The first half of the season was forgettable for the Dallas Cowboys as they have a 3-5-1 record to show for their work. It is clear that they have ambitions of a second half boom as they traded for Logan
Wilson and Quinnen Williams, but whether or not those and other reinforcements can save everything remains to be seen.
While the Cowboys were on bye last week, the rest of the NFL (save for the other bye teams) kept on with normal procedures. We saw some teams continue to establish themselves, some slip up, and the bottom of the barrel prove that they belong there for a reason.
As we do every week we have put together our power rankings of the current lay of the NFL land. We have also collected how outlets across the internet view the Cowboys at this moment in time.
1 – Seattle Seahawks (LW: 2)
They are more than for real. This is one of the best teams in the NFL. It is going to be fascinating to see who even wins their division.
2 – Detroit Lions (LW: 3)
It felt like they were trying to win two games given what happened last week. Whether or not Dan Campbell is calling plays in the future will be a point of fascination, but this machine kind of operates itself in an overall sense. They are sound.
3 – New England Patriots (LW: 8)
Can you believe Patriots fans had to endure a couple of years of football irrelevance? Thank goodness they made it through that.
4 – Los Angeles Rams (LW: 6)
As noted the NFC West is going to be a battle. Matthew Stafford is playing perhaps the best football of his career and everything is working perfectly together.
5 – Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 5)
Their record is pristine and we know that they will be in the mix at the end of things. It is just strange how no one seems able to capitalize on their flaws when they play them.
6 – Buffalo Bills (LW: 1)
They have played around with their food all season long and now have a serious hole in their division as a result of it.
7 – Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 7)
They are back from the bye.
8 – Indianapolis Colts (LW: 10)
Jonathan Taylor is absurd.
9 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 4)
It feels like they have taken on too much water. There is no shame in losing to the Patriots and they will still cruise to a division title. But we may have seen their best football already.
10 – Denver Broncos (LW: 11)
Ugly wins count. But this one was definitely ugly.
11 – Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 12)
Sunday night was a sound win. It is not fair to judge them off of their past as we argue that with the Cowboys often. I don’t want to say that I don’t trust the Chargers, but I mean, I sort of don’t.
12 – Chicago Bears (LW: 14)
It is a lot of fun how they are finding ways to grind these wins out. That type of football is hardly sustainable as the weather gets colder and we get deeper into the season, but maybe they will be different.
13 – Baltimore Ravens (LW: 17)
I think we all agree that they are winning the AFC North.
14 – Green Bay Packers (LW: 13)
They are fading a bit and that is good news for all of us from a draft standpoint.
15 – Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 9)
Because… I mean… this team stinks.
16 – San Francisco 49ers (LW: 15)
There is no question that what they have done this season is impressive, but it is nowhere near enough against the Rams and/or Seahawks.
17 – Minnesota Vikings (LW: 16)
Everything about their season has been so up and down. It feels like they are too far being the eight ball at this point.
18 – Carolina Panthers (LW: 18)
The Saints completely contained them. Imagine that.
19 – Houston Texans (LW: 21)
The fourth quarter against Jacksonville was so much fun. Good for the Texans on taking it the distance.
20 – Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 19)
They were up 19 as the fourth quarter began against a backup quarterback who was making his first start of the season (granted he has started before). Embarrassing.
21 – Atlanta Falcons (LW: 20)
It would have been impressive if they had found a way to win in Berlin, but they did not.
22 – Arizona Cardinals (LW: 22)
Imagine all of their fans wondering what happened to the high-flying offense and where it went. Seriously. Think about that.
23 – Dallas Cowboys (LW: 23)
Welcome back, I guess.
24 – New Orleans Saints (LW: 29)
That was a fun win.
25 – Cleveland Browns (LW: 24)
How are they always so consistently bad? It is unreal.
26 – Miami Dolphins (LW: 30)
Look at them fighting. Respect.
27 – New York Giants (LW: 25)
Russell Wilson looks so disconnected from his best days. It is also unbelievable to remember what he did against the Cowboys just two months ago.
28 – Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 26)
Also back from the bye.
29 – New York Jets (LW: 31)
No player on their team registered multiple receptions on Sunday. And they won!
30 – Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 27)
See you on Monday night.
31 – Washington Commanders (LW: 28)
It is a very tough scene here.
32 – Tennessee Titans (LW: 32)
We did not have to watch them last week and that was a win for us all.
ESPN: 21 (LW: 21)
No movement here.
Non-QB MVP: WR George Pickens
It’s either Pickens or running back Javonte Williams. Pickens gets the nod for what he did when CeeDee Lamb was out for three games because of a high ankle sprain. He caught 19 passes for 359 yards and four touchdowns with two 100-yard games. Unfortunately, the Cowboys went just 1-1-1 in those meetings despite averaging 34.0 points. Williams, on pace for a 1,352-yard, 15-touchdown season, has been one of Dallas’ best free agent signings in years, but Pickens’ big-play ability changes games. — Todd Archer
NFL.com: 23 (LW: 23)
Same story.
After the Cowboys’ fascinating bye-week acquisition of Quinnen Williams, tragedy struck with the death of Marshawn Kneeland. This team has been through a lot since August, but this was something that went way beyond football. At some point, the focus will turn back to the gridiron, where the Cowboys have their work cut out for them, but will the emotional toll be too great? Williams gives them a difference maker on defense, though that unit appears to be more than one star player away from major improvement. Dallas’ offense also leveled off significantly in the two games prior to the Week 10 bye, and the Cowboys must still go on the road (where they’re 1-4) four more times and face the Eagles, Chiefs and Chargers at home.
USA Today: 23 (LW: 23)
No movement here.
A team that lives in the spotlight is about to really feel its glare. Coming out of their bye, the Cowboys will still be saying goodbye to Marshawn Kneeland while trying to welcome DL Quinnen Williams − all while facing the prospect of playing five consecutive nationally televised games, four in exclusive broadcast windows. That’s a lot of scrutiny, even for “America’s Team.”
Yahoo: 22 (LW: 23)
A slight bump up.
Dallas’ loss to the Cardinals in Week 9 looks even worse after Arizona was embarrassed by the Seahawks. It’s pretty clear the Cowboys aren’t going anywhere. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams would have to be very good for Dallas fans to be excited about the rest of the season.
CBS Sports: 25 (LW: 25)
The Raiders are right ahead of them here, by the way.
They better hope getting Quinnen Williams changes the way they play defense. It has to, right? It can’t get any worse.
The Athletic: 21 (LW: 22)
Another small rise.
Breakout player: Javonte Williams
The fifth-year running back is on the verge of besting his career single-season mark of 903 yards after just nine games. Williams is sixth in the league with 716 rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns with eight. He’s playing so well that Cowboys fans aren’t even sick to their stomachs that they let Rico Dowdle go.
Sports Illustrated: 23 (LW: 25)
Conor Orr chose to discuss Marshawn Kneeland in this space.
I can’t stop thinking about these words from Solomon Thomas after an unspeakably awful week in Dallas. Check on your loved ones. Know that you matter always. Seek help.
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