News: BTB: NFL power rankings Week 5: Packers up next for Cowboys. How's that going to work out?

[NewsBot]

A look at where eight different power rankings rank the Cowboys and the rest of the NFC East

Power rankings can often be something else than their name suggests. In Week 4, the No. 1 and No. 3 ranked teams on the ESPN Power Ranking (Falcons & Patriots), both dropped their games, as did three more teams ranked in the top ten (No. 7 Raiders, No. 9 Cowboys, No. 10 Titans).

With half of the top ten teams losing their games, perhaps the top ten is not a place you want to be ranked in right now.

Here's a summary of where the Cowboys are ranked this week, and a little further down you can see how that compares to the rest of the NFC East.


Chicago Tribune - No. 9 (LW: 4)

Defensive lineman David Irving is returning from suspension and that should help unit that was shredded by Rams.
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ESPN - No. 12 (LW: 9)

DeMarcus Lawrence has been a force so far this season with an NFL-leading 7.5 sacks. Unfortunately for Dallas, no other defensive player has been nearly as disruptive; the rest of the team has combined for just 4.5 sacks and two picks.
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Yahoo - No. 12 (LW: 8)

It’s early, but worth noting that Ezekiel Elliott’s yards per carry is down from 5.1 to 3.6. He’s on pace for 1,108 yards, way short of his league-leading 1,631 yards last season. There’s time to make it up, but it’s a concern. Remember, this isn’t the same Cowboys offensive line from a year ago.
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Sagarin Rating - No. 12 (LW: 7)

These are rankings based on W/L record, points differential and schedule strength.

Detroit Free Press - No. 13 (LW: 9)

They seemed to be cruising until the second half against the Rams happened, where they were outscored at home, 19-6. Still, they have all the components of a good team, right? Right?
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SI.com - No. 13 (LW: 12)

No comments provided.

Washington Post - No. 15 (LW: 6)

This is not the way things were supposed to be going for the Cowboys in Year 2 for QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott. They’re off to an uneven start and the Cowboys could lose Elliott at any time, with the NFL asking a federal appeals court to lift the injunction that is keeping Elliott’s six-game suspension from being enforced. Sunday’s game in Dallas is much more important for the Cowboys than it is for the Packers. The Cowboys are at home and playing an injury-riddled team. If the Cowboys don’t win under those circumstances, it will be pretty clear they are not the team they were expected to be.
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CBS - No. 15 (LW:12)

The defense continues to be an issue that could derail this team's playoff chances. It has to be better.
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