Life has changed for the Dallas Cowboys over the last two weeks and change as they have doubled up their season win total to sit at 6-5-1 as December football is here. Whether or not they are able to convert it into an opportunity to play deep into next month remains to be seen, but they have at the very least made this thing entertaining which is commendable.
For the Cowboys to have a serious chance they obviously have to take care of their own business, and they are going to have to pick up help across the rest of the NFL. Cowboys fans had the weekend off to enjoy action around the league (and will have it once more this week) and there were quite a few surprises that we saw.
Here are our power rankings of all 32 NFL teams entering Week 14 and a collection of how outlets across the internet view the Cowboys specifically.
1 – New England Patriots (LW: 2)
Much has been made about the lack of legitimate quarterbacks who they have played, but their record speaks for itself. It is going to be fascinating to watch them in the playoffs.
2 – Seattle Seahawks (LW: 3)
The door is open for them.
3 – Los Angeles Rams (LW: 1)
Maybe losing on the road to Carolina wasn’t so bad?
4 – Denver Broncos (LW: 5)
Also maybe losing to these dudes wasn’t too embarrassing either.
5 – Buffalo Bills (LW: 8)
The Steelers are hardly a formidable foe, but they have to feel good and like they are back on track a bit.
6 – Chicago Bears (LW: 9)
My word. This team is so much fun. It does kind of feel like they are going to break a bunch of hearts, but at least the process will be quite the ride.
7 – Green Bay Packers (LW: 11)
It is hard to not see them going deep.
8 – San Francisco 49ers (LW: 12)
They find a way. Which is a bummer.
9 – Detroit Lions (LW: 4)
Everything feels really fragile here right now. It would be a shame if the team playing them next beat them to unleash the chaos!
10 – Dallas Cowboys (LW: 14)
Be the disruptors!
11 – Carolina Panthers (LW: 17)
Seriously, Sunday was so impressive. It doees kind of seem like they might be able to rally for the NFC South which would be fun.
12 – Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 6)
Historians will look back at Thanksgiving Day as the moment where the dynasty truly ended. Probably not. But maybe!
13 – Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 10)
It is unbelievable how this team and franchise is incapable of smiply enjoying a good thing.
14 – Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 18)
Could they win the AFC South? It is just so hard to trust.
15 – Houston Texans (LW: 13)
Because, you know, these dudes exist.
16 – Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 16)
Please play next Monday night, Justin Herbert.
17 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 19)
They won on Sunday, but they just feel so hollow compared to the beginning of the season.
18 – Indianapolis Colts (LW: 7)
The quarterback is hurt and now the star cornerback is going to likely miss some time. It is a tough scene.
19 – Baltimore Ravens (LW: 15)
To be clear I think the answer is no, but should the Ravens consider moving on from John Harbaugh? What is the excuse here? Injuries? The division is SO bad. They are probably still going to be a playoff team, but wow they look rough.
20 – Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 20)
Everything seems to be clunky and difficult. The Aaron Rodgers experience.
21 – Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 28)
Good for them getting a win in Joe Burrow’s return.
22 – Miami Dolphins (LW: 25)
Also good for them in rallying the way they have. It was so dark early in the season.
23 – Minnesota Vikings (LW: 21)
They are so unbelievably bad. The Cowboys will host them next Sunday night.
24 – Cleveland Browns (LW: 22)
Will Shedeur Sanders be QB1 of the future?
25 – New York Jets (LW: 30)
Another “good for them” type of game.
26 – Washington Commanders (LW: 31)
The same can be said here even if they didn’t win. Washington looked good on Sunday night. Hopefully they do against Philly down the stretch as well.
27 – New York Giants (LW: 24)
It is amazing how broken this franchise is.
28 – Atlanta Falcons (LW: 23)
Wow this is a tough scene.
29 – Arizona Cardinals (LW: 26)
This is the team that Dallas should not have lost to. Not Carolina or Denver. This is the one.
30 – New Orleans Saints (LW: 27)
Gross.
31 – Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 29)
Gross again. But maybe Pete Carroll will be gone. Will that even fix anything?
32 – Tennessee Titans (LW: 32)
They just feel so insignificant.
ESPN: 15 (LW: 19)
Here we go.
X factor for final stretch: Cornerback Trevon Diggs
Diggs hasn’t played since mid-October, but he was designated for return from injured reserve Sunday. He suffered a concussion in an at-home accident and was placed on injured reserve to help right knee soreness that had developed. He was not playing at his prior Pro Bowl level before going on IR, but perhaps he can find that form in a Cowboys defense that has improved with the additions of Quinnen Williams, DeMarvion Overshown, Shavon Revel Jr. and Logan Wilson. Diggs would provide another playmaker as the Cowboys fight for a playoff spot. — Todd Archer
Another slight bump.
Fresh off the most thrilling five-day stretch of the Cowboys’ 2025 season — during which they beat both participants in this past February’s Super Bowl — Dallas is officially in the playoff mix. The ‘Boys probably can’t lose another game, and they now have to travel to Detroit on a short week, but perhaps they’re catching the Lions at the right time. Dak Prescott was dealing on Thanksgiving, and the defense continued its recent ascent, forcing four straight Chiefs punts and getting another big stop early in the fourth quarter. No matter how this ends, both Jerry Jones and Brian Schottenheimer have helped their causes. Even if the Micah Parsons trade remains unpopular, the Quinnen Williams acquisition is looking like a home run, and Dallas has won three straight games since the bye. The NFL is more interesting when the Cowboys are competitive.
USA Today: 14 (LW: 19)
More!
Though he’s overshadowed by the general chaos that follows this team, what a turnaround RB Javonte Williams has had − now just 45 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard year in the NFL.
Yahoo: 17 (LW: 18)
The most minimum amount of movement here.
The Cowboys are playing better, but that hole they dug themselves is an issue. The Seahawks, Packers, 49ers and Lions are all ahead of the Cowboys in the wild-card race and the Panthers aren’t far behind. Even if the Cowboys win at Detroit on Thursday, there’s still a long way to go to get a playoff spot. But they’re alive after impressive wins against the Eagles and Chiefs. “We’ll play anybody, anywhere,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said, via the team’s site. “I think you can see that by what we’ve done the last couple of weeks.”
CBS Sports: 13 (LW: 17)
Very much inside the top half.
Beating the two Super Bowl teams from last season in successive weeks is an impressive feat. This offense is dynamic and just might get them into the playoffs.
The Athletic: 16 (LW: 19)
More movement.
Best-case scenario: A wild-card berth
The odds are still against them (our simulator gives them a 24 percent chance of reaching the playoffs), but with three straight wins, the Cowboys have given themselves a chance with a defense that’s suddenly playing better.
Sports Illustrated: 15 (LW: 15)
No movement here.
Come for another good Brian Schottenheimer locker room speech, but stay for a Cowboys player absolutely violating a Thanksgiving turkey after Dallas upset the Kansas City Chiefs on our national day of overconsumption.
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