Eagles vs. Cowboys: Gap Closed in NFC East, Race to Super Bowl?

In the fight for supremacy in the NFC East, most experts believe the Dallas Cowboys have closed the gap on the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.

In July 2022 we were all trying to determine if the Philadelphia Eagles had closed the gap on the defending NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys. This Summer the script has flipped, but has the margin narrowed?

One of the NFL's most fierce rivalries should be heated - and crucial - again this season as the Cowboys try to dethrone the Eagles and continue the division's almost unfathomable streak of not having a repeat champion since 2004.

Fueled by an explosive offense and the league's best defense at creating turnovers, the Cowboys have won 24 regular-season games the last two years. Only the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have won more. Their postseasons have been ruined both times by the San Francisco 49ers.

Behind MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts, Philly went 14-3 and lost a heartbreaking three-point Super Bowl to the Chiefs. But in reality, Is there much between these two?

Last season the Eagles beat the Cowboys without quarterback Dak Prescott; the Cowboys beat the Eagles on Christmas Eve without Hurts. This offseason Dallas added Stephon Gilmore at cornerback, Brandin Cooks at receiver and let offensive coordinator Kellen Moore go to the Los Angeles Chargers so that head coach Mike McCarthy could call the plays. The Eagles also lost both coordinators, five defensive starters and replaced departed running back Miles Sander with free agent Rashaad Penny.

Says Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, "I don't feel like it's a huge gap at all."

In ESPN's Football Power Index, the Eagles have a 25-percent chance of playing in Super Bowl LVIII; the Cowboys 13 percent.

The teams meet Week 9 in Philadelphia and in Week 14 in Arlington in two games that will go a long way in determining who wins the NFC East and,  potentially, who represents the NFC in the Super Bowl.

---

Follow Richie Whitt on Twitter

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? Click Here.

Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Check out the SI.com team page here