Just recently, SB Nation released an updated, post-draft set of NFL power rankings based on similar rankings from a number of respected sources, and the list named the Cowboys as just the eighth best team. To some extent, this can be chalked up to a rather ridiculous USA Today poll that pegged the Cowboys at 18 and skewed their average position. However, it still seems a little bit low for a team that was among the best in football throughout 2014.
So now the question becomes: can the Cowboys beat expectations in the coming season the same way they did last year?
Keep in mind, a year ago the outlook was not that great in Dallas. Citing what looked to be a pretty poor defense as the main reason for concern, a Betbright preview of the NFC East predicted that the Cowboys would finish at 8-8, second in the division. Given that this preview was aimed at a sports betting public and thus trusted to provide an in-depth and thorough prediction, it was a fairly damning preseason outlook for the Cowboys. And frankly, given the state of the team at the time, it wasn’t unfair or misguided.
But then the 2014 season happened. The defense exceeded expectations, and with DeMarco Murray, Tony Romo, and Dez Bryant all clicking the offense reached new, unexpected heights. Dallas became a true contender by the end of the year, and only missed out on a trip to the conference finals courtesy of a controversial call in the loss to Green Bay.
Now, an aggregate power ranking putting the Cowboys at eight best in the league isn’t exactly as dire as a betting analysis predicting a .500 season. But it’s also a slight step backward in expectations after how well the Cowboys performed for the entirety of the 2014 season. And I suspect, by the time we’re in the heat of the 2015 campaign, it will begin to look somewhat foolish.
Why? Well, here are my three main reasons the Cowboys could once again beat popular expectations.
1. The Running Game Is Fine
DeMarco Murray was one of the biggest stories of the 2014 season, and has subsequently grabbed some of the biggest offseason headlines after moving to Philadelphia to play for Chip Kelly’s Eagles. The hasty reaction to this would be that the Cowboys’ running game should suffer drastically, and no doubt this is why some are lowering expectations. But the truth is, Murray’s success was largely a result of a deadly passing game spreading defenses and a dominant offensive line facilitating the run. Both of those factors are still in place, and according to Jerry Jones, the actual runners—led by Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden—may be even better. I’m not sure I’ll go quite that far, but the running game should be able to stay toward the top of the NFL.
2. Defensive Help Is On The Way
Defensive end Greg Hardy may be controversial, but he’s a high level talent who was brought in during the offseason to boost the Cowboys’ defense. Meanwhile, the Dallas draft focused heavily on adding talent on that same side of the ball, with five picks in the first seven rounds being used for defensive players, including Byron Jones, the dominant corner out of UCONN. Simply put, Dallas is much better positioned to keep opponents out of the end zone in 2015, which should make a huge difference.
3. The NFC East Is There For The Taking
Frankly, the NFC East, beyond the Cowboys, looks incredibly unpredictable. The Redskins are enjoying a bit of stability for the first time in a few years but have a long way to go to put together a winning team. The Giants could have an explosive offense with Shane Vereen on board and Victor Cruz allegedly healthy, but defense is a question and Eli Manning is always inconsistent. And finally, despite the addition of Murray, the Eagles lost a great deal in Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy, and no one seems sure which direction Chip Kelly is headed in regarding his quarterback. This division could be good, but it could shape up to be a mess, and the Cowboys look like the most stable team.
Anything can happen, but considering these three points, I think the eighth spot in an NFL power ranking is a little too low for the 2015 Cowboys. Top-five seems more like it!
Sound off! Do you think the Cowboys will beat last year’s expectations?
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