2023 NFC East race: Will Eagles or Cowboys win division crown? Reasons why each team could prevail

It’s NFC East preview time, which means it’s time for everyone’s favorite statistic about the division: the NFC East has had 18 consecutive seasons without a repeat division champion. Andy Reid’s and Donovan McNabb’s 2001-04 Philadelphia Eagles were the last group to win this division in back-to-back years. 

The 2023 season is as good as any for this streak to end since the defending division champion Eagles return much of a squad that went 14-3 and narrowly lost Super Bowl LVII by a field goal, 38-35, against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. General manager Howie Roseman also pulled off many value-adding transactions in the 2023 NFL Draft in addition to locking down face-of-the-franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts on a new long-term deal, five years for $255 million. 

The Dallas Cowboys, the 2021 NFC East champion, put up an identical 12-5 record in 2022 with a worse offense and a better defense than they had in 2021. The offense could catch up to their top-five defense in 2023 with a healthy Dak Prescott and Michael Gallup, now back in his ideal role as WR3 after the addition of Brandin Cooks as the Robin to CeeDee Lamb’s Batman. 

The New York Giants are building a strong defensive formation, and they did a solid job in upgrading Daniel Jones’ support cast by trading for Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller in a deal with the Raiders, drafting Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, and taking a flier on oft-injured speedster Parris Campbell. The second-round selection of Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz Jr. should be a noticeable upgrade in the middle of their offensive line. However, it’s unclear if the Giants have the ability to overcome the top contenders in this division, the Eagles and the Cowboys, after going 0-5 against them a year ago, including a horrendous 38-7 NFC divisional round playoff defeat in Philadelphia. Jones likely needs one or two more talented pass-catchers…

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