s hard to wrap your head around, especially in a decade where they rattled off 14 wins in 15 games against the Redskins.

But, I’m making my declaration: The playoffs will be represented by three NFC East teams in the 2009 season; America’s Team will not receive an invitation.

 

The Road to the Playoffs

I’ve already examined the outlook for Washington in the 2009 season.

Yes the team made some huge acquisitions, literally with the signings of DT Albert Haynesworth and G Derrick Dockery. 

It countered moves made by the Eagles and Giants.

The defense will be tightfisted enough to carry the load.

The offense will be more effecient in Jim Zorn's second year.

The bad news for the Redskins:  the fierce competition in the NFC East.  The good news for the Redskins:  the fierce competition in the NFC East.

Their existence in the NFL's most brutal division will do one of two things: knock them to the canvas or make them battle-tested for their next fight, the playoffs.