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Things didn’t get better for the Dallas Cowboys in Baltimore as they have now secured a losing record for the first time since 2015. Needless to say, this season has been challenging. The NFC East has been bad for most of this season, but the New York Giants and Washington Football Team are starting to separate themselves.
Where do the Cowboys rank across the NFL? We’ve collected all of the week’s power rankings and put together our own for you as we always do.
You can view last week’s right here.
1 - Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 1)
The Chiefs have been the best team in the NFL for a while, despite Pittsburgh being the league’s last undefeated team. It is no longer a question. There is one team looking down on the rest.
2 - Green Bay Packers (LW: 4)
At this point the Packers are not the top seed in the NFC, but they are without doubt the most dangerous. Aaron Rodgers is operating at a different level; it is impressive to watch.
3 - New Orleans Saints (LW: 5)
How the Saints handle their quarterback situation moving forward will be fascinating to watch. They are 8-0 without Drew Brees over the last two seasons and it is hard to see that pace changing this week against the Eagles.
4 - Buffalo Bills (LW: 6)
It is not lost on me that I have them Bills ranked higher than the Steelers. They are a better team. The world will realize this on Sunday night.
5 - Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 2)
Were they the weakest 11-0 team in NFL history? Cheers to the 1972 Miami Dolphins!
6 - Los Angeles Rams (LW: 10)
A few weeks ago we spent so much time talking about the Seahawks and Cardinals. The Rams lurked in the back. The NFC West might belong to them after all.
7 - Cleveland Browns (LW: 9)
The win over Tennessee was impressive and of serious quality. The Browns finally did it. They are a legitimately good football team.
8 - Indianapolis Colts (LW: 8)
It’s hard to tell exactly how far this team is going to go in the playoffs, but it is becoming more and more obvious that Philip Rivers isn’t long for Indy. Imagine if Carson Wentz reunited with Frank Reich?!
9 - Seattle Seahawks (LW: 3)
The days of letting Russ cook feel like so long ago. This team appears somewhat broken and unless they turn it around they are going to be a first-round exit.
10 - Tennessee Titans (LW: 7)
It doesn’t bode well for their image that they lost again, but the Titans are still a legitimate team. They will win the AFC South, but what beyond that?
11 - Miami Dolphins (LW: 13)
If you are still hesitant about being on team tank just look at what the Miami Dolphins have become. The process can work. Also... miss you, Byron Jones.
12 - Arizona Cardinals (LW: 11)
They are an incredible DeAndre Hopkins catch against the Buffalo Bills away from having lost five in a row. I smell fraud.
13 - Minnesota Vikings (LW: 15)
This team is making the playoffs. Believe it now. See it later.
14 - Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 12)
It is hard to drop after a win, but when you barely beat a team that is being openly questioned for their efforts you aren’t exactly world-renowned.
15 - Baltimore Ravens (LW: 18)
Beating up on the Cowboys these days is hardly the mark of a super great team. Perhaps the Ravens are starting their road back to supremacy, but we need to see more.
16 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 14)
They were off last week, but it’s hard to see that being enough to right all of their offensive issues. Minnesota is going down there to get the dub this week. Book it.
17 - Carolina Panthers (LW: 16)
Unfortunately the Panthers have been dealing with Covid-19 challenges during their bye. Their future is bright beyond this season. Hopefully we get to see more growth over the rest of this year.
18 - New England Patriots (LW: 25)
Guess who’s back?!
19 - Washington Football Team (LW: 22)
The NFC East is stupid and dumb and weird and beautiful and amazing and who knows who’s going to win it. They are the favorite in my opinion, though.
20 - New York Giants (LW: 23)
Jason Garrett has been on the NFC East-winning team in each even year since 2014. Can he keep the streak going in 2020?
21 - San Francisco 49ers (LW: 17)
They are dealing with so many levels of adversity.
22 - Houston Texans (LW: 19)
Poor Deshaun Watson. Hopefully his new head coach finds a way to help him.
23 - Atlanta Falcons (LW: 20)
They are the perpetual blah.
24 - Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 21)
Given the fact that they have a star quarterback talent to work with I would argue that this team is the biggest disaster in the NFL. They have the most important piece and still are a mess.
25 - Detroit Lions (LW: 29)
It turns out that Matt Patricia was the problem. Who would have ever thought that?!?!?!
26 - Denver Broncos (LW: 26)
Maybe someday they will beat the Chiefs. For now the Broncos are learning what life on the other side was like from 1983 through 2015.
27 - Chicago Bears (LW: 27)
Not at all jealous of this situation. It feels tense and awkward.
28 - Dallas Cowboys (LW: 24)
There were some okay things on Tuesday night. But it was mostly bad. So bad. Ugh.
29 - Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 28)
We’ll see you on Sunday.
30 - Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 30)
Jalen Hurts season has finally arrived.
31 - Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 31)
Blah again.
32 - New York Jets (LW: 32)
Blah-er.
Editor’s Note: The Cowboys obviously played yesterday, but power rankings traditionally come out on Tuesday. Rankers who waited until after the game against the Ravens are denoted with an asterisk.
NFL.com: 27* (LW: 26)
So it begins.
“I just don’t know ... where this organization … there’s just so many things that have to be addressed this offseason,” Troy Aikman said as the FOX broadcast went to commercial late in Dallas’ 34-17 loss to the Ravens on Tuesday night. Minutes earlier, the Cowboys-legend-turned-color-man had questioned the effort of the defense on a J.K. Dobbins touchdown run that doubled as a matador routine by the Dallas defensive line. Ravens offensive lineman Orlando Brown underlined that point by repeatedly yelling “Easy money!” into an end-zone camera during the TD celebration. It all felt like a low point for the Cowboys, who gave up 294 yards on the ground and appear destined to spend the rest of December playing out the string of another deeply disappointing year.
ESPN: 29 (LW: 29)
The worldwide leader also chose a person with the most at stake for each team.
Person with most at stake: QB Andy Dalton
Dalton came to the Cowboys to reset his career and potentially become a starter in 2021. The Cowboys never imagined him playing so much, but Dak Prescott was lost for the year to injury in Week 5. Dalton has a chance in the final month of the season to show he can be a starter for the next phase of his career if he plays well. The problem? There aren’t a lot of openings, and the best spots might be where he would just be a bridge starter until a team hands the keys over to a high draft pick. — Todd Archer
USA Today: 29* (LW: 29)
More of the same, unfortunately.
Pretty much a total team collapse Monday, but especially on defense and special teams. Time to shift focus to Dak’s contract, draft ... and maybe coaching changes.
Sporting News: 28 (LW: 29)
Moving on up!
The Cowboys do have a win against the Giants and a favorable schedule after the Ravens in Week 13. If they can somehow put things together, they can still steal the division in Week 17.
Yahoo: 29 (LW: 29)
Sometimes things stay the same.
The Giants’ win on Sunday was bad news for whatever playoff hopes the Cowboys had. It’s hard to see Dallas making up two games the rest of the way on anyone.
CBS Sports: 29* (LW: 29)
Barely in the 20s.
This season gets worse by the week. The defense is atrocious. At least the offense showed some life against the Ravens
Sports Illustrated: 28* (LW: 30)
Pain.
Even without Dak Prescott this is one of the most disappointing rosters in the league. A team with a backup like Andy Dalton should be far more competitive and relevant, especially in an ugly division like the NFC East. Tuesday’s loss to the Ravens was another ho-hum affair.