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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 – SEPTEMBER 10: La’el Collins #71 of the Dallas Cowboys, Travis Frederick #72 of the Dallas Cowboys, and Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate the touchdown by Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a game at AT&T Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: La’el Collins #71 of the Dallas Cowboys, Travis Frederick #72 of the Dallas Cowboys, and Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate the touchdown by Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a game at AT&T Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 16. team. 123. .

OK, so the Cowboys were blown out by the Cardinals during their regular-season tuneup. But head coach Jason Garrett kept his two best offensive weapons, quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott, out of the fray.

But that loss highlighted some very real concerns Garrett and Co. have heading towards 2018.

So much of it starts up front along the offensive line — a unit which many viewed as the best in the NFL for the past few seasons. Heck, Pro Football Focus ranked Dallas’ O-line No. 2 in the league heading towards the regular season.

There are problems there, however. Big ones. Four-time Pro Bowler Zack Martin is dealing with a knee injury, and fellow Pro Bowler Travis Frederick is out indefinitely with a rare disease called Guillain Barre Syndrome, which affects the immune system.

Not good, and that’s something bigger than football, of course.

Dallas’ biggest strength is now a questionable weakness. And while rookie wide receiver Michael Gallup has shown signs he can be an adequate replacement for the veteran, Dez Bryant (currently a free agent), it’s hard to see the Cowboys ascend any higher than where they are right now.