The general consensus among pundits is that the Dallas Cowboys will be better this year, with power rankings placing them anywhere from 9th to 14th, generally second in the NFC East, just behind the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now ESPN has weighed in, and they aren’t breaking any new ground with their ranking of Dallas at 11th, one spot behind the Eagles, with a slightly better-than-a-coin-flip chance of making the playoffs. What concern does ESPN come up with? Defense, of course.
A key to that defense will be getting a big play from newly acquired edge rusher Rashan Gary, and one outlet thinks that’s going to come. Here is Dallas’ day.
coming? They seem happy
ESPN power rankings tab Dallas 11th
ESPN’s preseason power rankings are out and the Cowboys just miss the top 10, checking in at 11th, one spot behind Philadelphia at the top of the NFC East. ESPN analytics project Dallas with 9.2 wins and give Dallas a 51.9% chance of making the playoffs and a 33.9% chance of winning the division. The “best case scenario” is 12-5, with a worst case at 7-10.
As for the biggest concern, that takes a predictable path.
Todd Archer writes: “Defense. Even if there is optimism about what the unit displayed over the summer with Christian Parker, there is still everything to prove when the games are real. Parker is a first-time defensive coordinator. There is not a dominant edge rusher. Linebacker depth is a question, as is cornerback depth. There will be games when the offense is stifled, so can the defense win low-scoring games?”
The biggest strength, also predictably, is the offense and quarterback Dak Prescott.
Rashan Gary gets some hype
To be more specific, Dallas’ defensive issue seems to be how it will generate a pass rush, which didn’t go well last year. The Cowboys’ biggest move to immediately address that issue was trading for edge rusher Rashan Gary, who has never had a double-digit sack season.
In The Athletic’s Bold Predictions story, Jon Machota thinks Gary is going to get that double-digit total.
He writes: “Gary’s career high is 9.5 sacks in 2021. He had 7.5 each of the last two seasons in Green Bay. He has looked like an extremely motivated player throughout training camp, getting as much pressure as any Dallas edge rusher. And the opportunities should be there with an interior defensive line that includes Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku are the expected starters at outside linebacker. Von Miller and rookie Malachi Lawrence should see a lot of opportunities behind them. If Gary, 28, stays healthy, he has a chance to have a big year in Christian Parker’s new defensive scheme.”
Dallas Cowboys reveal uniform schedule
The Cowboys won’t know for months when the kickoff time is for its Week 18 game, but they know what they’ll be wearing. Dallas has dropped its uniform schedule for 2026, one dominated, as usual, by the scheme they call Primary White. Here is what all 17 games look like.
REGULAR SEASON
Week 1 Sun, Sept. 13 at New York Giants 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT, NBC. Primary White
Week 2 Sun, Sept. 20 vs. Washington Commanders 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CT, FOX. Alternate Color Rush
Week 3 Sun, Sept 27 vs. Baltimore Ravens (at Rio) 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CT, CBS. Primary White
Week 4 Sun, Oct 4 at Houston Texans 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, FOX. Primary Navy
Week 5 Thu, Oct 8 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6:15 p.m. MT/7:15 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime Video. Primary White
Week 6 Sun, Oct 18 at Green Bay Packers 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT, NBC. Primary White
Week 7 Mon, Oct 26 at Philadelphia Eagles 6:15 PM ESPN. Alternate Color Rush
Week 8 Sun, Nov 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, FOX. Primary White
Week 9 Sun, Nov 8 at Indianapolis Colts 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, FOX. Primary Navy with white helmets
Week 10 Sun, Nov 15 vs. San Francisco 49ers 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m., FOX. Primary White
Week 11 Sun, Nov 22 vs. Tennessee Titans 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, FOX. Primary White
Week 12 Thu, Nov 26 vs. Philadelphia Eagles 2:30 p.m. MT/3:30 p.m. CT, FOX. Alternate Classic.
Week 13 Mon, Dec 7 at Seattle Seahawks 6:15 p.m. MT/7:15 p.m. CT ESPN. Primary White.
Week 14 BYE
Week 15 Sun, Dec 20 at Los Angeles Rams 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CT, CBS. Primary Navy
Week 16 Sun, Dec 27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m., NBC. Alternate Color Rush.
Week 17 Sun, Jan 3 vs. New York Giants 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, FOX. Primary White
Week 18 Sun, Jan 10 at Washington Commanders TBD. Primary White
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Where does Dallas Cowboys rank on latest NFL power rankings?
