Dallas Cowboys: 5 Reasons they'll repeat as NFC East champions

By Fansided and Stephen Forsha/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone
Updated Mar. 5, 2020 2:02 a.m. ET

After bursting back onto the scene at 13-3 last season, here's why the Dallas Cowboys can repeat as NFC East Champions in 2017The Dallas Cowboys won the 2016 NFC East Championship with a 13-3 overall record last season, a feat they have accomplished 22 times in their history. Also within the division, the Cowboys have won two-straight division championships (or more) on three different occasions: 1970-71, 1976-79 and 1992-96.Those are not easy feats, as the last team to win at least two NFC East Championships in a row were the Philadelphia Eagles from 2001-04. Since the 2007 season, the Cowboys have won the division on four occasions, and the three previous times after winning the NFC East they failed to repeat.Related Story: Dallas Cowboys: 5 Most important defensive playersCan 2017 break that streak for the Cowboys, or will it become the fourth time in their last four chances that they are unable to repeat? They have as good of a chance as any to repeat. But to do so, they can't afford to be swept by the New York Giants for a second straight year. The improved Giants are out to get back to the top of the NFC East for the first time since 2011, a year they won the Super Bowl.Even though they might not be the favorites in June, the Cowboys have a chance to repeat as division champions and even possibly win a playoff game or two along the way. Here are five reasons the Cowboys can repeat as NFC East champions in 2017.Next: No. 5 The Running Game Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) dives in for a touchdown against New York Giants free safety Nat Berhe (29) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

5. Ezekiel Elliott and the offensive line

The Cowboys offensive line consists of three former All-Pros, and they have a running back who was a game-changer on the field last season. However, Ezekiel Elliot also said he "left yards on the field." Having such a talented offensive line and a running back who sees himself as a player who can improve, the Cowboys are in good hands.

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    In his rookie season, Elliott rushed the football 322 times for 1,641 yards, 5.1 yards per carry (ypc) and 15 touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. He also rushed for 125 yards on 22 carries, averaging 5.7 ypc in the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers.

    Then there is possibly the best offensive line in all of the NFL, no less than top three. The Cowboys are anchored by left tackle Tyron Smith and have guard Zack Martin and center Travis Frederick as All-Pros who are difference makers, and three of the most important players in the entire franchise. La'el Collins can hopefully one day join that group as an elite player, but injuries hampered him last season. Also with Collins, he could play either tackle or guard next season, as right tackle and left guard are still undecided.

    Even with the mystery surrounding the fifth member of the Cowboys offensive line due to Doug Free's retirement this offseason, they still help boast one of the best front fives in all of the NFL. No matter how much the Redskins, Giants and Eagles have added to their rosters, the Cowboys offensive line was built over several years, and now they are reaping the benefits with a running back like Elliott to run behind them.

    Jan 1, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

    4. Dak Prescott showing progression

    Can the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys improve upon a season where he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year? The answer to that is yes, and for good reason, as it will be the first time in his career he'll enter the preseason as the top guy under center.

    Though Prescott finished 15th in the NFL with 23 touchdown passes, he was fourth in the league with a 69.9 percent completion rate, and he threw just five interceptions. Prescott was also in the top 20 in passing yards with 3,667, good enough for 19th in the league, which helped him earn a Pro Bowl selection.

    This season will be the next step in the progression of the career of Prescott, and he's more than capable of avoiding the "sophomore slump" and surpassing the numbers he put up last season. He averaged 8.0 yards per attempt and 11.8 yards per catch, doing so with superstar wide receiver Dez Bryant missing three games in 2017. Plus, Prescott didn't take many snaps in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles since the top seed in the playoffs was already secured.

    Prescott had two games in 2016 where he threw for 300 or more yards and three games of 275-299 passing yards. There is room for improvement in Prescott's overall passing yardage numbers, something that will most likely increase as he becomes even more acclimated to the NFL game.

