Jerry Jones issued a warning to the rest of the NFC East this upcoming season, which surely won't backfire for the Dallas Cowboys.
The upcoming NFL season is on the horizon, with all 32 teams currently in training camp. With that, fans and media are giving their predictions as to how each team will do, who will make the playoffs, and ultimately who will win the Super Bowl.
As is the case every offseason, the Dallas Cowboys command the spotlight. They are still looking to win their first Super Bowl title since the 1995 season. Hell, they're looking to make it to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1995 campaign. This past season, they watched as the Philadelphia Eagles nearly win their second Lombardi Trophy, while the Cowboys were bounced out of the playoffs by the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. But with a new year upon us, every team has a clean slate.
While speaking at training camp on Monday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed his confidence in the team's chances to win in 2023. In doing so, Jones issued a warning to the team's division rivals — New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Eagles.
Cowboys: Jerry Jones issues a warning to NFC East that surely won't backfire
"I will say that Philadelphia, and if you will the Giants and Washington team, they need to be on their game because we are," Jones said, h/t Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "We're going to be on our game. And we will be improved over last year. I don't want to dismiss how accomplished Philadelphia is, the year they had last year, and where they're starting this year. I don't want to dismiss that. And the Giants definitely have a chance to be better. And Washington could be really energized.So I don't need to handicap it relative to where we'll end up. Just us, we are better."
The Cowboys made changes to the team after their playoff elimination. Head coach Mike McCarthy will now call the plays on offense, they brought in wide receiver Brandin Cooks to pair alongside CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup and addressed a need at cornerback by acquiring Stephon Gilmore. The thing is, the NFC East is going to be much tougher.
Philadelphia lost a lot of talent this offseason, such as running back Miles Sanders, guard Issac Seumalo, linebacker T.J. Edwards, and safety Marcus Epps. But, they brought in running back D'Andre Swift and were able to retain both of their top cornerbacks in Darius Slay and James Bradberry. Add a strong NFL Draft class highlighted by Georgia Bulldogs defenders Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, and the Eagles looked primed to make a run at another NFC Championship.
The Giants were one of the big surprises of the 2022 season. With minimal cap space, the Giants were able to thrive under new head coach Brian Daboll, who got the most out of the players, clinched a Wild Card spot, and won their first playoff win since the 2011 season by defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round. This offseason, with cap space to utilize, the Giants brought in players like wide receiver Parris Campbell and linebacker Bobby Okereke, while also trading for tight end Darren Waller. With the Giants' roster built in the image of Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, this season is their chance to prove that 2022 was no fluke.
As for the Commanders, they were the lone NFC East team to miss the playoffs last year. With not many having high expectations for them, the Commanders could play spoiler. They have a new offensive coordinator in Eric Bieniemy and have handed the keys to quarterback Sam Howell, who is in line to start his first full season.
We will truly find out who will be the better team in the NFC East once the season is done, the win-loss records are finalized, and who goes further in the playoffs. We will see if Jones is right in his assessment of his team as compared to the rest of the division, or if he was wrong.