Tom Coughlin has said that he expects the NFC East to be a close contest in 2013.

Just two wins separated the top three teams in the division last season, while the Philadelphia Eagles have overhauled their coaching staff during the off-season.

The New York Giants head coach told the team's website: "There's no question about it. If you just think of the team we're going to play, they've played for the division and a chance to play in the playoffs on the last day of the season two years in a row and lost both games. They lost to us and then lost to Washington.

"Last year, when you look at our division, if you take just the Cowboys, they beat Philadelphia twice, lost to Washington twice and split with us. Is that not the nature of our profession, our business? I don't care when you talk about close games, it doesn't matter.

"You look at our games in the division last year, they were incredible games with chances to win or lose every one of them and that's the way it is. It's so very competitive and, let's face it, people within, everyone has their idea on winning a championship but also, teams are built to compete and win within your division, because that's the direct line to getting into the playoffs."

The Giants play the Dallas Cowboys tomorrow.