ESPN 2019 Power Rankings - Cowboys 13

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25879183/2019-nfl-power-rankings-way-too-early-offseason-poll

13. Dallas Cowboys
2018 record: 10-6

Reason for optimism: The Cowboys had the youngest team to make the playoffs, and they have cap room to keep their core and add pieces in free agency. It's difficult to say "trust the process" when the Cowboys have not made it to a conference title game since 1995, but the pieces are in place -- including Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, DeMarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones, Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith -- to have sustained success. They also will have Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick back after he missed the 2018 season. Selling a ninth full season of the Jason Garrett era is difficult with just three playoff wins, but the Cowboys have a talented roster ready to contend. -- Todd Archer

Rest of NFCE

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12. Philadelphia Eagles
2018 record: 9-7

Reason for optimism: The Super Bowl hangover was real for the Eagles early in 2018. The long run over the season prior took its toll physically and mentally and factored into their 4-6 start, which prevented them from securing any home games in the playoffs. They should be quicker out of the gates this time around. QB Carson Wentz will help with that. He'll look more like his old self with the ACL injury now well in the rearview mirror. -- Tim McManus


21. New York Giants
2018 record: 5-11

Reason for optimism: The Giants have the No. 6 pick and perhaps the best weapons in the NFL. With Odell Beckham Jr., Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepardand Evan Engram, a young quarterback (such as Dwayne Haskins?) would give them hope to be an offensive powerhouse for the immediate future and in the long term. -- Jordan Raanan


25. Washington Commanders
2018 record: 7-9

Reason for optimism: Improved health. Wait, that also was a reason for optimism last year, and that didn't quite work out too well, as 26 players spent time on injured reserve. But here's where it helps now: The Commanders' offensive line should be in a much better spot with a healthy Brandon Scherff at right guard and with both tackles -- Trent Williams and Morgan Moses -- not coming off surgeries, as they were last year. Pair that with an excellent young talent base along the defensive line -- Matt Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne -- and the Commanders have some optimism. But it will be muted until they get their QB position solved. Just like last offseason. -- John Keim

Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore are ranked too high. Pittsburgh didn't even make the playoffs and with all that drama, how are they ranked higher than us?

Ravens' offense will be figured out if they trot out Jackson again as their starting QB.

Zman5 said:

Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore are ranked too high. Pittsburgh didn't even make the playoffs and with all that drama, how are they ranked higher than us?

Ravens' offense will be figured out if they trot out Jackson again as their starting QB.

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Because most teams who make the playoffs one year, don’t the next year. We haven’t had back to back playoff seasons since 06-07. Why should we be ahead of a team that has won more playoff games in one season than we have in the 21st century?

Zman5 said:

Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore are ranked too high. Pittsburgh didn't even make the playoffs and with all that drama, how are they ranked higher than us?

Ravens' offense will be figured out if they trot out Jackson again as their starting QB.

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The Browns offense with Baker Mayfield will be figured out as well.

You know, I am starting to see a pattern to this "offense will be figured out" nonsense that NFL fans love to trot out...certain QBs (that tend to be fan favorites) never get such labels...it is PRESUMED that they will continue to get better (and if they don't NFL fans will just blame their organization/coach/personnel) yet, of course, this does not apply to the Jacksons, Prescotts, Newtons, Wilsons, Kaepernicks, Taylors, Watsons, etc. of the world.

Sevenup3000 said:

The Browns offense with Baker Mayfield will be figured out as well.

You know, I am starting to see a pattern to this "offense will be figured out" nonsense that NFL fans love to trot out...certain QBs (that tend to be fan favorites) never get such labels...it is PRESUMED that they will continue to get better (and if they don't NFL fans will just blame their organization/coach/personnel) yet, of course, this does not apply to the Jacksons, Prescotts, Newtons, Wilsons, Kaepernicks, Taylors, Watsons, etc. of the world.

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I tend to agree with you about the "offense will be figured out" BS but what the Ravens did with Jackson is a total gimmick that is easy to figure out unless they make him pass more than he did last year.

Ranking teams right after the season and before FA and the draft is pointless. No team in the NFL will bring back the same 53 man roster as they did a season ago. And the most important thing is no one knows if Gruden is going to trade away a key to spark a teams into the playoffs!

I don’t take espn serious...

"Selling a ninth full season of the Jason Garrett era is difficult with just three playoff wins..."

Ya think? Lets just hope 2019 is really the end of this dismal era.

ItzKelz said:

Ranking teams right after the season and before FA and the draft is pointless. No team in the NFL will bring back the same 53 man roster as they did a season ago. And the most important thing is no one knows if Gruden is going to trade away a key to spark a teams into the playoffs!

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Go to the Rams forum you see them already discussing who stays and goes. Keeping Suh gonna be real costly.

Zman5 said:

Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore are ranked too high. Pittsburgh didn't even make the playoffs and with all that drama, how are they ranked higher than us?

Ravens' offense will be figured out if they trot out Jackson again as their starting QB.

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We all knew BSPN would rank us low for clicks. I bet that First Take will have a segment on the Cowboys ranking. NFL network has an hour long rankings show tonight. I bet Harrison will have us at 16 and will rank the Eagles and Giants ahead of us.

Sevenup3000 said:

The Browns offense with Baker Mayfield will be figured out as well.

You know, I am starting to see a pattern to this "offense will be figured out" nonsense that NFL fans love to trot out...certain QBs (that tend to be fan favorites) never get such labels...it is PRESUMED that they will continue to get better (and if they don't NFL fans will just blame their organization/coach/personnel) yet, of course, this does not apply to the Jacksons, Prescotts, Newtons, Wilsons, Kaepernicks, Taylors, Watsons, etc. of the world.

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Every offense gets figured out. It is about adjustments. For example our defense got figured out and we did not adjust.

I could care less about rankings in February LOL.

acr731 said:

"Selling a ninth full season of the Jason Garrett era is difficult with just three playoff wins..."

Ya think? Lets just hope 2019 is really the end of this dismal era.

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I assume for it to be the "end of this dismal era" we need to lose most of our games?

Zman5 said:

Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore are ranked too high. Pittsburgh didn't even make the playoffs and with all that drama, how are they ranked higher than us?

Ravens' offense will be figured out if they trot out Jackson again as their starting QB.

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Pittsburgh hasn't had a losing season in 16 years. They are a safe pick for a high spot in these early rankings.