For many years, the Nfc East has been considered the best and most competitive division in the NFL. During the 1990s, the Dallas Cowboys ruled the division by winning three of their five total Super Bowl titles. The Philadelphia Eagles were able to dominate most of the first decade of the 2000s.
However, the New York Giants have been the only team that has been able to win a championship in the division since the Cowboys did it in 1996. They did it during the 2008 and 2012 seasons. Both times they were led by veteran quarterback Eli Manning.
Prior to the success of Eli and the Giants, Donovan McNabb for the Philadelphia Eagles was arguably the best QB in the division for a solid eight consecutive seasons.
Tony Romo put up impressive numbers over the past 11 seasons as the starter for the 'Boys,' but after Dak Prescott took over the starting role last season, Romo decided to retire from professional football.
Pressure is just fuel.https://t.co/PTMmT9U4yo
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) July 19, 2017
LIVE Premiere of "Dak Prescott A Family Reunion"
Tonight | 6pm CT pic.twitter.com/O5Zv5a4l1O
Carson Wentz: Experience and Expectations
Last season, Philly took Carson Wentz with the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft because they desperately needed a starting quarterback for the future. Since the departure of McNabb, the Eagles have struggled to find a guaranteed franchise QB to lead the team to the same success he was able to experience.
However, Wentz was an impressive standout in college and many sports fans believed he was the best option despite the Rams taking Jarred Goff with the No. 1 choice. In his first season with Philly, Wentz quickly made fans believe that he will certainly lead the team to a Super Bowl victory in the future if he has the right pieces to surround him.
In his rookie season, he got his team off to a 3-0 start and looked like an early favorite to run away with the Rookie of the Year award. Unfortunately, the team had many weaknesses on both sides of the ball that would be exposed for the next fourteen games. This resulted in Philly missing the playoffs and finishing with a 7-9 record.
Eagles News: Detailed breakdown of Carson Wentz’s rookie season https://t.co/QfxjbSBojL
— BleedingGreenNation (@BleedingGreen) July 6, 2017
Wentz finished the season passing for 3,782 yards. He threw 16 TDs and 14 interceptions and started all 16 games. This off-season, the Eagles have seemed to cover all their weaknesses for the most part and have added multiple weapons for Carson going into his sophomore season.
WR Torrey Smith won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and is known for his speed and his ability to make big plays down the field. Alshon Jeffery is a huge target, but has battled injuries over the last two seasons, which has kept him from putting up the numbers he put up for the Bears during the 2014 season.
But still, the Wentz to Jeffery connection is expected to be one of the most exciting shows to watch this upcoming season and the expectations for Carson are through the roof right now.
One of first plays of camp!!
— John Clark CSN/NBC (@JClarkCSN) July 27, 2017
Carson Wentz just aired out bomb to Alshon Jeffery🔥🔥#Eagles🦅 pic.twitter.com/qYz5hiNxfB
Dak Prescott: Can he surpass Elliott as the Cowboys star player?
Dak Prescott unexpectedly led the Dallas Cowboys at QB to a first place 13-3 record in the NFC. Longtime starter Tony Romo was battling another injury during his career when Prescott decided to show up and take his spot. Prescott did, however, have the help of rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke led the league in rushing in just his first season.
He rushed for 1,631 yards and posted 15 touchdowns.
Dak also put up amazing numbers in his debut season. Prescott threw for 3,667 yards with a passer rating of 104.9. He threw 23 TDs and just 4 interceptions. Those numbers were good enough to earn him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award over Elliott by a short amount of votes.
The Cowboys would eventually go on to lose to the Green Bay Packers in Prescott's first ever playoff game. Both Prescott and Zeke had impressive performances in the game despite coming up short by a field goal.
Who's better: Carson Wentz or Dak Prescott?@EliotShorrParks and @newyscruggs have a heated discussion. https://t.co/u0Nq09vMtt
— CSN Philly (@CSNPhilly) July 18, 2017
Who is the better QB?
Dak Prescott certainly had a better rookie season than Carson Wentz.
He experienced immediate success behind an All-Pro offensive line and an explosive RB in Ezekiel Elliott. Prescott also has some future Hall of Fame receivers to throw to as well. Dez Bryant had arguably the most exciting season of his career this past year and Jason Witten continued to be a valuable veteran and leader on the team.
Carson Wentz, on the other hand, did not have the same advantages Prescott had on his team. The Eagles lacked in many areas that the Cowboys were great in. Despite the lack of weapons and veteran leadership, Wentz still nearly led his team into the playoffs.
This season, it's safe to say both QBs will be playing on even ground. Philly has added their weapons on both sides of the ball and Dallas still has most of their core from last season.
So, the battle between Prescott and Wentz should easily bring back the energy and intensity of a longtime rivalry between the Cowboys and Eagles that has been considered by many the best in NFL history.
Carson Wentz.
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 21, 2017
Dak Prescott.
Week 11.
In Dallas.
Primetime.
Mark your calendars. pic.twitter.com/70rEFRmyRs