More with Less: Terrell Owens-less Dallas Cowboys Have Enough to Win NFC East

Usually after missing the playoffs, a team can expect to benefit from a high draft pick and a easy schedule.

Coming off last December’s collapse, the Dallas Cowboys received neither.

The Cowboys sent their first-round pick to Detroit in the midseason trade for homegrown WR Roy Williams.

And while this season's schedule features the weak AFC West, the NFC East—last year’s best division—got better, while the Cowboys may have gotten worse.

Wide receiver Terrell Owens—the Cowboys' most explosive player on or off the ball—was released after the season. The rationale behind the decision was Owens’ constant campaigning for the ball and open criticism of the staff and players had stunted the development of WRs Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin, as well as prevented Williams from getting adjusted to the system.

The Cowboys are confident they have enough firepower to replace Owens, because in 2007 Crayton and Miles seemed to be on the verge of breaking out, and Williams was once considered a rising star. Also, Jason Witten has emerged as one of the most dynamic receiving TE in the league and the second-year RB Felix Jones can return kicks and punts.

The move was also done to provide less distraction to QB Tony Romo who faced constant questioning about his relationship with Owens, girlfriend Jessica Simpson, and his inability to produce wins in December and January.

The hope is with the distractions gone the Cowboys can refocus and regain the 13-3 form of 2007. Playing with more focus will be the easy part—facing the talent-rich NFC East throughout December will be the hard part.

If You Hate, He Will Proliferate

Donovan McNabb plays like an MVP every time he gets written off—which is usually about four times a season. With a more experienced Girls Next Door receiving corps, and a healthy RB Brian Westbrook, McNabb could lead the team all the way—to another loss in the conference championship.

The Cowboys will get a chance to poach the Eagles as payback for knocking the Cowboys out of the playoffs on the final day of last season when they face off Week 17 at Texas Stadium.  

One Minus Two Equals Won

The Giants have improved more than anyone by getting back their best player—DE Osi Uminyiora—after he missed last season due to injury. His leadership will be needed, with former Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo having left for the St. Louis Rams.

The biggest question is at receiver. After Plaxico Burress became NYPD's most wanted, he became the New York Giants' least wanted and was waived in the offseason.

It is hard to tell exactly how the Giants do this year; will they win the division again, or win their second Super Bowl in two years? The Cowboys will probably have a pretty good idea after they visit the Meadowlands December 6.

Mad Scientists Makes Deranged Monster

When the mad scientist Dan Snyder looks in the mirror, he sees Jerry Jones of the '90s—though the looking-glass Snyder is more George Steinbrenner of the eighties.  He is too impatient and always changing the formula.

Openly campaigning to replace Jason Campbell with Marc Sanchez was a mistake. Campbell had a solid year with little offensive help outside of the occasional game where Clinton Portis was healthy enough to play.

The Redskins opened their wallet again to sign free-agent DT Albert Haynesworth, who can be a Juggernaut. But Snyder’s inability to allow this team to develop an identity makes the team a Jekyll and Hyde. The division may very well be decided by the Cowboys' December 27 game in the Nations’ Capitol—er Maryland—but it might be with the Redskins playing spoiler.

The road to the conference championship will likely go through the NFC East again, but the Cowboys may not have to win the division to get there. The few last years, the lower-seeded divisional rival has defeated the division champ to advance to the conference championship.

Perhaps a less-talented Cowboy team will have what it takes to get there.