The Dallas Cowboys have some positive momentum building these days, and that is true both for their fans and people across the spectrum of football. While some have noted that last week’s win was against the moribund New York Jets, the reality is that Dallas looked very strong while playing without some very important people. That is impressive regardless of who you are facing.
As a result of their win, and the tie before it last week, the Cowboys have moved a bit in people’s power rankings across the internet. Just how much have they moved, though?
Here are our power rankings for the lay of the land through Week 5 and a collection of how various outlets view the Cowboys to date.
1 – Detroit Lions (LW: 3)
That first week of the season feels so long ago. They are back and rocking and rolling.
2 – Buffalo Bills (LW: 1)
Every team has to lose. It does make is slightly more interesting here that theirs was within the division.
3 – Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 2)
Obviously we are not bothered by this, but it is so strange how the Eagles seem hellbent on being miserable. Hopefully that continues.
4 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 6)
All of their wins have come in the final seconds of games. That matters, but it also carries weight that they are very, very, very good.
5 – Green Bay Packers (LW: 5)
The last time they played was the infamous tie. It feels like forever ago.
6 – San Francisco 49ers (LW: 14)
Kyle Shanahan is back to his ways of getting it done with whoever is at quarterback.
7 – Washington Commanders (LW: 16)
Maybe they are going to fight off a lot of that regression to the mean.
8 – Indianapolis Colts (LW: 8)
Goodness me they look strong.
9 – Los Angeles Rams (LW: 4)
They will certainly want last week back, but there is no reason not to believe that they are going to be in the mix.
10 – Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 13)
This team is so chaotically weird. It is hilarious to watch. Good for them that they are getting it done.
11 – Seattle Seahawks (LW: 7)
You never want to be on the losing end of an all-timer (the 12-year anniversary of Tony Romo’s duel with Peyton Manning was Monday, by the way). Seattle will be just fine.
12 – Denver Broncos (LW: 12)
That was a really impressive win. Denver might be figuring it out finally this season.
13 – Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 9)
On the other end of the spectrum… the Chargers may be leaking oil.
14 – Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 11)
The division certainly seems to be theirs. Who would have ever thought we would get Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco alongside Cooper Rush at a certain point in the AFC North?
15 – Dallas Cowboys (LW: 18)
Last week’s win was very impressive, particularly due to the context that the team began the game with. Time to build on that.
16 – New England Patriots (LW: 22)
Sunday night was very impressive.
17 – Minnesota Vikings (LW: 19)
This is the team in the NFL who I am having the biggest issue figuring out. Also, when is J.J. McCarthy coming back?
18 – Atlanta Falcons (LW: 15)
Off the bye and into primetime. We will all get a chance to judge them with intense attention, although it will be divided in half thanks to the totally useless super awful Monday Night Football doubleheader.
19 – Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 10)
It definitely feels like the dynastic run is over. They are still not to be doubted, but they are a very far ways removed from their mightiest moments.
20 – Chicago Bears (LW: 17)
They will also be playing on Monday night and visiting Washington when they do. Pretty big game.
21 – Houston Texans (LW: 20)
Like their in-state brothers they took care of business and need to continue to do so.
22 – Baltimore Ravens (LW: 21)
It is a very tough scene here.
23 – Carolina Panthers (LW: 28)
Good for Rico Dowdle! See you soon.
24 – Cleveland Browns (LW: 27)
It just feels like nothing they are doing has any long-term vision associated with it.
25 – Arizona Cardinals (LW: 23)
This whole team feels broken.
26 – New Orleans Saints (LW: 30)
Great job beating the Giants! Well done, Kellen.
27 – Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 24)
They are very difficult to watch.
28 – New York Giants (LW: 25)
Somehow, they are more so. Please beat the Eagles.
29 – Tennessee Titans (LW: 32)
That was a VERY strange win last week.
30 – Miami Dolphins (LW: 26)
Everything feels bad.
31 – Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 31)
Everything is bad.
32 – New York Jets (LW: 29)
These are the Jets.
ESPN: 21 (LW: 23)
Some slight movement.
Fantasy surprise: RB Javonte Williams
Williams entered the season as the 33rd-ranked running back in ESPN Fantasy. After five games, he is ranked third. He has 447 rushing yards after running for just 513 yards last season in Denver. Williams has a career-high five rushing touchdowns this year — the Cowboys had just six last season. The Cowboys thought Williams would be their No. 1 running back, but they did not think he would be this productive. He is on pace for 1,520 yards, which would be sixth best in franchise history. — Todd Archer
Another bump up.
You have to give Brian Schottenheimer and Matt Eberflus some credit for getting the Cowboys back to playing competitive football. The outlook outside of Dallas might not have been particularly optimistic entering the season, and that was even before Micah Parsons was traded, but the effort and execution have been far better than I expected. Outside of the loss to the Bears, the Cowboys have played pretty darned well this season — with CeeDee Lamb and multiple offensive linemen being out for chunks of it. Dak Prescott was great against the Jets, and Dallas’ defense came to play. Was it the stiffest challenge ever? No, but the Cowboys were rallying to the ball, with a much better defensive effort than they showed against Green Bay last time out.
USA Today: 16 (LW: 20)
Hey now.
Jake Ferguson’s 41 catches are tied for the most ever by a tight end through a season’s first five games. We’re now contractually obligated to remind you that he is the grandson of former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez.
Yahoo: 22 (LW: 23)
The most minimum movement possible.
Dak Prescott is playing very well. Prescott is also not winning MVP, as you might hear, unless the Cowboys at least make the playoffs. The only MVPs from non-playoff teams are Johnny Unitas in 1967 (the Colts went 11-1-2 and didn’t make it) and O.J. Simpson in 1973. Prescott won’t be the third.
CBS Sports: 19 (LW: 23)
A bit more here. Also it is kind of funny how, given that this is the order we put these outlets in every week and have for several years now, the two MVP notes about Dak Prescott came back to back like this.
Dak Prescott for MVP. It’s real. He is playing at a really high level as the Cowboys are now 2-2-1 and far from done.
The Athletic: 21 (LW: 18)
They dropped three spots. For real. Not an error on their or our end.
Dak Prescott is rolling, and the running game has some momentum behind Javonte Williams. It was just the Jets (and their other win was against the Giants), but Dallas stormed out to a 30-3 lead and looked good throughout.
Sports Illustrated: 20 (LW: 21)
There you have it.
The Cowboys hired Klayton Adams away from the Arizona Cardinals and turned into the most efficient running team in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals turned into literally the least efficient rushing team in the NFL. Sometimes, the simplest conclusion is the most accurate one. Adams, a mainstay on my rising coaches list, could be leaving Dallas sooner rather than later, too.
Week To Week Movement
Full Power Rankings
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