    The Cowboys have an excellent quarterback in Prescott, and if he continues to set the tone for the offense in 2017, they'll have a great chance to repeat in the NFC East.

    May 24, 2017; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (33) defends against wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) in practice at the Star in Frisco. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

    3. New excitement in defensive backfield

    Though it might be a little scary with so many new players in the defensive backfield, there is also a lot of untapped potential with the Cowboys and their new-look defensive backs, too. The Cowboys have a chance to rebuild and even become better with so many new faces at cornerback and safety, and as the season rolls along, to show improvement from last season's squad.

    Dallas added to a secondary which was 26th in passing yards allowed and only had nine interceptions in 16 weeks, leaving them near the bottom of the NFL in that stat category. In a addition to third-year player Byron Jones returning and getting better with each season thus far, they added new life through free agency and the draft.

    Depending on how Nolan Carroll's off-the-field issues turn out, he can provide depth to the secondary after being inked in free agency. But where the Cowboys can really set the tone in the NFC East is with the youth at the position too.

    Having second-round selection Chidobe Awuzie, and other draft choices including Xavier Woods, Jourdan Lewis and Marquez White in the mix too, the Cowboys have seemingly left no page unturned when it comes to adding some youthful excitement to a struggling defensive backfield. That said, the additions at receiver throughout the division makes this group all the more intriguing.

    If the new players can make a difference this season and the veterans in the defensive backfield can contour their own progression, the defense of the Cowboys could really impress and improve from where they were last season. In the long run, that would help make the defense and the offense even stronger, which could be scary for the rest of the NFC East.

    Jan 15, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli on the sidelines during the game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional playoff game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

    2. Top-tier coordinators

    The Cowboys have two excellent coordinators in Scott Linehan (offense) and Rod Marinelli (defense) who understand how to coach the players on the roster, and having those two in the coaching system makes the franchise that much better.

      They are both a big part of the resurgence of the Cowboys' winning ways from a year ago and are the perfect complement to each of their respective units. Linehan has done an outstanding job with the Cowboys offense. Even in the year where the Cowboys really had no stability at quarterback in 2015 with injuries, he kept everything from completely falling apart, allowing 2016 to be a breakout year.

      Then there is the coaching of Marinelli, who will have the toughest job of any Cowboys coach this season as he works to help rebuild the defensive backfield, but to make the pass rush better too. Remember, the Cowboys have had multiple suspensions, injuries and now free agent departures the past few seasons, making the job of Marinelli difficult.

      Marinelli also did one heck of a job coaching the defense last season and in previous years as his units have outplayed their overall talent at times, and with Marinelli leading the way as the defensive coordinator, players have shown improvement.

      Both of these coordinators deserve praise for the job each has done over the past few years. If they can just get their entire units on the field at the same time, and have both the offense and the defense playing at a high level each week, the Cowboys could no doubt repeat.

      Nov 20, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown with head coach Jason Garrett against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

      1. They've been there before, motivated to do more

      Though the Cowboys might be a young team, many of the players from last year's 13-3 season are returning. This team knows how to win an NFC East championship now, and they did so when some of them felt they didn't have their best season, while others certainly didn't play up to their potential.

      The big elephant in the room for the Cowboys is their players need to stay off the suspension list, plain and simple. The past couple seasons the Cowboys have lost linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Randy Gregory to multi-year suspensions due to multiple substance abuse policy infractions. There have been others like DeMarcus Lawrence and David Irving who still can play this season, but face suspensions too.

      Even with all of that hanging over their heads, the Cowboys are still more than capable of repeating as champions. They are even a bit of an underdog in the division heading into 2017 with many saying the Giants could be the frontrunners in 2017. And for good reason, as the Cowboys didn't defeat the G-Men in either meeting last season, losing both meetings by a combined four points, with scores of 20-19 and 10-7.

      The Cowboys have a very talented roster for the upcoming season, and if they play up to their abilities and potential, in addition to keeping everyone on the straight and narrow from here on out, there is no doubt they can be in the mix and repeat as NFC East champions.