(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The NFC East is arguably the toughest, most highly contested division in all of the NFL. During the last ten years there has been a team from this division in the NFC Championship game seven times. In that span there has been a representative of this team in the Super Bowl three times.
The dominance of the NFC East is not a fad. In the 16 year span between 1980 and 1995, teams from this division went to 15 NFC Championships games and came away with nine wins in those matchups. During that era, the NFC East is credited for eight Super Bowl wins, or one every other season.
This division has regained its dominance over the last few seasons. The Giants won Super Bowl XLII over the Patriots in 2007, and the Eagles have represented the division in the NFC Championship five times in the last eight seasons including last year. Not to mention the fact that the Dallas Cowboys have one of the league’s most talented rosters.
In 2009, this group of teams will be a strong as ever. The Philadelphia Eagles seem to be the consensus pick to represent the conference in the Super Bowl after an offseason that saw them make some key additions.
The Cowboys hope to rebound from the disappointment of last season, and the Washington Redskins have made some roster moves that should make them even tougher in ’09.
To remain competitive, each NFC East team has altered its roster through the draft and free agency. Every franchise in the division is looking at some major changes, and must make the proper adjustments in order to have a shot at postseason play. This isn’t the AFC or NFC West; you have to be on top of your game to take home this division crown.
The Dallas Cowboys came into 2008 with lofty goals. After going 13-3 the previous season, Dallas felt like they could be on their way to a Super Bowl last year. Somewhere along the way, among a cloud of distraction and turmoil, the Cowboys fell apart.
They finished 9-7 and were eliminated from the playoffs following a week 17 massacre at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.
After an offseason moves that will hopefully rid Valley Ranch of unneeded controversy, Jerry Jones is hoping that the franchise will be able to rebound from last year’s failure. But every other team in the division has been hard at work keeping up, if not passing, the Jones’.
The Eagles
The Eagles fell short of Super Bowl aspirations last season when they fell to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game. After finishing the regular season 9-6-1, Philadelphia seemed to put everything together just in time for a playoff run.
The Eagles have a very talented team on both sides of the ball, and have to be the odds on favorite to win a division and conference championship in 2009.
On offense, the Eagles were ninth in the league overall last season. Despite not being known for their wide receivers, Philly ended 2008 with the sixth rank passing game in the league. This team had the highest powered offense in the NFC East last year.
The Eagles come into this season with some new names and faces. The Eagles spent their first pick of draft to shore up its wide receiver corps.
Jeremy Maclin will be asked to make an immediate impact, and was taken to give the Eagles another target to go along with Desean Jackson. Jackson proved to be a valuable playmaker as a rookie with 62 catches for 912 yards and a touchdown both in the air and on a punt return.
Rookie LeSean McCoy, who was taken with the clubs second draft pick, will be asked to replace Correll Buckhalter and compliment running back Brian Westbrook.
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