Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images We countdown the days to kickoff giving you an interesting fact about each number. Today is number 4 We are at day 4 of our 99 day countdown until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 4. He was taken in the fourth round, he’s fourth among Cowboys quarterbacks in total wins, he wears 4 for Dallas. Yes you guessed it, we’re talking Dak Prescott. Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Rayne Dakota Prescott was born July 29th, 1993 and was drafted by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. The team had their starting quarterback in Tony Romo, and future offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was the team’s backup quarterback. During a routine practice, Kellen Moore had broken his ankle and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. In a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Romo was injured after an awkward tackle and would lead to the much beloved signal-caller missing a large portion of the season with a back injury. When talking about Dak Prescott’s ability to handle a lot as a young QB, Jason Witten has vividly recalled this play on multiple occasions as an example of how nothing has been too much for Dak: Rookie year. Third preseason game. First play after Tony Romo went down. 3rd-and-8. pic.twitter.com/bUvfogfs6J — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 27, 2019 This situation propelled the young rookie quarterback from Mississippi State into the starting role, marking the first time a rookie has started at quarterback for the Cowboys since Quincy Carter in 2001. What followed was astonishing, as Dak had 3,667 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, and only four interceptions. This remarkable season instilled genuine optimism among Cowboys fans, leading to Dak receiving the Rookie Offensive Player of the Year award and earning a spot in his inaugural Pro Bowl. Prescott is first Cowboys rookie QB to make the Pro Bowl. It’s also the first time two Cowboys rookies (Dak, Zeke) have made the Pro Bowl. — Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) December 21, 2016 In the subsequent two seasons, Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys demonstrated significant productivity as an offensive team. While Dak’s passing efficiency remained largely consistent, his ability to scramble and rush became crucial in propelling Dallas to victories. He secured his inaugural playoff victory against the Seattle Seahawks in 2018 and made a return to the Pro Bowl. Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images In 2019, Prescott concluded the season with 4,902 passing yards, placing him second in the league, alongside 30 touchdowns, which ranked fourth among starting quarterbacks, and 11 interceptions. The team finished with an 8-8 record, ultimately missing the playoffs. The following year, 2020, was marked by Dak’s prominence in the headlines due to his contract negotiations and his status under the franchise tag. Dak was performing exceptionally well, enjoying a career year until a devastating ankle injury in Week 5 sidelined him for the remainder of the season. His performance had been remarkable, suggesting he was in contention for the MVP award. As the next season approached, discussions regarding Dak’s contract dominated the news cycle. Ultimately, he signed a four-year contract extension worth $160 million, with $126 million guaranteed. This agreement included a signing bonus of $66 million, which was the largest in NFL history at that time. Take a bow, @Dak Prescott! 25-for-32 405 yards 4 TDs@dallascowboys | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/UTnH3aH6mB — NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2019 In 2021, Dak had a fruitful season despite the challenges of recovering from a severe ankle injury. He played a crucial role in leading the team to another playoff appearance, but their journey was cut short by the San Francisco 49ers. In a dramatic final play with just 14 seconds remaining, Prescott executed a quarterback draw for 17 yards but was unable to spike the ball in time to stop the clock, resulting in the team’s elimination from the playoffs once again. Dak Prescott: 84.1 PFF Grade when under pressure this season 1st among QBs ⭐️ : @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/SNqoUjSghJ — PFF (@PFF) November 16, 2021 The 2022 season did not commence as anticipated for Dak Prescott. In the opening game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he sustained a thumb injury after his hand collided with a defender’s helmet, resulting in a fracture. Consequently, Prescott was sidelined for six weeks before making his return in Week 7. By the conclusion of the season, he had accumulated 2,860 passing yards, achieved a completion rate of 66.2%, thrown 23 touchdowns, and recorded a season-high of 15 interceptions over the course of 12 games. The interception rate became a focal point in mainstream media throughout the offseason, overshadowing the positive achievements Prescott had made that year. In the Wild Card Round, he excelled by completing 25 of 33 passes for 305 yards, along with four passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown, leading the Cowboys to a 31–14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This marked Prescott’s most significant playoff win, signaling to other teams the Cowboys’ potential. When someone ever asks about Dak Prescott’s best performance in a meaningful game, I offer you 57 seconds of his masterpiece in Tampa Bay from the ’22 playoffs. pic.twitter.com/7RftRI8N1o — Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) January 17, 2023 The following week, Dallas faced the 49ers in the Divisional Round, where the game concluded with a score of 19-12. In 2023, Dak Prescott arguably experienced his finest individual season to date. He topped the league with 36 passing touchdowns, ranked third in passing yards with a total of 4,516, and secured the second position in passer rating at 105.9. Additionally, his 242 rushing yards marked the highest total since his 2019 campaign. Despite his remarkable performance and showcasing some of the best football of his career, the team was unable to advance in the playoffs, perpetuating the ongoing discussion regarding his playoff success, or the absence thereof. DAK. CEEDEE. TOUCHDOWN. pic.twitter.com/HLE5I4wtDc — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 11, 2023 Dak Prescott ranks among the elite

