Eagles control NFC East with latest vulnerable division winners ranking

If there has been one certainty about the Philadelphia Eagles being in the NFC East over the last 20 years, winning the division title in back-to-back years is hard.

It hasn't happened since the Eagles did it from 2001 through 2004. Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys are tied for the most NFC East championships since 2005, each winning seven times.

Even with the threat of history repeating itself, the Eagles still seem to be the favorites to win the NFC East from one writer's perspective.

Eagles still can claim the NFC East title and break the 20-year cycle

CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin ranked the NFL's most vulnerable division winners for the 2025 NFL season. The Eagles were ranked fifth on the bottom half, as despite threats from the Washington Commanders and Cowboys, Philadelphia should still land the top spot.

"History is working against the reigning Super Bowl champions, because there hasn't been a repeat division winner in the NFC East since the Eagles claimed consecutive titles way back in 2001-2004. The upstart Washington Commanders could also be a force to be reckoned with as Jayden Daniels, the reigning rookie sensation at quarterback, gets added veteran support. The Dallas Cowboys also have a few more toys on both sides of the ball. Yet the New York Giants are perpetually rebuilding, and the Birds still possess some of the game's top talent."

The Commanders has been the most common team brought up with the best shot to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East title. They are coming off a season where they won 14 total games between the regular season and playoffs to face Philadelphia in the NFC title game. Eagles fans know all too well what the results were in that game.

Dallas had a lackluster offseason with not many bold moves made to go "all in." Earlier in the month, the Cowboys traded for wide receiver George Pickens as part of a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Outside of that move, the Cowboys are a toss-up for how they will perform.

The New York Giants are in flux and don't have much time to do it, as head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen's jobs are on the line. New quarterbacks are in place with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart taking over for at least 2025, but expectations are low for the Giants.

Last season, the Eagles were 5-1 against the NFC East with their only loss against the Commanders. That game could have gone differently if it hadn't been for Jalen Hurts getting knocked out of the game with an injury.

Whether it is repeating as division champs or Super Bowl champs, it is never easy, but the Eagles are built for title defense runs for both in 2025.