Week 6 Power Rankings: The world reacts to Dallas punting on fourth down in overtime

Tuesdays during the season mean a lot of things, for example yesterday was Monday.

Something else Tuesdays bring besides the second day of the work week is power rankings. Outlets from all across the world wide web rank NFL teams in various but often similar orders. You can see how the Cowboys fared last week right here if you’d like.

How did the world rank the Cowboys this week? Where do they think we fall? A loss on primetime in overtime after a much-debated punt decision surely isn’t going to help. Here we go.

SB Nation: 28th, previously 24th

Only the Giants, Bills, Raiders, and Cardinals are worse than the Cowboys according to our friends at SB Nation, and right now is that super unfair to say?

The offense in Dallas is bad like almost no other. Bottom of the barrel is harsh, but many would say reality.

NFL.com: 23rd, previously 22nd

They think Dallas should have gone for it on fourth down, they think it quite emphatically.

Jason Garrett has to go for it on that fourth down in OT. Not second-guessing here: I thought it was an odd choice before the Texans happily took the ball and promptly won the game. Show the defense that you trust them, even if you don’t make it. After all, the Cowboys were at the Texans’ 42-yard-line. So even with a turnover on downs, the D is still in position to hang tough and keep points off the board. If we keep hearing how Dak Prescott is so “big and athletic” (a sentiment I am so tired of that it makes me want to throw my Chad Hutchinson-led Cowboys VHS tapes at a Gary Hogeboom poster), then why not SNEAK him for a YARD?!

ESPN: 25th, previously 21st

Not only is the worldwide leader down on who the Cowboys currently are, but they’re not optimistic about things in the future for Dallas either.

Rest-of-season SOS ranking: 14th. The Cowboys will travel to Philadelphia in Week 10 for their toughest game of the season, followed by a trip to Atlanta for their second-toughest game of the season, according to FPI. The Cowboys have a 28 percent chance to beat the Eagles, and a 34 percent chance to beat the Falcons the week after. -- Shah

Sports Illustrated: 20th, previously 19th

SI offers a bit more information in their rankings and one of the more interesting details is what the highest-place vote each team got was. Somebody in their voting pool actually voted the Cowboys as the 16th-best team in the NFL at the moment. Seriously.

This ranking is without question the most generous of them all, but maybe Sports Illustrated sees something that nobody else does. Maybe?

USA Today: 26th, previously 22nd

There are plenty of punt-related comments, as you likely imagined.

Imagine the handwringing had Jason Garrett gone for it fourth-and-1, and his terrible offense let him down. Same difference? Oh, right.

Bleacher Report: 24th, previously 22nd

It’s well-documented how bad the Cowboys offense is, it’s also quite apparent what their entire game plan is as well.

The Cowboys are bland and predictable on offense. Run Elliott, run Elliott, hope for a manageable third down. So, the Texans stacked the line and took Zeke away.

This is a week to week league, and if the Cowboys come out and beat the Jaguars this Sunday things might change a bit in Week 7’s power rankings; however, there’s a whole lot of if for that to happen.

When a moment like the Cowboys choosing to punt happens it’s what people pounce on and latch on to. It’s arguably the most-questioned decision across the National Football League this season.

Please be kinder to us, Week 6.