2006 NFC East Preview

Going into the 2006 NFL season, the NFC East looks to be the deepest division in all of football. The Giants won the division a year ago, while Washington won a playoff game. Dallas has been solid in recent years, and added Terrell Owens, while Philadelphia is only a year removed from a Super Bowl appearance. The questions in the division are whether they can survive into the postseason after beating up on one another, and, of course, what effect the NFL's most controversial player will have on his team, his division, and his league. If T.O. holds up, Dallas has to be considered a serious contender for the NFC championship.

(2005 Regular Season Records in Parentheses)

Dallas Cowboys (9-7)

The pre-season coverage of the Cowboys has, as expected, revolved around wide receiver Terrell Owens, his hamstring, and his potential for an explosion this year. Whether T.O. can handle Dallas depends on two factors: can he get the ball, and can the Cowboys win? If Dallas can get Owens the ball, and live up to expectations on offense and defense, they can expect to be a top-ten unit on both sides of the ball and to challenge seriously for the NFC East title and beyond.


The Cowboys return the heart of an excellent defense that finished tenth in total defense a year ago; led by an excellent secondary featuring Terrence Newman and Roy Williams, they should continue to stop opponents this season. A healthy, and happy, Owens will upgrade an offense that finished in the middle of the pack a year ago. With Julius Jones and Marion Barber in the backfield behind a rebuilt offensive line, the Cowboys will have weapons all over the field for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, and he should have more time to get the ball to his receivers. Bledsoe led the NFC by taking 49 sacks a year ago; while he deserves some of the blame (he holds on to the ball way too long way too often); if the Cowboys can cut that number, their passing attack will thrive in 2006.