We are right around the corner from the halfway point of the 2026 NFL season. Where did the time go?
Wherever it went, the Dallas Cowboys spent part of it driving us mad and now are on the verge of (hopefully) turning things around. We have to see as always, obviously.
The first step in that process was winning on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Given the state of Philly though, that isn’t obviously saying much.
What exactly is the state of everyone involved here? Let’s discuss in our
weekly power rankings.
1 – Buffalo Bills (LW: 2)
Back from the bye. Let’s see how it goes.
2 – San Francisco 49ers (LW: 1)
The stumbled for the first time, but it is a long season and we know better than to doubt them.
3 – Detroit Lions (LW: 5)
I’ve said that I really doubted them entering this season. It is only Halloween week, but I’ve got plenty of crow to share if anybody wants some.
4 – Chicago Bears (LW: 9)
They look very much like a contender with Caleb Williams back. Watch out.
5 – Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 6)
Also back from the break.
6 – Seattle Seahawks (LW: 11)
It is clear that things are not fully perfect, but finding a way really matters.
7 – New England Patriots (LW: 4)
There is not a ton of shame in losing on the road against a top-tier team on a short week, but it still doesn’t feel great.
8 – Minnesota Vikings (LW: 12)
Every now and then the final undefeated team is one that nobody really finds to be all that intimidating. Minnesota’s defense is clearly very special. But they are hardly a juggernaut overall.
9 – Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 13)
They appear to be very much the real deal right now. Future winners of the AFC North, perhaps?
10 – Baltimore Ravens (LW: 7)
Huge analysis here, but Lamar Jackson is needed.
11 – Atlanta Falcons (LW: 20)
Maybe it is time to start taking the Falcons seriously. It is hard to gauge their overall ceiling, or floor for that matter, but they are clearly a team to monitor.
12 – Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 3)
People have written off Kansas City many times in their overall run. Maybe that’s what’s happening here, but it doesn’t quite feel that way. It feels like they are still pretty good, just not as good as they have been before. They are hardly bottoming out. At least not yet.
13 – Green Bay Packers (LW: 8)
It is strange how they looked mortal a week after dominating the Cowboys.
14 – Los Angeles Rams (LW: 18)
A game against the Raiders will get things right on track.
15 – New York Giants (LW: 23)
They might truly and actually be the best team in the NFC East. It is very impressive how John Harbaugh has turned that ship around.
16 – Denver Broncos (LW: 15)
Winning at Arizona is fine, but we need to see more. Also we know the Cowboys are hardly one to talk about the Cardinals.
17 – Cleveland Browns (LW: 16)
Can they really sustain this? It is hard to believe so. Maybe, though.
18 – Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 17)
Mike McCarthy keeps finding a way.
19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 27)
Baker Mayfield is back and so might be the Buccaneers.
20 – Dallas Cowboys (LW: 24)
Monday was nice. Now do it again.
21 – Carolina Panthers (LW: 10)
And it all came at their expense.
22 – Houston Texans (LW: 14)
Losses like theirs are why 0-4 starts are so devastating. You lose all room for error so when you drop another game, particularly in overtime, it hurts all the more because of how consequential it is.
23 – Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 19)
Fernando Mendoza time?
24 – New Orleans Saints (LW: 22)
They have spunk. That’s about it, though.
25 – Arizona Cardinals (LW: 21)
They are definitely beating the Cowboys, right?
26 – Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 25)
This team is pretty lifeless these days. Oh well.
27 – Indianapolis Colts (LW: 26)
This team is so boring.
28 – New York Jets (LW: 28)
They have always been boring.
29 – Washington Commanders (LW: 29)
It has been over a full year since they won a game with Jayden Daniels.
30 – Miami Dolphins (LW: 32)
At least they won a game!
31 – Tennessee Titans (LW: 30)
Sigh.
32 – Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 31)
The only winless team in the NFL. Hype them up more, though. Please.
ESPN: 20 (LW: 20)
An interesting “best offseason addition” choice.
Best offseason addition: DT Otito Ogbonnia
It wasn’t supposed to be this way when the Cowboys put together their roster in the offseason. Their biggest free agent signing in a decade, safety Jalen Thompson, has missed the past four games because of a hamstring injury and hasn’t made game-changing plays. First-round pick Caleb Downs has been OK at safety. The other first-round pick, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, moved into the starting lineup in Week 6. Ogbonnia, who signed a modest one-year, $2.75 million deal, has been the Cowboys’ best run defender up front over Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. — Todd Archer
NFL.com: 22 (LW: 26)
A little up, but at least some movement.
While it’s certainly not perfect, it appears the Cowboys’ offense is back. Dallas racked up 400 yards of offense against the Eagles’ defense — which is supposed to be Philadelphia’s strength — on Monday night, and received some welcome contributions from its defense in the second half, capped by DeMarvion Overshown’s diving interception. Javonte Williams cleared 130 yards on the ground, the CeeDee Lamb/George Pickens connections with Dak Prescott were reestablished, and Dallas proved itself as the better team in this NFC East rivalry. Does that mean the Cowboys are back on track? No, but it’s encouraging progress.
USA Today: 23 (LW: 26)
A little bump up.
Perhaps the most encouraging component of Monday night’s win at Philadelphia was the full reawakening of RB Javonte Williams.
Yahoo: 20 (LW: 21)
As small a bump as possible here.
There are still defensive problems. The Eagles, without several key starters on offense, including Jalen Hurts, moved the ball with ease on their first two drives that ended in touchdowns. But Dallas deserves credit for pitching a fourth-quarter shutout in a win it had to have. And the Cowboys’ offense seems to be over whatever slump it was in.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer challenged the offense to find balance, and it responded with 204 rushing yards on 5.4 yards per attempt on Monday night. If the Cowboys can run the ball like that, they’ll have a few more 38-point games. And they might need those types of games, unless the defense’s fourth-quarter performance is a sign of improvement.
CBS Sports: 20 (LW: 19)
Actually a drop here.
Against the Eagles, that was the offense we expected to see from the Cowboys this season. If they can run it like that, they will be tough to beat.
The Athletic: 18 (LW: 22)
A little bit more of a climb.
Something spooky: The NFC East
Even with the Giants’ surprising record, the Cowboys, after the way they played in Philadelphia, might be the favorites to win the division. Javonte Williams (155 yards rushing and a touchdown) was incredible, and Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes.
ProFootballTalk: 21 (LW: 23)
And there it is.
The best solution for a bad defense is an offense that stays on the field for as long as it can.
Week To Week Movement
Full Power Rankings
