by Hamlet Pericles

Created on: October 14, 2009   Last Updated: October 16, 2009

Like every NFL season, the 2008-2009 NFL season started with predictions on which teams would be dominant and which teams would be weak and fall short of success. Some of these predictions, made by NFL analysts, were somewhat spot-on while others were inaccurate and far from true.

NFC EAST
The NFC East is a good example where predictions were far from true. With well-known players like wide receiver Terrell Owens, quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten, linebacker Zach Thomas, and a few others, the Dallas Cowboys were predicted by some NFL analysts to at least be a contender for the number one spot in the NFC East.

The predictions were not far from impossible, because the previous year they won their division and ended the 2007-08 regular season with an impressive record of 13-and-3. However, the predictions in the 2008-09 season weren't even close (albeit they finished with a winning record).

The team of course had talented players, but talent can only get a team so far. If players cannot play as a team (due to infighting) and be one, then problems will occur and that is exactly what transpired - thanks to Mr. Troublesome, Terrell Owens.

The Cowboys started off well and had a chance to extend their season via the postseason, but they crumbled at the end due to the lack of discipline, distractions and infighting, precipitated by Owens for not getting the ball thrown his way. Had they won their last two games, their record would be 11-and-5, placing them second in their division and playoff bound.

Unfortunately, luck was not on their side, for they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 33-to-24 and was murdered by the Philadelphia Eagles 44-to-6. Their last game against their NFC East rival, the Eagles, showed how dysfunctional the team was and miserably wrapped up their season.

At the end of the regular season, the standings were as follows: the New York Giants won the NFL East with a 12-and-4 record; the Philadelphia Eagles finished second with a 9-6-1 record; the Dallas Cowboys finished third with a 9-and-7 record; and the Washington Redskins finished last with an 8-and-8 record.

New York Giants topping the NFC East was no surprise, for they had enough talent and discipline to accomplish such a feat. Moreover, they had an excellent 2007-08 season; they ended the regular season with a great record of 10-and-6, they fought their way through the playoffs, and thus defeated the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42 in impressive fashion.

As a result,

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