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It is that time of year, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back, football. You were sorely missed.
Every Tuesday here at Blogging The Boys we will be corralling power rankings from across the wild west that is the internet. Obviously different people evaluated NFL teams in different ways which means that not everybody is going to agree on where the Cowboys rank.
We also provide you our own set of power rankings, obviously nobody knows America’s Team quite like us.
As it is in fact Tuesday, there is no use wasting any more time. Let’s begin.
The kings stay kings. The best team in the world is that until proven otherwise.
2 - Baltimore Ravens
Whether or not Lamar Jackson can completely repeat his 2019 performance remains to be seen, but even if he comes close the Ravens will be fine.
Count me among those that think San Fran will regress this year, but for now they are staying put with Kyle Shanahan likely ready to do everything he can to prevent that.
They have had their seasons end in heartbreak for three years in a row. The rumored reports of how involved they were for Jadeveon Clowney make it seem like they really are all in. That should be interesting to watch.
5 - Dallas Cowboys
One of the most efficient offenses in the NFL last season added CeeDee Lamb and took the limitations off of their team overall the way you take the plastic film off of a new phone. Let’s have some fun.
6 - Buffalo Bills
It really would be a great thing to see Buffalo have serious relevance. Obviously they go as Josh Allen does, but that defense (and newly-paid Tre’Davious White) should be stellar.
7 - Seattle Seahawks
Whether or not the organization finally let’s Russell Wilson cook is up in the air, but the fact that he is around at all is scary for the NFC. Jamal Adams is going to give that defense legitimate LOB vibes.
8 - Tennessee Titans
Speaking of Jadeveon Clowney, I’m not certain if he will make a gigantic enough difference for Tennessee to get over the hump, but they proved a lot last year.
I’m a believer in Kirk Cousins as an NFL quarterback. I am prepared to be proven wrong.
10 - Pittsburgh Steelers
This is admittedly going out on a limb given that Ben Roethlisberger needs to prove that he can stay healthy, but if he can, they should be very good.
11 - Green Bay Packers
Obviously all of us here are bitter, but there is a lot of data that notes how Aaron Rodgers’ regression is real. Green Bay might be the only team that hates their quarterback more than Philadelphia.
12 - Philadelphia Eagles
We make fun, but if Carson Wentz is good, injuries aside this team is going to be a problem. They took a gamble on Darius Slay and whether or not it pays off is going to be what defines them.
13 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There is a lot of hype. Whether or not it is justified is a question that will hang over the NFL season as a whole.
14 - Houston Texans
This feels really low for a team that has Deshaun Watson. Although they don’t have DeAndre Hopkins to be fair.
15 - Indianapolis Colts
Can Philip Rivers be enough of a difference maker? I think so.
16 - Los Angeles Rams
This team has gone through such a strange metamorphosis over the last few years. Sean McVay is obviously Sean McVay, and that means a lot. It is obviously difficult to start 0-1, though (hehe).
17 - New England Patriots
If we are going to count on who head coaches are as a proponent for how good they will be in 2020, well, Bill Belichick, baby.
18 - Atlanta Falcons
There is so much talent on that offense. At some point it has to click in the right way.
19 - Las Vegas Raiders
Is year three the right one for Jon Gruden?
20 - Cleveland Browns
There was no hype this offseason. Will that change anything?
21 - Los Angeles Chargers
If Tyrod Taylor, or Justin Herbert, can be a functional quarterback then that team should challenge for a wildcard spot. Easily.
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22 - Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Mahomes broke out in his second season.
Lamar Jackson broke out in his second season.
Kyle Murray is entering his second season.
That hardly means anything, haha.
23 - Denver Broncos
Drew Lock is sneakily one of the most-hyped players of this season as well.
24 - New York Jets
Hopefully a full season will help Sam Darnold have a chance.
25 - Chicago Bears
Mitchell Trubisky? Nick Foles? Does it really matter?
26 - Miami Dolphins
Brian Flores proved last season that he is one heck of a coach. Perhaps Byron Jones and Kavon Frazier can help out his squad for different results in 2020.
27 - New York Giants
We should all be prepared for this team to potentially surprise, at least offensively. There are definitely reasons to doubt this defense, but if Daniel Jones is anything noteworthy, they’ll put up points.
