Mattie T’s 2009 NFL Season Preview: NFC East

Will the Eagles “soar” to the top of the division with Michael Vick?

(Teams are listed based on last season’s division standings)

1. New York Giants (12-4 last season, lost to Philadelphia in Divisional playoffs)

Head Coach: Tom Coughlin (6th year with team)

Mattie T’s Analysis: Eli Manning signed a lucrative 6 year deal worth $97.5 million over the offseason to become the NFL’s highest-paid player. Now he’ll have to find some receivers to throw to.

Plaxico Burress won’t be back for a 5th season in New York, as the former Super Bowl hero will be serving 2 years in prison due to his weapons charge.

A fellow Super Bowl standout won’t be returning as well, as David Tyree was cut from the Giants on Saturday.

This will leave Domenik Hixon & Steve Smith as the Giants’ top 2 receivers on the depth chart, who caught a combined 100 receptions for 1,170 yards & 3 receiving touchdowns.

Osi Umenyiora is hoping to continue his stellar play at defensive end after a good 2008 season, but he’s not exactly getting off to the best start with new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, who takes over for the departed Steve Spagnuolo (new head coach of the Rams).

Ahmed Bradshaw should see an increase of carries with the depature of Derrick Ward to Tampa Bay, as he will now serve as Brandon Jacobs’ primary backup.

Justin Tuck is starting to turn into one of the game’s best defensive ends, as the 5th year pro from Notre Dame has combined for 22 sacks in the past 2 seasons.

Mattie T’s Prediction: 8-8

2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, lost to Arizona in NFC Championship Game)

Head Coach: Andy Reid (11th year with team)

Mattie T’s Analysis: The Eagles might’ve made the biggest noise this offseason by picking up 3-time Pro Bowler Michael Vick, after following through on a request from Donovan McNabb.

Reid can now utilize Vick in the team’s Wildcat offense, as he has hinted to using his two All-Pro quarterbacks on the field at the same time in any point during a game this season.

The Eagles are hoping for a healthy Brian Westbrook (knee), as he did score a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns last season despite tying a career-low with 4.0 yards per carry & failed to reach 1,000 yards on the ground for a 3rd consecutive year.

DeSean Jackson hopes to continue his good play following an impressive rookie season in which he caught 62 receptions for 912 yards, which were both team highs.

A pair of rookies should help also, as Jeremy Maclin & Sean McCoy are expected to play important roles within the offense.

Philadelphia might have some problems at free safety trying to replace Brian Dawkins (signed with Denver), as Quintin Demps has struggled throughout the pre-season.

Mattie T’s 2009 Prediction: 11-5

3. Dallas Cowboys (9-7 last season, missed playoffs)

Head Coach: Wade Phillips (3rd year with team)

Mattie T’s Analysis: The Dallas Cowboys have a brand new (and very expensive) Texas Stadium to show off. Will it produce a playoff contending team in 2009?

That could all depend on the play of quarterback Tony Romo, who will have to adjust without the services of 6-time Pro Bowler Terrell Owens, who is now playing for the Buffalo Bills.

Roy Williams will now be elevated to the team’s #1 receiver, as he caught just a combined 36 receptions for 430 yards & 2 receiving touchdowns (all career-lows) between Detroit & Dallas last season.

This should result in more targets towards Jason Witten, who hauled in 81 receptions for the 3rd highest total last season among tight ends, trailing only Tony Gonzalez & Chris Cooley.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett vows to use a heavier dose of Felix Jones this season to spell Marion Barber, who rushed for a career-high 238 attempts last season despite averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry.

On defensive, the Cowboys are led by the outstanding 5th year linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who led the NFL with 20 sacks last season.

Gerald Sensabaugh will get the 1st opportunity to start at strong safety following the off-season depature of Roy Williams, who is now with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mattie T’s 2009 Prediction: 9-7

4. Washington Redskins (8-8 last season, missed playoffs)

Head Coach: Jim Zorn (2nd year with team)

Mattie T’s Analysis: The Redskins look to build a bigger identity on offense, which could start with the promotion of a young & promising wideout.

2nd year man Malcolm Kelly will start the 2009 season as the team’s #2 receiver behind Santana Moss, who led the team in both receiving yards (1,044) & receiving touchdowns (6).

Chris Cooley suffered an odd 2008 season in which he averaged career-highs in receptions (83) & receiving yards (849), but caught just 1 touchdown reception for a new career-low.

This could be the season Jason Campball finally emerges as a star quarterback, as the 4th year pro has increased his completion percentage, passing yardage & passing touchdowns in each of his three years in the NFL.

Defensively, the Redskins welcome their new $100 million defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who comes to town after spending his previous 7 seasons with Tennessee.

Washington will welcome back DeAngelo Hall, who returns for a 2nd stint with the team after playing 8 games last season for the Oakland Raiders.

Mattie T’s 2009 Prediction: 6-10

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