NFC Beast: Can 2-0 Cowboys Dominate NFL’s Deepest Division?
Every time there's a primetime broadcast of an NFC East game, networks feel required to remind viewers that the division hasn't had a repeat winner since the Philadelphia Eagles did so from 2001-2004. That's a trend that the Eagles may very well snap in 2023. But they'll have their work cut out in doing so, if the first two performances from the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders are any indication.
Despite defeating the Minnesota Vikings 34-28 Thursday, the Eagles find themselves in a three-way tie atop the NFC East after two weeks. And realistically, Philadelphia hasn't been the most impressive team in the division to this point.
That title would belong to the Cowboys, who followed up a 40-0 thrashing of the New York Giants in Week 1 by defeating the Jets 30-10 in Week 2. Do-it-all defender Micah Parsons looks like he could be a legitimate NFL MVP candidate, as he already has racked up seven combined tackles, six quarterback hits, four tackles for a loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery through just two games.
Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys will compete with Lane Johnson and the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East title. (Kevin Jairaj/USA Today)
The Eagles and Cowboys won't meet until Week 9 at Lincoln Financial Field, and in the meantime, coach Mike McCarthy's team appears to have a shot to build on their scalding-hot start to the season. Dallas will likely be comfortable favorites against the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots the next two weeks, before facing a tough test against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5.
It remains to be seen just how real the Washington Commanders are, but like the Eagles and Cowboys, coach Ron Rivera's squad is also 2-0. Granted, the Cardinals and Denver Broncos are two pretty favorable opponents to draw to open the season. But new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and quarterback Sam Howell combined to bring the Commanders back from a 21-3 deficit in Week 2, ultimately defeating the Broncos 35-33.
In the win, Howell completed 27 of 39 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, including this excellent throw to receiver Terry McLaurin.
Mind you, this is a Commanders team that won eight games a season ago despite largely utilizing the unreliable duo of Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. If Howell proves to be a guy, a team with some nice offensive weapons and a ferocious defensive line could very well be a playoff contender.
And for as disastrous as coach Brian Daboll's New York Giants looked for the first six quarters of the 2023 season, they stormed back from a 21-0 halftime hole to defeat the lowly Cardinals 31-28 Sunday.
Perhaps everything that could go right did go right for the Giants last year, and a group led by quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley will regress a bit this season. Still, if the Giants are the worst team in the division, the NFC East will be pretty formidable.
The clearest path to Parsons being an MVP candidate and the Cowboys making a Super Bowl run would be for Dallas to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC. To do that, they'll have to navigate through a competitive division, and end up on top.
