The Eagles have won the division in back-to-back seasons, but can the Cowboys prevent their rivals from making it three in a row?
The Dallas Cowboys, on paper, at least, appear to be a much-improved team than the one Brian Schottenheimer trotted out in 2025.
Granted, most of that improvement is expected to be on the defensive side with Christian Parker taking over from Matt Eberflus, along with some savvy free agent signings and a good draft haul headlined by Caleb Downs.
For most, the Cowboys have everything needed to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023 and, in doing so, could also return as NFC East champs.
The Philadelphia Eagles, despite all of the "noise" around the franchise, just keep winning. In the last four seasons, the Eagles have won at least 11 regular-season games.
In three of the last four years, the Eagles have been NFC East champs.
That is enough to make Cowboys Nation vomit, but there is no denying the Eagles know how to build a winning football team.
Which brings us to 2026 and the Cowboys' prospects of dethroning the Eagles.
With the offseason changes, can Schottenheimer's team do it?
ESPN's Jordan Rodgers, who was on GetUp, thinks Dallas absolutely can.
"I think they can, absolutely," Rodgers said. "This was a defense that was one of the worst in the NFL. If they can just be good, they don't have to be great, that offense with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are so dynamic that a defense that doesn't give up 400 yards every time anybody rolls out the football out, will get them to the playoffs, especially with the question marks in Philly.
"A new offense, new system for Jalen Hurts, no AJ Brown. I think with a good defense, the Cowboys can be a playoff team."
The defensive improvement is key to any hope Dallas has of a playoff and NFC East champion return.
We know what we're going to get from Dak Prescott and the offense: nearly 30 points a game, so Dallas will be in every contest. The big question is whether the defense can improve to be just average.
Not allowing a touchdown every other drive. Getting a stop every once in a while, getting takeaways, things that an average defense does.
If Parker's unit can do that, and the offense is what we think it can be, the Cowboys have the artillery to win their first division title in three years, even with the Eagles being as good as they are.
Of course, saying this in July is easy.
Let's come back to this once the regular season is off and running.
