The Dallas Cowboys are one of last week’s 15 winners from across the NFL and so you would assume that all is sunshine and rainbows around here.
That isn’t exactly the case. Aside from the fact that some cooler weather and cloud cover are over much of the country, the mood around America’s Team is a bit grim. That’s what happens when you barely beat a bad team.
Where would you say the Cowboys rank against the rest of the NFL right now? Where should they rank? And how do other people feel that they rank?
Let’s answer all of those questions with this week’s power rankings.
1. Buffalo Bills (LW: 1)
Monday night was not the prettiest game, but they got it done.
2. San Francisco 49ers (LW: 2)
They are a monster sent to destroy everyone, but most specifically the Dallas Cowboys.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 5)
This team has the feel of the new-age group. They get things in a way others don’t want to. Good for them.
4. Green Bay Packers (LW: 10)
The Cowboys getting destroyed by them doesn’t feel any better, but wow this looks like a juggernaut.
5. Detroit Lions (LW: 3)
Just a really good and well-coached football team.
6. Chicago Bears (LW: 4)
You win however you have to.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 7)
It has felt like they have gotten less love than the other contenders this season. They are very much for real.
8. Denver Broncos (LW: 8)
Another team that always finds a way.
9. New England Patriots (LW: 6)
Sunday was rough. But they will be back.
10. Seattle Seahawks (LW: 9)
It is starting to feel like the wheels are falling off a little bit here.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 12)
The whole world will get to see Mike McCarthy on Sunday night against the Bengals. How will he handle it?
12. Los Angeles Rams (LW: 13)
As noted a win is a win, but things still feel harder here than they seem like they should.
13. Minnesota Vikings (LW: 11)
The defense is remarkable, but until they get a proper quarterback they aren’t going anywhere.
14. Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 15)
Does anybody really fear them anymore? I don’t mean that dismissively. They are very good. They are just different good than the past.
15. New York Giants (LW: 16)
I do not see how they finish shy of 10 wins.
16. Houston Texans (LW: 23)
Good for C.J. Stroud. He really needed this season.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 19)
I think that I think they are the best team in the NFC South.
18. Atlanta Falcons (LW: 14)
It was fun for a little while.
19. Dallas Cowboys (LW: 24)
Again… a win is a win. But this was about as ugly of a win as anyone could have possibly had.
20. Cleveland Browns (LW: 17)
Back to earth.
21. Baltimore Ravens (LW: 18)
It always sucks when you feel like you are enduring a lost season.
22. Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 20)
Everything just feels so blah here. We want to see Fernando Mendoza. Spice it up.
23. Carolina Panthers (LW: 22)
Another team that was fun for a while and has relaxed.
24. New Orleans Saints (LW: 26)
Good for Kellen Moore!
25. Washington Commanders (LW: 25)
If they lose on Thursday night… is that it for Dan Quinn?
26. Arizona Cardinals (LW: 21)
You mean they didn’t light it up in the fourth quarter? Why not?
27. Miami Dolphins (LW: 30)
Next year. Maybe.
28. Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 27)
Yikes.
29. Indianapolis Colts (LW: 28)
Thanks for the good times or whatever.
30. New York Jets (LW: 29)
How are they always so bad?
31. Tennessee Titans (LW: 31)
Welcome back.
32. Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 32)
0-8 is incredible stuff.
ESPN: 20 (LW: 23)
Here we go.
Most important game of the second half: Week 17 vs. the Giants
Quarterback Dak Prescott said every game the rest of the way is a “must-win” for the Cowboys, and he might not be wrong considering their record. But let’s say the Cowboys manage to string together some wins and find themselves in the NFC East chase since the path to a wild-card bid is just too packed. That puts the Week 17 rematch with the Giants in the crosshairs as a potential winner-take-all meeting. From 2011 to 2013, the Cowboys faced a de facto NFC East title game in each regular-season finale and lost them all. They would love to have that kind of opportunity this season. — Todd Archer
NFL.com: 22 (LW: 24)
A little bump up.
The Cowboys won a game against an opponent in the Colts whom most have written off because their own front office is already looking toward the future. This victory won’t carry much weight in the larger picture, but hey, at least the offense broke 500 yards and the defense recorded a win-sealing takeaway.
USA Today: 21 (LW: 25)
And another.
They outgained the Colts by 237 yards in what was easily their best defensive performance of the season − yes, that’s a very low bar − and still barely beat a team taking its roster down to the studs.
Yahoo: 20 (LW: 25)
A bit of a leap.
With 1:37 left in Sunday’s game, the Cowboys fell behind a Colts team that had previously traded two of its best players and was embarrassed 42-7 by the Jaguars the week before. The Cowboys won, with a huge 46-yard completion to Ryan Flournoy leading to a game-winning touchdown, but it was still a performance that showed the Cowboys are not capable of being much better than they’ve been this season. Had they lost, there would have been serious questions about whether players like George Pickens should be traded from a 3-6 team. Instead, the Cowboys stayed alive in the NFC East.
If there was a positive that gives hope for a better second half, Dallas’ defense played its best game of the season. It came against an Indianapolis offense that has been miserable, but Dallas will take progress where it can get it. The Cowboys allowed a season-low 271 yards. The Colts had 70 net yards and seven points (on a 19-yard drive after a turnover) through their first eight drives. Rookie safety Caleb Downs had a long-awaited impact with a sack and a game-sealing interception. The Cowboys’ defense isn’t suddenly good, but at least there can be optimism it’s getting better.
CBS Sports: 18 (LW: 22)
The highest ranking so far. Will anyone go higher?
They made it interesting against a bad Colts team, which isn’t a good sign. But they found a way. Now comes a tough test against the 49ers.
The Athletic: 17 (LW: 22)
Yes! Someone will!
Midseason grade: C
With another monster game Sunday (10 receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown), CeeDee Lamb became the first player in NFL history to record at least 70 catches and at least 900 yards in each of his first seven seasons. But the only team with a worse defense based on EPA per play is the lowly Dolphins, which is why the Cowboys are still under .500.
ProFootballTalk: 25 (LW: 26)
That’s that.
Even the games against the bad teams are a struggle.
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