The Dallas Cowboys have picked up some positive favor over their last two games, and as a result they are starting to pull in a different type of national attention. It is making for a rather fun Thanksgiving
Day week.
Nobody is overreacting to the Cowboys winning two games, but people are seemingly willing to acknowledge that this team is turning a corner. That full turn may not happen in 2025, but the darkest part of the night finally seems to be behind this team.
How firmly do other people agree with that, though? Just how into the Cowboys are they after Sunday’s wild comeback?
Welcome to our weekly power rankings where we assess the entire NFL and gather how outlets across the internet view America’s Team.
Let’s begin.
1 – Los Angeles Rams (LW: 2)
It looks like their world right now.
2 – New England Patriots (LW: 1)
Imagine another Rams/Patriots Super Bowl, though?
3 – Seattle Seahawks (LW: 5)
It got a little bit close near the end against Tennessee, but JSN looks unbelievable.
4 – Detroit Lions (LW: 6)
See you soon enough. They do look beatable, though.
5 – Denver Broncos (LW: 8)
The AFC West race is going to be such a fun finish.
6 – Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 13)
Welcome to Thanksgiving.
7 – Indianapolis Colts (LW: 7)
It has to be hard to fight the feeling that the ship is taking on water here.
8 – Buffalo Bills (LW: 3)
Last week was rough. They appear to have lost some form. There is still time to recapture it, but goodness.
9 – Chicago Bears (LW: 9)
Beat the Eagles this week. Do it. We dare you.
10 – Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 4)
21-0.
11 – Green Bay Packers (LW: 16)
They keep finding ways to grind these out and are hurting important draft capital in the process!
12 – San Francisco 49ers (LW: 12)
Are they back? I’m not sure. But maybe.
13 – Houston Texans (LW: 18)
Last week was so impressive from this defense.
14 – Dallas Cowboys (LW: 19)
WE COULD SAY THE SAME HERE!
15 – Baltimore Ravens (LW: 11)
It was way too close against the Jets, but the AFC North does appear to be coming into focus for them.
16 – Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 15)
Sure. Okay. Whatever.
17 – Carolina Panthers (LW: 14)
They appear to be really fading.
18 – Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 17)
It is so hard to know what to make of this team.
19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 10)
This one appears to be falling apart.
20 – Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 20)
They made it a game, but unfortunately they couldn’t close the deal.
21 – Minnesota Vikings (LW: 21)
It is strange how this team has fallen all kinds of apart and nobody is really talking about it. They are a mess.
22 – Cleveland Browns (LW: 26)
Can they win two in a row?!
23 – Atlanta Falcons (LW: 23)
Good for Kirk Cousins.
24 – New York Giants (LW: 27)
Jameis Winston DEFINITELY makes them more fun.
25 – Miami Dolphins (LW: 22)
Gross.
26 – Arizona Cardinals (LW: 24)
Mega gross.
27 – New Orleans Saints (LW: 25)
All kinds of gross.
28 – Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 28)
At least Joe Burrow is back. That is noteworthy.
29 – Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 29)
It is very dark here.
30 – New York Jets (LW: 30)
As it has been here.
31 – Washington Commanders (LW: 31)
Welcome back, or whatever.
32 – Tennessee Titans (LW: 32)
Another number one overall pick?
ESPN: 19 (LW: 21)
So it begins.
Thanksgiving game memory: Backup quarterback Clint Longley leads Cowboys to win over Washington in 1974
The “best memory” rules out Randy Moss’ dominant showing in 1998 and Leon Lett’s ill-timed trek in the ice in 1993. This choice came down to backup quarterbacks, Longley and Jason Garrett. In 1994, Garrett outdueled Brett Favre to beat the Packers, but Longley’s comeback vs. Washington came out of nowhere. With Roger Staubach knocked out in the third quarter, the Cowboys trailed 23-17 with less than 30 seconds to play when Longley, known as the “Mad Bomber,” hit Drew Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown to defeat their rivals. — Todd Archer
NFL.com: 18 (LW: 20)
A little bit higher here.
The playoffs remain a remote possibility, but my oh my, what a satisfying rivalry win that had to be for a Dallas team that did everything it possibly could to lose the game early on. The Cowboys strapped in after the Eagles’ third drive and played some of their best defense of the season, shutting out Philadelphia from that point on. Quinnen Williams was beat up pretty badly and still had an astounding eight pressures, per NGS. The defense and special teams both swarmed. And the offense really got cooking against one of the best defenses in football, even while leaving plenty of yards and points on the field. Things have really brightened up since the Week 10 bye, even if the postseason still feels a bit out of reach. Credit Brian Schottenheimer for having his team ready to fight the Eagles for four quarters, with Thanksgiving not far behind.
USA Today: 19 (LW: 22)
Popular territory.
QB Dak Prescott has now won 19 consecutive starts against NFC East opponents at AT&T Stadium. But, barring something truly miraculous, he won’t face another one in North Texas until the 2026 regular season.
Yahoo: 18 (LW: 21)
See?
When Dallas trailed Philadelphia 21-0 on Sunday, it looked like the Cowboys were simply decent at beating bad teams and nobody else. The comeback win renews their hope. It’s still unlikely the Cowboys make the playoffs. But it has been an OK debut season for head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
CBS Sports: 17 (LW: 20)
A little bit further up.
They are alive and kicking and essentially play a playoff game this week against the Chiefs. They can’t afford any more losses the rest of the way.
The Athletic: 19 (LW: 20)
Some kudos for Jerry Jones.
One big question: Did Jerry Jones actually fix the defense?
It’s a small sample size, but since the Cowboys traded for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, they’ve shut down the running game (allowing just 100 total rushing yards over the last two games) and have five sacks. That, and Sunday’s upset of the Eagles, has given them an outside shot at the playoffs.
Sports Illustrated: 15 (LW: 19)
A solid note to end on.
A season-altering victory over the Eagles leaves Dallas with what the analytics say is a 20% chance of reaching the playoffs but feels like far more of a certainty. Since the Quinnen Williams trade, the Cowboys have one of the four best rushing defenses in the NFL (though oddly so do the Jets). In plugging up the run, Dallas looks like a formidable matchup for the Chiefs and a heavy favorite over the back end of a schedule with dates against the Giants, Commanders, Chargers and Vikings.
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