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Mike McCarthy is entering a pretty big year. “I would anticipate we will be all in at the end of this year.” Just a little over seven months ago, Jerry Jones delivered the above quote, which immediately sent Cowboys fans into a frenzy. That frenzy has continued pretty much all offseason, as the Cowboys hardly made any moves that would be considered “going all in.” In fact, the Cowboys’ offseason, following a disappointing and embarrassing loss to the Packers in the playoffs, has been marked by what they haven’t done. Dak Prescott remains unsigned beyond this year, and Mike McCarthy will also be coaching on the final year of his contract. So, too, will newly hired defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. All of it screams dysfunction from the outside looking in. Lost in the headline of “all in” were the other comments Jones made that day in late January, specifically regarding his head coach. “And so, my point is, I look at that and I thought we made a pretty good move four years ago when we hired Mike McCarthy, and he’s had some great in-season success. Now he’s come up short three times and advanced us in the playoff. But I like that fact that’s he’s hanging around the rim, and I like what the team has done to hang around the rim. So, I think, what the answer that I would have is, that I’m aware that we’re hanging around the rim. We’re not getting the ball in but when you hang around the rim – let’s don’t discount hanging around the rim – where we are right now with the players we’ve got, and I’m thinking about it from the whole look.” Now, with less than a week to go before the Cowboys officially commence their season, the plan is to continue hanging around the rim and, ultimately, get the ball in the hoop. That’s what Jones is hoping for, and it’s what McCarthy – who has done this before, in Green Bay – has plans to do. Mike McCarthy says has a 21 game plan for the Cowboys to finish this season. He laid it out for the players in the team meeting today. It starts with Cleveland. He is Year 5 with the Cowboys.What happened in Year 5 with Green Bay?A Super Bowl title — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) September 2, 2024 Of course, it’s impossible to ignore the outside noise leading into this season. The spotlight is always brighter in Dallas, and McCarthy has learned that by now. But this year is drastically different. McCarthy – who hired a new agent over the offseason – could very well be out of a job in five months if he can’t get the ball in the hoop. And the team he currently runs could also be hitting the reset button at quarterback, with or without McCarthy, after this year. It’s a situation that could mirror the famed Last Dance of the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls, at least in terms of the uncertain future of several key figures involved. But the Bulls had already reached the mountaintop. again and again, with that group, whereas this Cowboys team is still figuring out how to get there come playoff time. McCarthy, of course, knows how to do it. He won a Super Bowl in Jerry World as the Packers head coach and has a street named after him outside of Lambeau Field. And the decision to move on from Jason Garrett – who himself had just coached on the final year of his contract – and hire McCarthy was largely predicated on getting a coach who had been there and done that. The experience hasn’t produced the breakthrough that Jones was hoping for. Not yet, at least. But the Cowboys have enjoyed consistency under McCarthy that they haven’t had since the glory days of the 90’s. Three straight 12-win seasons is nothing to sneeze at. McCarthy’s Cowboys, if nothing else, are great at getting to the playoffs. And, of course, you can’t have a chance at the Super Bowl without making the playoffs. Just days away from kicking off the season on the road in Cleveland, though, the Cowboys aren’t an overwhelming favorite to make the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Most sportsbooks, including FanDuel, have their win total line at 9.5 wins, though a few are a little more optimistic at 10.5 wins. Still, Vegas expects a step back for the Cowboys this year, when all signs point to them needing a huge leap forward. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on his contract situation, entering the final year of his deal: “I really don’t want to speak on it. I haven’t spoke on it because there’s really nothing to talk about, because it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is today. And that’s really… — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 2, 2024 McCarthy doesn’t care about any of that, though. Or, at least, he won’t admit that he cares. He insists a laser focus on winning the next game, which happens to be a very tough road game against last year’s best defense in the Cleveland Browns. It will also be a tough first challenge for the new-look run defense under Zimmer against a Browns team that’s been one of the best rushing attacks of the last few years. Those are the details McCarthy prefers to focus on. Just win, and the rest will take care of itself. He knows he has what it takes to win the big one, and feels he has the talent to do it – especially going into his second year calling plays for Prescott, last year’s MVP runner-up – but Super Bowls aren’t won in September, and McCarthy knows this. The pressure may be reaching unsustainable levels, but all he can do is put his head down and his best foot forward this Sunday in Cleveland. Anything else is just a distraction.

Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images Your Wednesday morning news about the Dallas Cowboys Marist Liufau, DeMarvion Overshown on Cowboys’ LB upgrades, looming battle with Browns – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com The Dallas Cowboys linebacker room is eager for their Week 1 matchup. “Coach Zim would just say, ‘Cut it loose. Let me do the thinking. Just go out there and have fun,” Liufau said of Zimmer’s message to the young linebackers and other defensive players. This is a message that materialized often on the field in Oxnard and in the preseason, seeing how fast and free the linebackers were playing on any given rep. It also works in Zimmer’s and the Cowboys’ favor that their top four linebackers aren’t easily shaken by hostile environments such as the one that’ll greet them at Cleveland Browns Stadium. As noted, Clark hails from LSU (and he’s now played in many an unfriendly NFL stadium), Overshown arrived from Texas and Liufau suited up for Notre Dame; and the latter made it clear he’s accustomed to playing for a “team that everybody hates”, a sentiment that could mentally serve him well in adjusting to wearing the Star. Overshown knows a little something about that as well, and while he’s turned up to take the field for his first-ever regular season game after an arduous journey back from a torn ACL suffered last August, he has no plans on letting his nerves get the best of him. “Basically, I’m just going in there with a level-headed mind — knowing what we’re going into and knowing it’s the first game of the season.” he said. “Everybody’s amped up to play, but you can’t be too far in your head to where you’re making mental errors. Go in there grounded and knowing I’m there to take care of business. I love this. Dallas Cowboys waive two players Tuesday, including 2023 fourth-round draftee – SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News The Cowboys made a few moves, including the release of a 2023 draft pick. As they prepare for their 2024 season opener, the Dallas Cowboys made some roster moves Tuesday. According to The Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins, the team waived defensive end Viliami Fehoko and wide receiver David Durden. Fehoko spent part of the offseason working at defensive tackle, but he was better suited to play defensive end. The Cowboys drafted Fehoko in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft out of San Jose State. Dallas spent three of its first four draft picks on defensive players that year. Durden, meanwhile, was looking to bounce back from an ACL injury that occurred last year. He bonded over his season-ending injury with linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and tight end John Stephens, who also sustained ACL tears in 2023. Durden originally joined the team as an undrafted free agent out of West Florida, a Division II program. Hold up between Dak Prescott, Cowboys reportedly the years the team is willing to commit to – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys The Cowboys and Dak Prescott negotiations could come down to the years, not the money. Back in the early days of the summer it was thrown out by NFL Network that Dak Prescott could ultimately sign a deal of the shorter variety if and when it ultimately came to pass. The thought (generally) behind this is that doing so would allow him to hit a position of negotiation sooner and closer to the prime of his career as opposed to past it. That may or may not have been what Dak wanted then, but if it was then that status quo has changed. On Tuesday’s “Scoop City” podcast, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini noted that the hold up at this moment in time is the years involved, but that Dak is the one who wants the longer deal. “The hold up at this point from what I understand is about the years the Dallas Cowboys are willing to commit to. While, it’s assumed, that Dak is going to be paid at the top of the market, the Dallas Cowboys are aware of that. It’s… do they want to put themselves in a position, contractually, that will keep Dak in Dallas longer than two, three, four years. And that’s what Dak is looking for. He’s looking for a