The Cowboys no longer have their starting quarterback in Tony Romo and Dez Bryant's broken foot injury is going to keep him on the sidelines for quite some time. Yes, this team is done. Finished. Left for dead.

Or are they?

Let's pump the panic breaks for just a second. This team isn't out of it just yet. Here are five reasons why the Cowboys will still win the NFC East this season.

1. Improving Defense

Not long ago the Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in the entire NFL. This defense won't be mistaken for the 1985 Chicago Bears, but Rod Marinelli is doing a fantastic job with this squad. Cornerback Morris Claiborne is finally playing like a No. 6 overall pick, and Sean Lee is playing outstanding. Let's also not forget that Greg Hardy will be coming back pretty soon after serving his four game suspension to give the Cowboys a better pass rush. So far the Cowboys defense ranks No. 3 in yards allowed and No. 6 in points against.

2. Road Warriors

Probably the most underrated storyline going on in the NFL at the moment is the Cowboys winning streak away from home. Incredibly, the Cowboys have won 10 straight regular season road games, by far more than any other team in the league. Last season the Cowboys were a perfect 8-0 on the road, and they already picked up a huge divisional road win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Maybe finishing as a No. 4 seed will be the best thing for the Cowboys. Who needs home-field advantage? In case you were wondering, Joe Montana's San Francisco 49ers won an NFL record 18 straight road games in the late 1980s.

3. Giant Disaster

They should be 2-0, but a 10-point fourth quarter lead just isn't enough for the New York Giants anymore. A terrible offense line, running back issues, questionable playing calling and late game collapses have all played a factor in the Giants beginning 0-2. The Giants did start off 0-2 in 2007 and win the Super Bowl. That's true, but the Giants also started 0-2 last season and finished 6-10. Tom Coughlin's squad also begin 0-2 in 2013 and finished 7-9. This is the third consecutive season in which the Giants have begun 0-2, a franchise record.

4. New Look Eagles

Despite the injuries, Romo and Bryant will come back eventually. Jason Witten might even miss a game, but he's still on the roster. The Eagles, however, don't have their reliable stars to fall back on anymore. Their losses are permanent, not temporary. Chip Kelly gave away LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso, who again has a torn muscle in his knee. DeMarco Murray hasn't filled McCoy's shoes at all, so far. The Eagles even traded away Nick Foles for Sam Bradford. With Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson no longer on the roster, the Eagles have huge wide receiver issues. Might be time to give Wes Welker or Reggie Wayne a call.

5. They Have the Edge

The Cowboys may be fractured, but they're far from broken. Say whatever you want, but the Cowboys are 2-0. Maybe even more important, the Cowboys are 2-0 in the division with wins over the Eagles and Giants. The winner of this division more than likely won't finish with more than nine wins, and the Cowboys would just have to finish 7-7 down the stretch to have a winning record. This is going to come down to divisional play. This Cowboys team still has by far the best offensive line in the NFL and easily the best in the division.

 Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1