We have reached mid-October so I hope that you have already procured your Halloween costume. Consider this your final warning in that regard.
In that spirit, several NFL teams are experiencing treats while others (like ours) are offering tricks on the regular. Separation seems to only really be happening at the bottom of the league, but this is the last chance for teams to really dig in before they start to join those who still find themselves winless.
Obviously last week was not a good one for the
Dallas Cowboys so power rankings aren’t going to be fun.
Let’s get to them anyway.
1 – San Francisco 49ers (LW: 1)
They look unstoppable right now. If the Cowboys do wind up getting it together they will at some poine likely have to go through their boogeyman.
2 – Buffalo Bills (LW: 4)
They are clearly the AFC’s best at the moment.
3 – Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 2)
Welcome back from the bye. I imagine they will have something to say about the AFC’s best conversation.
4 – Baltimore Ravens (LW: 3)
Finding ways to win is always impressive. The Ravens appeaer to have gone from one all-time head coach to another.
5 – Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 5)
It was great to see them pull it out against Philly, but wow they tried to throw it away. This is a big week for them to truly lay claim to their division as they host Houston in London.
6 – New England Patriots (LW: 9)
Perhaps they are going to be just fine after all.
7 – Seattle Seahawks (LW: 6)
Last week was definitely a stumble, but those are going to happen.
8 – Detroit Lions (LW: 20)
I’ve personally been very low on Detroit. I’ll admit that I was certainly wrong to this point.
9 – Minnesota Vikings (LW: 10)
If you keep piling up wins while you figure things out then you are going to be totally fine. They got to their bye a 5-0. Must be nice.
10 – Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 16)
I’m struggling to feel like they really have a chance this year. They are definitely hanging around.
11 – Chicago Bears (LW: 7)
The loss was tough, but it is impossible to truly evaluate them until Caleb Williams is back.
12 – Denver Broncos (LW: 11)
They are so clearly held back by their quarterback. But wins are wins.
13 – Los Angeles Rams (LW: 8)
2-3 just like the Cowboys. And their head coach is a big reason why, too.
14 – Atlanta Falcons (LW: 13)
Obviously they lost, but the Falcons have a spunk to them. I’m intrigued.
15 – Carolina Panthers (LW: 14)
The NFC South might belong to the Panthers again, though.
16 – Green Bay Packers (LW: 22)
See you Sunday. Be gentle.
17 – Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 24)
Mike McCarthy is making lemonade. Good for him.
18 – New York Giants (LW: 18)
I’d imagine we all agree that they have a pretty low ceiling this year given the injuries, but they deserve so much credit for actually reaching it. They are clearly not the Giants of old.
19 – Dallas Cowboys (LW: 12)
Every time we give them an inch of trust… they burn us.
20 – Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 15)
The vibes are quite poor here.
21 – Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 17)
Even though they lost, I still feel like they are headed in the right direction. Things just take time.
22 – Houston Texans (LW: 26)
It is going to be awesome to see Marvin Harrison Jr. with C.J. Stroud.
23 – Indianapolis Colts (LW: 19)
What do the Colts do well? Anything?
24 – Cleveland Browns (LW: 21)
Back to earth.
25 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 29)
Kudos to them for exposing the Cowboys.
26 – New Orleans Saints (LW: 23)
When the offense is on it is so awesome. The rest of the team is just… not good.
27 – New York Jets (LW: 28)
A win is a win!
28 – Washington Commanders (LW: 25)
Jayden Daniels not knowing the timeout situation is such an indictment. Everybody involved failed.
29 – Arizona Cardinals (LW: 27)
They are going to beat the Cowboys, aren’t they?
30 – Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 30)
Yikes.
31 – Miami Dolphins (LW: 32)
Double yikes.
32 – Tennessee Titans (LW: 31)
I’m not sure they are actually an NFL team.
ESPN: 15 (LW: 12)
So it begins.
Biggest issue on defense: Everything?
How do you pick just one issue when it comes to the Cowboys? They are giving up 27.2 points per game, which ranks 26th in the NFL. They are giving up 168.4 rushing yards per game, which is last in the league. They have recorded only five sacks and do not have an interception this season. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 72.3% of their passes. Through five games, new coordinator Christian Parker’s defense might not be worse than it was under Matt Eberflus last season. But it is at least the same and a big reason why Dallas is 2-3. — Todd Archer
NFL.com: 18 (LW: 8)
A sizable drop.
The Cowboys suffered a disastrous loss on Thursday night, falling to a previously winless Buccaneers team that had every reason to lay down in Arlington. Instead, Bucky Irving ran through Dallas’ defense, Jalon Daniels produced a creditable performance in place of Baker Mayfield, and the Cowboys’ typically-explosive offense mustered just 16 points. We know Dallas only has one path to victory — light up the scoreboard — and when that doesn’t work, it exposes the flaws in this club. It’s only one loss, but it eliminated much of my confidence in this team being a real contender.
USA Today: 24 (LW: 18)
And again.
At least they won’t have to suffer the ignominy of facing their Parsons mistake up close and personal − between the lines anyway − for a second straight season.
Yahoo: 20 (LW: 12)
Another.
The Cowboys are blowing a good opportunity in a bad NFC East. They gave away a game against the Ravens by mismanaging the final seconds of regulation. They lost at home last week as a big favorite to a Buccaneers team with an undrafted rookie quarterback.
The problem isn’t hard to diagnose, and it’s the defense. The Cowboys are 32nd in defensive DVOA, the exact spot they held last season. New coordinator Christian Parker hasn’t been any better than old coordinator Matt Eberflus and the personnel additions haven’t changed anything either. Team owner Jerry Jones gave the odd reason when he traded Micah Parsons that improving the run defense was a major part of the decision; the Cowboys have allowed an NFL-worst 842 rushing yards. Jones is already being asked if he’ll remove Parker, and while the answer has been no, the Cowboys did add longtime defensive coach Mike Pettine to the staff this week.
CBS Sports: 17 (LW: 12)
Not as far here.
This thing has gotten ugly. The defense is historically bad. Their effort isn’t good either. Jerry Jones has to be seething.
The Athletic: 20 (LW: 14)
The “who have you beaten” question is an interesting way to measure everyone.
Who have you beaten? Commanders, Texans
This defense is just a total mess. The free-falling Buccaneers went to Dallas with their backup quarterback and left with more than 400 yards of offense after possessing the ball for nearly 40 minutes. Maybe newly acquired Joey Porter Jr. will make a big difference, but the defense is a problem.
ProFootballTalk: 20 (LW: 18)
Fin.
The arrival of Mike Pettine is both an acknowledgement that the defense needs help and a failure to acquire the kind of help it needs.
Week To Week Movement
Full Power Rankings