long-term commitment from Dallas. So the hold up here is really the belief from the Dallas Cowboys. This is a guy who’s won a lot of games. But is that enough? Winning’s not enough for Jerry Jones. We know this. They want to do more… they don’t want to just be the team that wins a lot of games. They want to be the team that can play in the Super Bowl.” There are definitely benefits to a longer-term deal for the Cowboys as it would allow them to play around with the money and salary cap space involved to a different degree. Recently our own OCC explored that world relative to the recent CeeDee Lamb extension that Dallas did. But a commitment is a commitment and locking yourself into a long-term one is always something that must be weighed carefully and with proper consideration. Maybe that is what the Cowboys are doing and have been doing for this entire time, but this presentation makes it seem like they have legitimate doubts about how long Dak will be the proper quarterback for them to get where they want to go. NFL execs predict award winners for 2024: MVP, top rookies – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Prediction for Micah Parsons to win DPOY. Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons, DE, Dallas Cowboys Parsons promised “It’s up” this year for opposing offenses after NFL scouts and executives surveyed by ESPN ranked him No. 3 among edge rushers this offseason. The players ahead of him, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt, each has a Defensive Player of the Year award. Parsons hasn’t peaked despite back-to-back-to-back seasons of at least 13 sacks while fighting through constant double-teams. “The whole [Cowboys] defense

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images Some matchups are going to prove more important than others on Sunday for the Cowboys. To kick off the 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys will hit the road to take on the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday afternoon. It seems to be a tossup right now as to which team is favored to walk away with the victory, but Dallas may have the slight edge considering they have the majority of their starters returning on both sides of the ball. This is far from a cakewalk win for the Cowboys. There’s still a lot of mystery and unanswered questions of about this year’s team, which makes this Week 1 matchup against the Browns all the more intriguing. If they do want to walk away with the “W” they will need to win some key matchups. Today, we will share the ones we think need to be watch closely. LT Tyler Guyton vs. DE Myles Garrett Tyler Guyton won’t be awarded the opportunity to dip his toes in to test the waters in his professional debut in the NFL. Instead, he’s being thrown into the deep end immediately having to face off against Myles Garrett in the season opener. Garrett is arguably the best pass rusher in the entire league and has the ability to ruin the Cowboys day all by himself if the rookie LT can’t hold his own. As matchups go, this could be the most intriguing and important one to follow in Week 1 for the Cowboys. DE Micah Parsons vs. LT Jedrick Wills Jr. To help balance the scales from the Tyler Guyton versus Myles Garrett matchup, Micah Parsons going up against Jedrick Wills is another important an intriguing head-to-head battle to keep track of. Wills is still working his way back from a season-ending MCL tear he sustained in November last year, and will maybe be less than 100% for the season opener, which could help tip the scales in the Cowboys favor in this Week 1 matchup. This could be a huge problem for the Browns and quite possibly a multi-sack game for Micah Parsons. CB Caelen Carson vs. WR Amari Cooper Due to Amari Cooper’s precise route running ability and his veterans savviness, he is a nightmare matchup for just about any cornerback around the league. The Browns would be wise to get him matched up with Cowboys rookie CB Caelen Carson, who is expected to replace DaRon Bland while he’s sidelined with a foot injury opposite Trevon Diggs. Carson has received some high praise this offseason, but may need some help containing Cooper. Otherwise, his NFL debut may be a rough one.

