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NFL power rankings: 32-team post-preseason breakdown ahead of Week 1

By Peter Panacy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 26: Travell Dixon #27 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with teammates after he intercepted the ball in the fourth quarter of a preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on August 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 26: Travell Dixon #27 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with teammates after he intercepted the ball in the fourth quarter of a preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on August 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Arizona Cardinals. 24. team. 32. .

Teams undergoing massive transitions typically stay towards the bottom of NFL power rankings, and the Arizona Cardinals are no exception.

Arizona gets a small boost in the rankings ahead of Week 1, namely because of its defense and the strong showing it had against the Dallas Cowboys earlier this preseason. This side of the ball will keep the Cardinals in a number of games this season, perhaps forcing an upset or two along the line.

But head coach Steve Wilks’ squad will be beset by a number of the same problems that have been issues for some time now.

So much of the worry starts up front, where Pro Football Focus ranked the offensive line 27th heading into 2018. The O-line should be improved over last year, which is good. But a combination of injuries and regular pressure on Arizona’s quarterbacks haven’t evaporated much at all.

Speaking of quarterback pressure, veteran starter Sam Bradford isn’t exactly the kind of QB you’d want under duress. This will be the rookie Josh Rosen’s squad soon, perhaps sooner than expected with how fragile Bradford has been over his injury-plagued career.

There’s your 2018 storyline for Arizona.