Seeing a division rival win the Super Bowl can always be a tough pill to swallow. Especially in Dallas when Philadelphia is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Jerry Jones expects his team to be the one competing for a championship but recently, the Eagles have been the ones finding success.
Many have wondered where Dallas stands in comparison to Philadelphia, with Jones giving his perspective on Wednesday. He decided to take a broader look, talking about the entire NFC East. Jones believes the Cowboys are in position to compete well within the division.
“This time last year, I thought we’d win the division,” Jones said via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “… We’re operating with a mentality of (being) very competitive with our division. Not just the Eagles, but with the division.”
Philadelphia is not the only NFC East franchise to find a great deal of success in 2024. The Washington Commanders excelled into the NFC Championship game in Year One of Dan Quinn, the Cowboys’ former defensive coordinator.
Even New York could be set to make a splash this offseason, hoping to revamp the quarterback room. The likes of Aaron Rodgers have been linked with the Giants to go along with a premium selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jones understands why everyone wants to use Philadelphia as the measuring stick right now. While he is not saying Dallas is better than them, the goal is still to find a way to take back the division crown.
“The Eagles are a prime one to talk (about) because they are the world champs,” Jones said. “You look good when you’re the world champs, as it should be. But we’ll see how it goes. It’s not smart to say that we’re as good or better than the Eagles right now because they happen to be the world champs. So, I’m not going to be dumb there.”
If the Cowboys are going to get to the level required to win the NFC East, a big offseason is needed. They are in place to make moves thanks to players like CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott restructuring their contracts. Plenty of cap space is available to the front office ahead of free agency.
Sometimes, a rival like Philadelphia winning a title can light a fire under a team. Jones knows there is some work to do if Dallas is going to catch up to the Super Bowl champions.
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