Scott Rausenberger-USA TODAY Sports The latest news from around the division. Giants head coach Brian Daboll to take over play-calling role in 2024 season – Kevin Patra, NFL.com Daboll will return to his role of play-caller in his critical third year in New York. Heading into a vital third season in New York, Brian Daboll is, indeed, taking back play-calling duties. The Giants head coach told reporters on Tuesday that he planned to call offensive plays in 2024. “Yeah, I’m doing it,” Daboll bluntly replied, declining to provide any further detail of when went into the decision, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Daboll said in March that he was considering taking over play-calling duties after offensive coordinator Mike Kafka ran the show the first two years in New York. Things trended toward Daboll officially taking over the duties most of the offseason. Receiver Darius Slayton noted in July that the head coach had taken on a larger role in the offensive meetings this offseason. Daboll returned to play-calling role during the preseason. The 49-year-old coach made it official on Tuesday. It’s no surprise that after last year’s offensive struggles, Daboll would return to his bread-and-butter. He earned the Big Blue gig in part because of his play-calling prowess with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. If he’s going down in New York, he’ll go down swinging. Earlier this offseason, Kafka didn’t lament the possibility that he could have play-calling duties wrestled away, noting that it would be similar to his time in Kansas City. “I’ll kind of lean back on my experience in Kansas City a little bit where Coach [Andy] Reid is the primary play-caller, and the coordinators that were under him — whether it be Eric Bieniemy, Matt Nagy — those guys are super involved,” Kafka said in June, per SNY TV. “So I have that experience of being in a system like that. It’s pretty typical around the league, coaches doing that. So whatever decision Dabes wants to go with, I fully support.” Daboll decided he’ll be the one in Daniel Jones’ ear in 2024. A glimpse behind the scenes of Eagles’ Brazil planning – Reuben Frank, NBC Sports Philadelphia Philly is trying to make their trip to Brazil as normal as possible. The Eagles have been planning their trip to Brazil for months, and assistant general manager Jon Ferrari has been leading the team’s organizing efforts since the game was first announced back in February. Ferrari answered a bunch of questions Monday about the planning process and addressed the Eagles’ plans in some specific areas. Here are some highlights from Ferrari’s chat: Did the Eagles really tell the players to stay in their rooms? “No. So we had a team meeting the other day, we sort of talked, educated them about everything to do with the trip. We wanted to make sure, like any new place we go to, when we go to New England for a joint practice for four days, we educate them. We go to the Super Bowl, we educate them on the experience. So we sort of gave them just the layout of what that area was, but there’s nothing set like prohibiting them from doing it.” Can you make this a normal football week? “We’ve been doing everything we can on the back end, so for the players and coaches, it’s a normal football trip. It’s a special, unique opportunity, but it’s a normal football trip. … We want to, when we get off that plane and get through customs, we want it to be as normal and football focused and football forward as possible. Yes, it is a long flight. We have to do things medically and from a recovery standpoint to make sure we put everybody in the best position to play. It is outside of the length of the trip. We’re going to play in L.A. and it’s going to be five hours, right? This is double that or close to it. So you just want to make sure that that’s as normal as possible.” Dan Quinn Provides Update on Washington Commanders Rookie Left Tackle Brandon Coleman – David Harrison, Sports Illustrated Rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman is trending in the right direction after injury. Some will say the left tackle is the second-most important position on an NFL field behind only the quarterback. When your quarterback is a rookie like Jayden Daniels is for the Washington Commanders his blindside protector becomes all the more valuable. Of course, when that left tackle is a rookie as well, there are natural concerns that rise from outsiders who are nervous about trusting such an inexperienced player to protect the future of the Commanders franchise. So when Brandon Coleman won the starting left tackle job fair and square despite being a third-round pick in the NFL Draft this year people got excited. When he got hurt and subsequently missed the rest of training camp and the entire preseason, Washington fans only got more nervous than they were before. “I spent just a moment with him after practice because he was able to do quite a bit yesterday and then today padded,” Quinn said. “I asked him if anything was guarded. He said, ‘No man, I’m good to go’. He felt strong, he felt good. So, I’m pleased that we’re leaving (training camp) in good health, and that’s the goal that you want as the coach.” It’s a big step in the right direction for Coleman and for the starting offensive line in Washington that has gotten precious few reps together, leading to that increased nervousness about the unit as a whole. One person who isn’t nervous, however, is Daniels himself who will be charged with executing the offense behind that line – or one featuring left tackle Cornelius Lucas if Campbell can’t get ready in time for Week 1.

