Fansided

2019 NFL power rankings; Patriots back on top…again

By Russell S. Baxter

FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 22: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) on the sideline during a preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 22, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 22: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) on the sideline during a preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 22, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 16
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 24: Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) and middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (54) celebrate during the preseason game between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys on August 24, 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 24: Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) and middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (54) celebrate during the preseason game between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys on August 24, 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys. 8. team. 123. . 0-0. Previous:

Preview: Not too long ago, the Cowboys were dependent on a persistent running game (keyed by a talented offensive line) to control the football and protect their defense. The offensive front remains a team strength but the latter aspect is certainly not the case anymore as this club has a lot of play-makers on the latter side of the ball, including defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and rangy linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith. The big news in Dallas these days has to do with who’s not around. When will two-time NFL rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott return? And will quarterback Dak Prescott and wideout Amari Cooper build on last year’s strong finish.

Next Week: Squaring off against the rival New York Giants in Week 1 has become pretty common. It marks the sixth time in eight years that this NFC East battle will kick off Dallas’ season. While the Cowboys will host this week’s clash, the team has prevailed in the last four meetings dating back to 2017 regardless of the venue.

Playoff hopes: A season ago, the Cowboys survived a rough start to win the NFC East for the third time in five years. But there’s been no back-to-back trips to the playoffs for this team since 2006 and ‘07. It’s been an eventful offseason for the franchise. Can the defense carry the load if Dallas is shorthanded on the other side of the ball?

. 0-0. Previous: . Atlanta Falcons. 7. team. 44

Preview: When you consider that quarterback Matt Ryan put up the kind of numbers that he did a year ago, throwing 35 touchdown passes compared to seven interceptions, and did it minus a reliable running game, it’s hard to imagine how good the offense can be with talented Devonta Freeman healthy again. General manager Thomas Dimitroff spent some money and a used pair of first-round draft choices in an attempt to reinforce his offensive line. The franchise also locked up defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and middle linebacker Deion Jones to long terms deals this offseason. And finally, veteran Matt Bryant is back to handle placekicking duties.

Next Week: The Falcons make their way to the Twin Cities for the first time since 2014. The Vikings have gotten the best of this series as of late. Minnesota has won the last three meetings, including two straight at Atlanta – the latest a 14-9 triumph in 2017. The Falcons’ last road tilt in this series resulted in a 41-28 setback in ‘14.

Playoff hopes: It’s hard to imagine this team getting hit for a second straight year with the kind of injuries that got last season off to such a troubling start. Again, this is a very talented team on both sides of the ball and the front office bolstered its depth this offseason on both the offensive and defensive. The Falcons are a formidable squad.

Next: Nos. 6 and 5