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Who is the Dallas Cowboys biggest threat in the NFC East?

By Stacey Gonzales

Jan 1, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) meet on the field after a game at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) meet on the field after a game at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFC east will be dangerous again. Looking ahead, which rival is most primed to dethrone the Dallas Cowboys for the division crown?

Nov 23, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) looks to pass under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) looks to pass under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to make a deep playoff push this season after a stellar 2016 campaign. But they will surely be tested within their own division, the NFC East. The draft is over, free agency has slowed down, and training camp will begin next month. Let’s take a look at how the other three divisional squads stack up against the Cowboys.

The New York Giants immediately come to mind as they handed the Cowboys two of their three losses last year. However, both those losses were by a combined four total points.

DallasCowboys.com football analyst Bryan Broaddus made a great point during the Cowboys Break podcast recently explaining that in those two games the Giants didn’t just shut down rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, but they shut down the Cowboys’ offense as a whole.

I absolutely agree with Bryan and the rest of the cast that the team must learn from their two losses against the Giants in order to succeed this season.

Having said that, the Giants’ defensive personnel gave the Cowboys fits. Their big physical defensive line matched up well against Dallas’ offensive line which limited running back Ezekiel Elliott.

The Giants also have without a doubt one of the best secondary units in the league led by All-Pro safety Landon Collins. He had a ton of success neutralizing the Cowboys passing game.

In either contest, the Dallas offense just couldn’t get it going. One move that may hurt New York is the fact they let defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins walk in free agency, who was a big part in limiting the run game. However, they were able to retain their elite pass rusher by signing All-Pro defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to a massive deal.

On the other side of the ball, New York’s offense is by far what stalled them last year. Even though head coach Ben McAdoo’s team added offensive weapons in wide receiver Brandon Marshall and rookie tight end Evan Engram, they made no impacting moves to help their abysmal offensive line.

If their protection breaks down like it did last year, quarterback Eli Manning is going to have a tough time getting the ball out to those weapons. The Giants ranked 25th and 26th in total offense and points per game last year but somehow managed an impressive 11-5 record.

It’s obvious that Manning did not beat the Cowboys last season, his defense did. I’m looking forward to how Dallas’ rookie wide receiver Ryan Switzer will create mismatches against New York’s stubborn secondary come Week 1.

Up next we have the Washington Redskins…

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