Mailbag: Gap between Cowboys and Eagles?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

How big is the gap right now between the Cowboys and Eagles? Is there any hope of competing against them next season? – Ronald Dalton/Dallas, TX

Kurt: Considering the Eagles just dominated the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl, and the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs, I'd say the gap is pretty significant at the moment. And where the divide is at its greatest is perhaps along the line of scrimmage.

Pro Football Focus had the Eagles offensive line rated first overall during the regular season. Yes, Saquon Barkley never really broke loose against Kansas City, but he had an outstanding rushing year overall. Against the Chiefs, the big men up front also kept the pocket relatively clean all night for game MVP Jalen Hurts. And four of the starting five (three of which were named to the Pro Bowl as well) are already under contract for next year.

The Cowboys offensive line, on the other hand, shows promise, but with Zack Martin contemplating retirement, Tyler Guyton needing to take a big step, Cooper Beebe growing and Terence Steele coming off an up and down season, there are also still a lot of questions. Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith seems to be the only sure thing.

The defensive line, though, is where you really saw the Eagles take control in the Super Bowl. The third-ranked unit in the eyes of PFF, Philadelphia's front four manhandled the Chiefs, limiting them to only 49 yards rushing as a team while sacking Mahomes six times without blitzing once.

And unfortunately, the Eagles really have only one free agent on the defensive line to worry about, Josh Sweat, while Dallas has tough decisions to make about players such as DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa and Chauncey Golston. Plus, the jury is still very much out on Mazi Smith and obviously there is the huge contract looming with Micah Parsons. Unsettled would be one way to describe it.

Of course, things can change in a hurry from year-to-year in the NFL, but as of right now, the Cowboys seemingly need to make significant strides to close the gap with their NFC East rivals, especially on the line of scrimmage.

Nick: It's exactly what it was on paper this past year. The Eagles were twice as good as the Cowboys in the standings, winning 14 games to just 7 for Dallas. In the two games, they played, the Eagles outscored the Cowboys 34-6 and 41-7. While Dak Prescott didn't play in either game, the Eagles had their backup in for the second matchup. Overall, Philly outscored the Cowboys 75-13.

So when you look at wins is 14-7 and points is 75-13, plus the fact the Eagles steamrolled their way to a Super Bowl and the Cowboys missed the playoffs, I would say the gap is rather large right now.

Factor in the offseason and it looks as if the Eagles will be able to keep many of their key pieces and the Cowboys are going to have to replace several players on both sides of the ball. Obviously, every season takes on a new life and it's a lot harder to defend the title when everyone is gunning for you so the Eagles won't have it easy. But compared to the Cowboys, they're way ahead at the moment.