fredp22
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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...rankings-week-11-dallas-cowboys-vault-to-no-1
NFL Power Rankings, Week 11: Dallas Cowboys vault to No. 1
RANK
1
8-1 COWBOYS
1
So I guess that question has been answered. Sunday's game at Heinz was similar to Dallas' win in Seattle in 2014, with fans across the country realizing the Cowboys are indeed for real. Dallas followed the blueprint we've come to expect this season: run Ezekiel Elliott between the tackles, try to get Dez Bryant involved, spell Zeke with Alfred Morris for a couple of series, play bend-but-don't-break defense and win in the kicking game. It was all there in an instant classic. Two X-factors that helped the 'Boys come out on top: the shining light that is Scott Linehan's play calling and the recent resurgence of Jason Witten in the clutch. Dak Prescott has learned where his bread is buttered when he needs 8 yards.
RANK
2
6-2-1 SEAHAWKS
4
While many were breathlessly marveling over the improved play of a healthier Russell Wilson in Sunday's win at New England, I couldn't help but think about what an elite player Kam Chancellor is. During a time where we debate whether this quarterback or that quarterback is "elite," a guy like Chancellor deserves way more attention. Forget the non-call (the right call) on the fourth-and-goal throw to Gronk -- the hustle play Chancellor made down the line to grab LeGarrette Blount's feet as the Pats RB tried to dive over the pile won the game. Seriously: It won the damn game. It reminded me of the effort play Chancellor made against the Lions last year on "Monday Night Football," peeling off his man to belt Calvin Johnson at the goal line, force a fumble and essentially win that game. Chancellor is talented, football smart and, most emphatically, all heart.
RANK
3
7-2 PATRIOTS
2
Small drop for New England, for obvious reasons. The Cowboys have won eight in a row, with their lone loss of the season having come by one point, in their rookie QB's first ever NFL start. Meanwhile, Seattle just beat the Patriots at their place, and flat out played better football in the process. While the Pats have only lost one game with Tom Brady, Sunday night was the first time in two months when Russell Wilson appeared healthy. One factor in the defeat might have been the absence of recently traded Jamie Collins, as Seattle did isolate Elandon Roberts in pass coverage a few times. It will be interesting to see how New England fares on defense without the now Cleveland Brown. Coming into Sunday night, the Pats were second in points per game allowed. Wilson put 31 on them at Gillette.
RANK
4
7-2 CHIEFS
1
Eric Berry won the day in Carolina. What a play. The Chiefs blitzed Cam Newton right up the gut, and when the Panthers quarterback decided to shoot the ball up the seam, Berry read it beautifully from his center field spot. After catching the ball in mid-flight, he weaved and spun his way to the game's most important score. Now, while we hate to levy a tax on the #ChiefsKingdom, this dink-and-dunk stuff from Alex Smith isn't going to get Kansas City very far. He missed Chris Conley and Travis Kelce -- both wide open -- on vertical throws that would have been certain touchdowns.
RANK
5
7-2 RAIDERS
Last week, I said I'd compare this group to the last Raider team that won it all: the 1983 Los Angeles Raiders. That season represented one of my early years watching pro football, and I rooted hardcore with my brothers for the underdog Raiders to trounce the high flyin' Commanders in Super Bowl XVIII. They did, 38-9. Al Davis' team was coached by Tom Flores, who remains criminally underrated to this day. As nice a job as Jack Del Rio has done, I would give the coaching advantage to the '83 Raiders. And here's how the rosters stack up against each other, in my estimation:
QB: 2016 Raiders. Derek Carr has been far more productive -- with less negative plays -- than Jim Plunkett. Oh, but I love Plunkett.
RB: 1983 Raiders. Marcus Allen. Come on.
WR/TE: 2016. Would be a landside if just receivers (with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree), but TE Todd Christensen led the NFL in catches in 1983.
OL: 2016. They've been unbelievable in pass pro.
DL: 1983. Howie Long, Lyle Alzado, Bill Pickel and Greg Townsend. Nice.
LB: 1983. Rod Martin and Ted Hendricks were in the Pro Bowl. Matt Millen: solid.
DB: 1983. Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes, dude.
