Can the Dallas Cowboys repeat as NFC East champs?

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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Ezekiel Elliott #21 after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on November 24, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys

2016 Record/Finish: 13-3, 1st in NFC East
Offensive Ranks (2016): 5th (scoring), 5th (total yards), 23rd (passing), 2nd (rushing)
Defensive Ranks (2016): 5th (scoring), 14th (total yards), 26rd (passing), 1st (rushing)
Free agent additions: CB Nolan Carroll, III (PHI)
Free agent losses: G Ronald Leary (DEN), CB Brandon Carr (BAL), CB Morris Claiborne (NYJ), S Barry Church (JAX)
Key draft picks: DE Taco Charlton, CB Chidobe Awuzie, CB Jourdan Lewis
Toughest multi-game stretch: Weeks 1-3 (vs. NYG, at DEN, at AZ) & Weeks 14-16 (at NYG, at OAK, vs. SEA)
Vegas Over/Under for wins: OFF
Projected 2016 record: 10-6

There is no Vegas win total currently due to the uncertainty surrounding running back Ezekiel Elliott. Will he be suspended six games? Four games? Two? Maybe none at all? No one truly knows but as the season gets closer and nothing is settled, the likelihood is that Elliott is available for Week 1.

That, in a nutshell, is the story of the 2017 Dallas Cowboys. With four players currently suspended (Elliott, Damontre Moore, David Irving, Randy Gregory) and two more possibly (Nolan Carroll, Damien Wilson), the war of attrition has began before a ball has been kicked off.

If this team can navigate the pressures self-imposed by off the field decisions, the Cowboys are clearly the most talented team in the division. The defense is undergoing a remake on the fly but more talented than last year. That’s saying something given that Dallas had the best run defense and was in the top five in scoring.

Next: The man who guided Jason Witten to greatness

The Dallas Cowboys will not get to thirteen wins again, especially with Zeke sidelined, but ten should be enough to win the division. A home game in the playoffs is all that anyone can ask for. Whether or not the Cowboys can take advantage of that will be another story.

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