NFC East Rising from the Ashes as One of NFL's Toughest Divisions

Don't look now, but the bully is back in town.

The NFC East—left for dead by the vast majority of pigskin prognosticators throughout the country in the offseason—has once again emerged as one of the NFL's toughest divisions.

In just five weeks, the script has been flipped, the narrative altered. Last month, the NFC East was dismissed in condescending fashion as a one-team (Philadelphia Eagles) division. Now, it's mentioned in reverent tones.

The Eagles and Dallas Cowboys are both 4-1. After dropping their first two games, the New York Giants have roared back to win three straight and now sit at 3-2. 

A legitimate case can be made that all three teams could qualify for the NFC playoffs and potentially make a run at the Super Bowl.

Seriously.

And the Washington Redskins have an opportunity on Monday night to show that they belong in the conversation as well when they host the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Forget about the NFC Least. The NFC Beast is alive and well.

The Reigning Division Champions Are Soaring

The Eagles, last year's NFC East champions, are 4-1 after holding on to a 34-28 victory this past Sunday over the St. Louis Rams.

And while many are quick to point out that the Eagles haven't exactly been ultra-impressive in getting there, the fact of the matter is that they're in an excellent position to make a second consecutive postseason run.

The Eagles represent the one constant in the NFC East: They were the only team expected to finish with double-digit wins. And they're on their way to doing just that.

Head coach Chip Kelly now owns a 14-7 record on the Philadelphia sideline, and quarterback Nick Foles is in his first full season as the team's starter. While injuries (and a now-expired four-game suspension to right tackle Lane Johnson) have sapped the effectiveness of the offensive line—particularly as it concerns the run game—the passing attack is very much in form.

Questions do abound about the defense, but it's worth noting that coordinator Billy Davis' unit improved dramatically as last season wore on. 

With an explosive offense and a defense with the potential to improve, the Eagles will remain in the playoff conversation as the temperature dips and the calendar turns to winter.

The Dallas Cowboys Are the League's Biggest Surprise 

Quick: Raise your hand if you thought the Cowboys would start the year with a 4-1 record.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Almost everyone—this humble writer included—believed the Cowboys were infinitely closer to a top-five draft pick than a playoff spot.

But through five games, there can be no questioning the validity of this Dallas team. It plays smart, fundamental football.

And that's a major, major credit to coach Jason Garrett.

In his fourth full season as Cowboys coach, the switch seems to have finally flipped for Garrett. He's no longer making grotesque errors in game management that would make Herman Edwards blush. His offense is no longer putting his quarterback, Tony Romo, in a position to fail. And his defense now resembles a functional unit.

Through five games, Garrett is the NFL Coach of the Year. And it isn't particularly close.

Romo isn't making critical errors, and running back DeMarco Murray has emerged as arguably the league's finest rusher. The offensive line, keyed by three impressive youngsters (center Travis Frederick, guard Zack Martin and tackle Tyron Smith) is among the league's best.

The Cowboys are—dare I say it—a smart, tough, well-coached football team.

Following Dallas' Week 5 overtime win over in-state rival Houston, it's officially time for the haters to step down. The Cowboys are a legitimate playoff contender.

Big Blue Is Back

When the Giants dropped a Week 2 decision to the Arizona Cardinals in mind-numbing fashion, it looked like the season was over.

Giants fans surely felt a horrifying sensation of deja vu, harkening back to last season's dreadful 0-6 start that sunk their campaign before it truly got started.

But a funny thing happened along the way to irrelevance—the Giants dug deep, rose up and have won three straight games, and now they are very much in the playoff conversation.

It looked as if new coordinator Ben McAdoo's offense was a flop, but over the last three games, Giants quarterback Eli Manning appears to be in complete control. Manning is playing at an exceptional level and has the look and feel of the player that has led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles in the past seven seasons.

Manning is in command of the passing game, they are running the ball and outside of a dreadful Week 1 showing in Motown, the defense has been stout. That's truly been Big Blue's winning formula in the Coughlin/Manning era, and they displayed all three characteristics in this past Sunday's win over Atlanta.

Because of the team's championship pedigree, the Giants must be taken seriously—not only as a contender for the NFC East crown, but for the Super Bowl as well. Anyone who dismisses the Giants simply isn't aware of history, and those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it.

Yearning Back to the Halcyon Days

Once upon a time, the NFC East was the best division in football—and it wasn't even close.

From 1983-1995, the division produced eight Super Bowl titles (three by the Cowboys, two apiece by the Giants and Redskins). More often than not, the road to the NFC Championship traversed through the rough-and-tumble NFC East.

Over the past few years, that reputation has dulled. The Cowboys have been inept. The Redskins have been unable to stay out of their own way. The Giants have disappointed. The Eagles couldn't get over the hump.

But now, the division is back in full force. No one is saying that it's currently at the level occupied in the 1980s; that would be foolish. But it currently boasts three legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

And next Sunday, it has the opportunity to make its biggest impression yet.

The Cowboys will travel to Seattle to take on the defending Super Bowl champions, while the Eagles host the Giants on Sunday Night Football. The division will take center stage and surely dominate headlines, and if the on-field product is as exceptional as it's been thus far this season, there will be no more debate.

The NFC Beast is back.

And the rest of the NFL had better take notice.