The defense was the major issue with the Cowboys in 2007. The Cowboys had a great front seven. They were able to finish sixth in rushing-yards allowed. Outside-linebacker DeMarcus Ware and his 14 sacks were named as starters to the Pro Bowl. That was another area the Cowboys excelled at, finishing third in the NFL with 46 sacks. They also did well forcing turnovers. The Cowboys finished sixth in the NFL with 19 picks. Ken Hamlin and Terrance Newman were chosen as Pro-Bowl reserves. Both started for the Cowboys in their secondary.

What the Cowboys didn’t do very well was stop the pass. They finished 13th in the league in that regard. As a result of the yards they gave up in the passing game, and the 19 interceptions that Tony Romo threw, the Cowboys gave up 20.3 points per game, which ranked 13th in the league. For all the great plays Tony Romo makes, he needs to cut down on the interceptions if the Cowboys are going to be playing football in February.

I’m not saying the Cowboys were horrible on defense. They did a lot of things well, and their weaknesses are not that bad in the whole scheme of things. However, if the Cowboys want to reach their desired destination as Super Bowl Champions, they need to shore up those areas.

The Cowboys tried to do that this offseason. They made their second first-round pick a corner in Michael Jenkins. They also traded for Pacman Jones. If he can stay out of trouble and gain reinstatement from the NFL, he should be able to help this team. The signing of Zach Thomas could be big as well. If he can stay healthy, he will be a nice veteran presence in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense.

Prediction: It is either the Super Bowl or bust in 2008. The Cowboys have made the playoffs each of the last two seasons, only to lose in the first round. As an organization, they haven’t won a playoff game since 1996. Combine the talent they bring back and the new talent they acquired via two first-round draft picks, Zach Thomas and Pacman Jones, and expectations will be through the roof.

Chemistry will be a big issue in 2008. While the talent of the Cowboys is not questioned, how that talent will interact in the locker room still is. Also Tony Romo needs to cut down on his distractions off the field. There is nothing wrong with him using his celebrity to his advantage, but it shouldn’t be spilling onto the football field. He has to minimize those things as much as possible.

The Cowboys always have a brutal divisional schedule. They get four playoff games in the division, and the Philadelphia Eagles who beat them at the end of last season in Dallas. Their out-of-conference schedule appears to be a little tougher than 2007.  While the Patriots and Packers were very tough, those were the only two-playoff teams they faced outside the division. This year they get Green Bay, Seattle, and Tampa Bay. It is difficult to say if those teams will be as good in 2008 as they were a year ago. Pittsburgh and Cleveland also provide some competitive games.

I think the Cowboys will have roughly the same record as they did in 2007, but I don’t expect them to jump out to the 12-1 start they did a year ago. If the Cowboys can cut down on their turnovers and stop the pass better in 2008, there is no reason this team will not finish as the NFC’s number-one seed for the second year in a row.

Dallas Cowboy’s Record: 12-4—NFC East Divisional Champion; NFC No. 1 Seed.

 

2) Philadelphia Eagles

‘07 Record: 8-8
Points Scored: 336 (17th)
Points Allowed: 300 (ninth)
Playoff Result: N/A
2008 Strength of Schedule:  133-123 (.520) (tied for 15th in the NFL)

Strengths: The Eagles have been the most dominant team in the division since 2000. The Eagles have won the division five times, and have made the playoffs six times. Prior to 2007, the Eagles had missed the playoffs only once, which was in 2005 during the season of the T.O. circus.

However, last season the Eagles finished in last place in the NFC East, and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Still, the Eagles had a number of good things working for them. Most last-place teams normally finish 4-12, not 8-8. The Eagles finished the season strong, and had it not been for a three-game losing streak to end November and begin December, the Eagles could have made the playoffs.

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