Cowboys Win NFC East Title

It's official. For the second time in the last three years, the Dallas Cowboys have won the NFC East championship. In the 2007 season the Cowboys shocked everyone by finishing 14-2 to win the division, but I think this season's title was just as surprising for most people.

The Cowboys finished the regular season with an 11-5 record. And to do it, they had to finish the season by beating another 11-5 team -- the Philadelphia Eagles. I still believe the Eagles are one of the best teams in the league, but they didn't look like it on Sunday. The Cowboys controlled the game from start to finish.

The Cowboys defense is finally showing they are as good as everyone hoped they could be. For the first time in Cowboys history the defense has held opposing teams to back-to-back shutouts, not to mention holding New Orleans and San Diego to their lowest points of the season in the two games prior to the shutouts. This is definitely one of the best defenses in the league.

Fortunately, the Cowboys offense seems to have finally found it's magic again. The offensive line is playing well (including replacement tackle Doug Free), Romo is at the top of his game, and Barber and Jones are running extremely well. Supposed number one receiver Williams has been a disappointment, but Austin and Creighton have stepped forward and made up for it.

I have to admit that as big a Cowboys "homer" as I am, I did not expect to see them win the division this year. I was just praying to the football gods that they could sneak into the playoffs somehow. Heck, even Emmitt Smith predicted earlier in the year that the Cowboys would finish 7-9. I think very few people predicted the Cowboys would finish at 11-5. Thank goodness we were all wrong!

Now they have to go out and beat the Eagles again. The two teams will meet next week in the first round of the playoffs, and hopefully the Cowboys can make it three in a row over the Eagles this season.