Cowboys vs. Eagles: Who had the more impressive start?

One of the biggest surprises of the season — the second, in fact — is in the NFC East, where Orlov and Cowboys were one of the most impressive teams in the NFL in four weeks.

Philadelphia is the last undefeated team in the league, improving to 4-0 with a 29-21 win over Jaguars in Week 4. Not only are the Eagles undefeated, but they are dominant on both sides of the ball, ranking second in total offense and third in total defense.

Not far behind Philly is defending NFC East champion Dallas. After falling to Art Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the loss of a starting quarterback Duck Prescott due to an injury in Week 1, the Cowboys have won three straight behind the backup quarterback Cooper Rush. While Rush certainly played well enough for the Cowboys to win all three openers, Dallas’ defense was the catalyst. The unit has allowed just 14.3 points per game since Prescott left the game.

Despite the Cowboys’ impressive three-game hitting streak, Par “Speak” the co-hosts agreed that the Eagles were the more impressive team in the first month of the season.

“When you look at the Eagles — we’re tight on offense, tight on defense,” former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy said. “You put this team together, we didn’t know what it was going to look like. I was part of the team we put together that was called the “dream team.” You had Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, DRC (Dominique Rodgers-Cramartie), myself, DeSean Jackson. We had Vince Young as backup.

“We had an all-star team, right? We were not an undefeated team. Come on, we were 4-12. But the (2022) Philadelphia Eagles, that’s not it. They are a superstar team and they are doing it, 4-0. It’s very impressive.”

Were the Eagles the most impressive team to start the season?

The “Speak” panelists debate whether the undefeated Eagles or the 3-1 Cowboys have been the more impressive NFC East team through four games.

FOX Sports Dallas Cowboys writer David Helman there was no denying that Dallas had looked impressive so far. However, he believes the main difference between the Eagles and Cowboys is how Dallas looked in Week 1, a 19-3 loss to Tampa Bay with Prescott.

“I can’t let it go until we see something else … The Cowboys put out the team they wanted to put out in Week 1,” Hellman said. “Forget about Cooper Rush for a minute, they had Dak for 55 minutes. It was a team that they came into the season with like, ‘We’re going to make it!’ They were walking with dogs. They had the worst first week in the entire NFL. They looked like fools.

“I can’t completely get it out of my mind, especially considering two of those three wins were against Giants and Commanders. Come on now.”

Hellman also believes that because of Prescott’s absence, everyone is grading the Cowboys on a curve, you might think they’re better than they really are.

“I think your expectations have changed a bit [with Prescott out]” Helman said. “Cooper Rush was phenomenal. So far, this is one of the stories of the season. However, your expectations are changing. If the Cowboys were 20th in offense, 22nd in passing, scoring 20-23 points per game, if they were doing that with Dak Prescott, you’d be like, “Why did they give Dak all that money.” But because it’s Cooper Rush, you’re like, “That’s great.” These guys are great.”

“It’s very impressive … It’s not as impressive to me as going undefeated, top-three offense in the league, top-three efficiency in everything, first in the league in sacks. The Eagles are doing great right now. You can’t argue with that.”

Both teams head out west in Week 5 when the Eagles face the Cardinalsand the Cowboys face the defending Super Bowl champion Ramsboth games will be at 4:25 PM ET on FOX.