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NFL power rankings: Saints, Chargers lead way into 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) talk during a TV timeout during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) talk during a TV timeout during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball against Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball against Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

. . . Dallas Cowboys. 9. team. 123

2019 Key Additions: The good news for Jason Garrett’s club is the team did get a new long-term deal done with defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. But Randy Gregory is serving yet another suspension and free-agent defensive tackle David Irving (also under suspension) won’t be re-signed by the club. Hence the Cowboys went out and dealt for end Robert Quinn via the Dolphins, added free-agent Kerry Hyder and used a second-round draft choice on defensive tackle Trysten Howard (Central Florida). All told, Dallas used three of its eight selections on defensive line help. Other additions include wide receiver Randall Cobb and safety George Iloka. And tight end Jason Witten is back after a year in the broadcast booth.

Offseason Review: It’s been a rollercoaster few years for Garrett and company. The Cowboys won the NFC East in 2014, ’16 and a season ago but missed the playoffs in 2015 and ’17 for totally different reasons. And the fact also remains that no team has repeated as champion when it comes to this division in well over a decade. There’s no denying the talent on this team on both sides of the football. And this resilient club did overcome a 3-5 start to win seven of its final eight games, grab a playoff berth and win a postseason game. But it’s time for this club to establish some much-needed consistency.

Next: No. 8

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