NFC East power rankings: Cowboys hurdle over Eagles heading into Week 2

1. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

Last Week: 33-17 Win vs. Cleveland Browns

After losing key pieces all over their roster, the Dallas Cowboys scrambled to replace their starters. Most of the heavy lifting was done in the Draft, leading to some uncertainty heading into the season.

Despite all the changes, the only team in the NFC East to win as underdogs last week was the Cowboys. Many questions regarding the rookies and the change in defensive coordinator from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer were answered.

The Cleveland Browns were without their top weapon, running back Nick Chubb. Despite that, backup Jerome Ford was more than capable of filling in for him as he did last season. Dallas did a great job stuffing the run in the first half, forcing quarterback Deshaun Watson to throw the ball.

With Watson needing to throw the ball, the Cowboys' pass rush went to work and made the quarterback's day a living hell. According to PFF, their 40 pressures led the NFL, with the next closest being the Seattle Seahawks' 29 pressures against the Denver Broncos.

The rushers sacked Watson six times and hit him 17 times. It could have been more, but he escaped the pocket a few times. He took a beating, but it wasn't always because of the offensive line. Dallas' coverage was exceptional, forcing Watson to hold onto the ball, and giving their rushers more than enough time to hit home.

Corners Trevon Diggs and Caelen Carson played great, with Diggs picking off a pass that tipped off the hands of Elijah Moore, and the rookie essentially locking down wideout Amari Cooper. Linebacker Eric Kendricks also pitched in, picking off a pass that edge rusher Micah Parsons deflected.

Dallas wasn't perfect on defense, but they were impressive. They made big plays and had everyone step up. Mike Zimmer's defense is off to a fantastic start.

On offense, the Cowboys were solid. Quarterback Dak Prescott made plays when he needed to, but with the team taking a big lead early, they took their foot off the gas. Two impressive drives, that which led to Brandin Cooks' touchdown grab in the first quarter, and that which led to a 57-yard field goal before halftime should give you confidence moving forward.

The offensive line played well, with all eyes on rookies Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe. The latter did not give up one pressure according to The 33rd Team, and the first-rounder contained reigning defensive player of the year, Myles Garrett. There was some inconsistency in breaking open holes in the run game, but the Browns' front seven is one of the best in the NFL.

Cooks and Ceedee Lamb saw most of the targets, with tight end Jake Ferguson seeing his fair share before being injured. Lamb dominated, as usual, and Cooks looked healthy despite battling injuries last year and coming off his worst season since 2019. Jalen Tolbert only saw two targets, but look for Hunter Luepke to contribute on play actions.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott looks fresh, running for 40 yards on ten carries, but we have seen this before. Rico Dowdle, the expected starting back, was not as productive, running for 26 yards on eight carries. With Zeke known to decline as the season goes on, expect Dowdle to get more opportunities. down the road.

Overall it was a great team win for the Dallas Cowboys against a tough defense. They need to carry that momentum into their home opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, who have an underrated defense and dynamic playmakers on offense They're coming off a big 47-10 win against the Carolina Panthers.

Next Game: vs New Orleans Saints, Sunday at 12:00 pm CDT

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