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Here are our first set of power rankings ahead of the 2024 season. Congratulations on making it to another NFL season. We really made it. There are other sports that help pass the time, but there is clearly nothing like football and nothing like the National Football League. Thursday will kick off the 105th season in league history which is pretty crazy to think about, thankfully the Dallas Cowboys have only been in a Super Bowl drought for about the final third of that. While the season will surely be epic, the truth is that right now we don’t know what it will yield. Every week will give us another set of data to work with, but we have to lay out the state of things as we see it before get there. Every week here at BTB you can find our power rankings where we put together our ranking of every team in the league at that moment, plus a collection of how outlets across the internet view the Dallas Cowboys. Happy football season. Let’s go. 1 – Kansas City Chiefs They are the unquestioned kings until proven very much otherwise. 2 – San Francisco 49ers If there was an all-time bridesmaid it might be the 49ers over the last few years. So many elite teams with top-level appearances and zero trophies to show for it. 3 – Baltimore Ravens They boast the reigning MVP and should never be counted out. 4 – Detroit Lions I am certainly a believer. But the amount of people who overlook that they blew a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship Game really is something. 5 – Houston Texans There is a ton of hype here. We will see if they live up to it. 6 – Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow is back. That is a problem for everyone else. 7 – Dallas Cowboys It is wild how this remains one of the best teams in the NFL on paper given, uh, everything. 8 – Buffalo Bills They had a very similar offseason to Dallas in that they did not do much. Josh Allen time. 9 – Green Bay Packers It is a very different thing when you are not taking teams by surprise. But I would not bet against Jordan Love. 10 – Philadelphia Eagles Do I wish the Cowboys were as aggressive as them from a front office perspective? Yes. Are there an enormously large amount of people forgetting their historic collapse across the second half of last season? Also yes. 11 – Los Angeles Rams Is this the final season of Matthew Stafford in LA? 12 – Miami Dolphins When they are humming no one can run with them, but we have yet to see that hold over an entire season and into the playoffs. Mike McDaniel has taken them to the dance in each of his first two years but has not won a game there, yet he received a contract extension this summer. Imagine that! 13 – New York Jets Prepare to have this team thrown all in your face. Again. 14 – Jacksonville Jaguars Obviously their second half collapse last year was something in and of itself. Is the pressure sort of on Doug Pederson? 15 – Cleveland Browns So much depends on if Deshaun Watson can be a legitimate NFL quarterback. 16 – Atlanta Falcons I’ve always believed in Kirk Cousins. I expect them to win the division, like many do. 17 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Is this the year they return back to that team we sort of sometimes think about every now and then? 18 – Los Angeles Chargers Jim Harbaugh time, baby. 19 – Seattle Seahawks They have so many receivers, but trusting it all to Geno Smith remains an interesting choice. 20 – New Orleans Saints If there was a truly blah team, it is the Saints. 21 – Indianapolis Colts I’d love to see Anthony Richardson pay off. We will see. 22 – Chicago Bears There is no question that there is a ton of excitement. Now we need to see it realized. 23 – Washington Commanders They are low to start, but I would not be shocked if it all works. Time will tell. 24 – Denver Broncos Bo Nix may not be bad, but that absolutely no one is calling for Sean Payton in any way remains an incredible thing. 25 – Tennessee Titans They are the top contenders with New Orleans for the title of blah. 26 – Arizona Cardinals I do anticipate that they will be better. Kyler Murray will win a lot of people their fantasy football leagues. 27 – Minnesota Vikings It is such a bummer that we have to see them without J.J. McCarthy this year. 28 – Las Vegas Raiders Not quite blah, but only because of historical value. 29 – Pittsburgh Steelers Are we supposed to buy in all of a sudden? 30 – New York Giants Nobody is nervous about this team. Nobody. 31 – New England Patriots Bring in Drake Maye and we can talk. 32 – Carolina Panthers You have to prove everything. NFL.com: 10 (LW: N/A) Top 10! They’ve averted crisis with the CeeDee Lamb deal and found a way to kick other cans, such as Dak Prescott’s contract situation, down the road a bit longer. And really, when you’re as talented as Dallas is, and you have most of your team ready to go, you should win. But with Prescott and Mike McCarthy facing such pressure-packed seasons and the Cowboys drawing a much tougher schedule than a year ago, reaching the 12-win plateau Dallas has hit in each of the past three seasons feels difficult. That puts even more emphasis on playoff performance, which is where the ‘Boys really struggled over the past few seasons. This is why I have them 10th and not higher. ESPN: 6 (LW: N/A) This is admittedly a time where not everybody has