(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Over the next few weeks I will preview and predict each NFL team's season by offseason moves, 2009 schedules, and predicted season win totals. This edition will discuss the NFC East. Win totals courtesy of Sportsbook.com and may have changed slightly since time of writing.
Dallas Cowboys: Nine
The Cowboys were a team with high expectations in 2008 and a 1-3 finish to their season saw them finish with a 9-7 record and out of playoff contention. In the season finale, with the playoffs on the line, the Cowboys turned in a stinker as they got blown away in Philadelphia 44-6 in large part due to five turnovers.
Instead of bringing in more big names in the offseason, Dallas opted for a potential addition by subtraction. In one of the biggest moves in the NFL during this offseason, WR Terrell Owens was cut loose, only to quickly sign with the Buffalo Bills. Clearly, management believed Owens many off-field distractions outweighed his on-field production.
Say what you want about the circus that follows T.O. wherever he goes, however there is little denial that the man produces. He also commands extra attention from opposing defenders and creates space for his teammates when he gets double-teamed.
Without Owens, the team will have to find a way to replace his 1,052 yards receiving and 10 TDs from 2008. It will be an opportunity for a player like Roy Williams to prove he was worth the large sum Dallas gave up to trade for him midseason last year. WRs Patrick Crayton and Isaiah Stanback will also need to step up if they want to have any success through the air, as TE Jason Witten will not be able to do it all.
Should Tony Romo go down for any extended period of time, the team will now have a younger replacement for him as they cut backup QB Brad Johnson and traded CB Anthony Henry to Detroit to acquire Jon Kitna. Other key additions are ex-Jag FS Gerald Sensabaugh and ex-Chargers DE Igor Olshansky to replace the departed Chris Canty.
Offensively, the Cowboys will lean heavily on their running game as the collection of Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice could be one the strongest backfields in the game.
Their offensive line will also remain intact and should be a strength in 2009. For Dallas to rise to the top of the conference, they will need their defense to be as dominant as they were last year again. Dallas was fourth defending the pass and first in sacks for while being a respectable 13th versus the run.
In addition to Canty and Henry, gone are defenders Zach Thomas, Tank Johnson, Kevin Burnett, SS Roy Williams, and Adam Jones. LB Greg Ellis is also expected to be cut or traded anytime now as well. This could be an issue with so many new faces needing to plug holes on D.
In 2009, Dallas will face the league’s 11th toughest schedule facing opponents with a .518 winning percent from last year. Because of their geographical location and the fact they host several West Coast teams, the Cowboys have been spared from any major cross-country travels.
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