Good luck, Jason Garrett
28 - Detroit Lions
I’m also prepared to be wrong about Detroit. Matthew Stafford is so slept on.
29 - Cincinnati Bengals
All hail Joe Burrow.
There are just so many questions. Too many to list.
31 - Carolina Panthers
This looks like it could be the worst roster in football.
32 - Jacksonville Jaguars
If not for this one.
NFL.com: 7th
Our first top 10 inclusion. Let’s ride.
In a mailbag on the Cowboys’ official site, reporters Nick Eatman and Rob Phillips broke down the similarities in the training camps of first-round pick CeeDee Lamb and 2010 first-rounder Dez Bryant. Lamb has impressed this summer, and it makes you think how truly dangerous Dallas’ offense has the potential to be if Lamb quickly develops the way Dez did a decade ago. This is a team that already has an alpha dog No. 1 WR in Amari Cooper and a dynamic Year 3 talent in Michael Gallup. They don’t need Lamb to hit the ground running ... but if he does? If Dak Prescott has three receiving stars at his disposal plus Ezekiel Elliott? The ‘Boys could field their best offense ever.
ESPN: 5th
The worldwide leader agrees with BTB.
Todd Archer: Most of the offense Prescott ran in his first four years with the Cowboys remains, with just tweaks from what McCarthy is accustomed to running. Kellen Moore remains as the playcaller, so Prescott will continue to have a familiar voice in his ear. But McCarthy will have a big influence, and the reason he was hired was because of his ability to raise the level of quarterback play. The talent on the Cowboys’ offense is among the best in the NFL with Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Tyron Smith and Zack Martin. Prescott is coming off a year in which he set personal bests with 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns but he was not part of even the virtual offseason program since he was looking for a contract. There is a rhythm that will need to be developed between McCarthy and Prescott. If they find it quick, the Cowboys should be a contender.
USA Today: 11th
Obviously the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs last year, but this feels low.
No reason they shouldn’t sprint to another hot start, facing just one 2019 playoff team (Seattle) before calendar reaches November.
The Athletic: 7th
An admission that the Cowboys should be good, but a tempering of expectations. Respect.
Their issues last year were bad coaching, bad special teams and bad luck. The Cowboys were 1-6 in one-possession games. Mike McCarthy takes over, but Kellen Moore will still call plays for an offense that ranked second in efficiency and added CeeDee Lamb in the draft. This team has a Super Bowl ceiling, but there are a couple concerns. One, will McCarthy let Moore do his job, or will he want to intervene, especially if things don’t go well early? And two, will the defense be good enough? Mike Nolan takes over as defensive coordinator and is expected to implement a more aggressive scheme, but they’ve got questions in the secondary.
Season prediction: 11-5, divisional round
Bleacher Report: 6th
Consensus seems to be around the top seven.
Dak Prescott is one of the better young quarterbacks in the league. Ezekiel Elliott is annually among the NFL’s leading rushers. Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and rookie CeeDee Lamb are an outstanding trio of wide receivers. And Dallas’ offensive line has been one of the best in the game for years.
There are some questions on the back end of the defense after cornerback Byron Jones left for Miami in free agency and the team cut veteran safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. But on paper, the Cowboys appear to be the best team in the NFC East by a fair margin.
The question is whether they will perform to their potential under their new head coach.
Sporting News: 11th
Boo.
The Cowboys are right outside the NFC powerhouses for now, but they can get there, free from the Jason Garrett limitations. They can hit a higher offensive ceiling with Mike McCarthy joining Kellen Moore to influence Dak Prescott, now with rookie first-rounder CeeDee Lamb in tow. Mike Nolan also will get the most out of their defensive front seven.
Yahoo: 6th
Now we’re talking!
Amari Cooper has been banged up and while there have been optimistic reports about his availability for the opener, we don’t know for the sure. That’s the problem with no preseason, limited training camp access and teams being more secretive this season: We won’t have the full picture on a lot of injury and lineup news until Week 1 kicks off.
CBS Sports: 11th
Do you think outside of the top 10 is fair at all?
Mike McCarthy takes over a team loaded with talent. They will push the Eagles for the division title and could be a wild-card team that makes noise come playoff time.
Sports Illustrated: 9th
Just inside.
Points in poll: 142
Highest-place vote: 7 (1)
Lowest-place vote: 12 (2)
Last season: 8-8, second place in NFC East
Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams