USA Today’s power rankings puts the Dallas Cowboys too low

Considering the Dallas Cowboys are fresh off a 10-6 season, it seems disrespectful by USA Today to rank them so low going into 2019.

Every year it feels like it’s the same thing, everyone always doubts the Dallas Cowboys. Whether it’s newspapers, national pundits to football analysts; everyone seems to turn their backs on America’s Team.

Looking at USA Today’s recent power rankings (published on 7/23/2019), it’s hard to believe that the Cowboys are the 15th best team in the league. Let’s breakdown these rankings.

At the top of the list it’s understandable you have the defending Super Bowl champs in the New England Patriots as well as the up and coming Los Angeles Chargers. However, at  No. 3 it becomes a joke, the Philadelphia Eagles who lost their savior in Nick Foles is now looking to depend on Carson Wentz who hasn’t played a down of playoff football in his career.

The Eagles just don’t make sense considering the Cowboys beat them twice last season. I understand it’s only the preseason rankings but Dallas has proven they are a top five team in the NFL and certainly better than their division rivals.

There are many other teams who shouldn’t be considered above the Cowboys such as the Minnesota Vikings at No. 6, The Atlanta Falcons at #8, the Cleveland Browns at #10, and the San Francisco 49ers at No. 13. Overall in my opinion these rankings are a bit far fetched focusing more on “what could go right” for a team rather than focusing on what that team did last season and the success they had.

All the teams listed above didn’t make the playoffs last season but are somehow expected to turn it around? It just doesn’t make sense to me. All these teams are surrounded by “what ifs”.

What if Kirk Cousins finally plays to his potential? What if the Falcons defense can return to its Super Bowl form? Can Odell Beckham Jr. really turn around the Browns? Can Jimmy Garoppolo finally prove he’s truly a franchise quarterback?

These questions remain unanswered and at the end of the day facts are facts and the Dallas Cowboys are easily one of the most proven teams in the league.

The Cowboys are a top five team. They had one of the best defenses in football last season. And with the addition of defensive end Robert Quinn and rookie defensive tackle Trysten Hill, there’s no reason they shouldn’t repeat as a top five defense again.

On the offensive side of the ball, Dallas has a winner at quarterback in Dak Prescott, arguably the best running back in the league, as well as a star studded receiving core headlined by Pro Bowler Amari Cooper. With the return of tight end Jason Witten and with the upgrade in the slot with Randall Cobb there’s an arsenal of weapons for the Cowboys.

Personally this is one of the deepest team Dallas has had in a long time, this may be the year for the Cowboys to return to the Super Bowl and to finally put their doubters to rest.