Special teams: Push. Kicker Chris Bahr was mediocre in '83, as Sebastian Janikowski is this year. Marquette King is better than Ray Guy was late in his HOF career. Greg Pruitt was a Pro Bowl returner in '83.
RANK
6
7-3 BRONCOS
1
The Broncos pulled out what was Sunday's most exciting early game. Thought the replay official did a nice job not overturning the call on the returned extra point. Initially, I believed the refs missed a defensive holding call on the center that allowed Justin Simmons to leap and block the extra point in the first place ... but no! Turns out the Broncos followed the law of the land, as explained by NFL officiating czar Dean Blandino. (Learn something new every day!) How Bradley Roby let Brandin Cooks catch that ball ...
RANK
7
6-3 GIANTS
2
The G-Men started a trend Monday night that they hope to continue. Well, a few, actually. First, not circling the toilet bowl to start the second half of the 2016 season. Under Tom Coughlin, the Giants went 40-56 during the second half ( Super Bowl wins notwithstanding). Second, New York produced some semblance of a running game Monday night. Lastly, how about those sacks on consecutive plays on the Bengals' last-gasp drive? Getting the quarterback down, with the ball still in his hand, has been rarer than an Eli Manning interception-free game. Hey, what do you think: NFC East = AFC West? ( @HarrisonNFL)
RANK
8
5-4 LIONS
The Lions were off last week, but thanks to losses by the Vikings and Packers, Detroit jumped into first place in the NFC North. I placed the Honolulu Blue above Washington here based on a head-to-head win and the fact that they've been in every game they've played. I was asked on Twitter why the Commanders, at 4-3-1 heading into Week 10, were ahead in the wild-card race. Better winning percentage. All the bye weeks and ties that you guys love so much seriously mess with the standings. Watching the Lions' run game messes with my brain.
RANK
9
5-3-1 Commanders
6
Huge, huge, huge win for the Commanders on Sunday. So often we see teams come out of the bye week flat. And although it might have looked that way early at FedEx, this football team that no one's paying attention to won with efficient quarterback play (Kirk Cousins: 22 of 33, 262 yards and two TD) and clutch defense in the end. Heckuva win. In other news, where are all those fans who angrily tweeted me in August claiming Matt Jones would be awesome in 2016? #healthyscratch
RANK
10
5-4 EAGLES
Every single NFC East team won in Week 10. Loved the way Jim Schwartz's defense competed -- again -- in leading Philly to the win. For all the love given to Carson Wentz, the reality is that he threw no touchdown passes and averaged well under 7 yards per throw. Not disparaging him at all, but right now he is closer to game manager than Norm Van Brocklin.
for rest-
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...rankings-week-11-dallas-cowboys-vault-to-no-1
NFL Power Rankings, Week 11: Dallas Cowboys vault to No. 1
RANK
1
8-1 COWBOYS
1
So I guess that question has been answered. Sunday's game at Heinz was similar to Dallas' win in Seattle in 2014, with fans across the country realizing the Cowboys are indeed for real. Dallas followed the blueprint we've come to expect this season: run Ezekiel Elliott between the tackles, try to get Dez Bryant involved, spell Zeke with Alfred Morris for a couple of series, play bend-but-don't-break defense and win in the kicking game. It was all there in an instant classic. Two X-factors that helped the 'Boys come out on top: the shining light that is Scott Linehan's play calling and the recent resurgence of Jason Witten in the clutch. Dak Prescott has learned where his bread is buttered when he needs 8 yards.
RANK
2
6-2-1 SEAHAWKS
4
While many were breathlessly marveling over the improved play of a healthier Russell Wilson in Sunday's win at New England, I couldn't help but think about what an elite player Kam Chancellor is. During a time where we debate whether this quarterback or that quarterback is "elite," a guy like Chancellor deserves way more attention. Forget the non-call (the right call) on the fourth-and-goal throw to Gronk -- the hustle play Chancellor made down the line to grab LeGarrette Blount's feet as the Pats RB tried to dive over the pile won the game. Seriously: It won the damn game. It reminded me of the effort play Chancellor made against the Lions last year on "Monday Night Football," peeling off his man to belt Calvin Johnson at the goal line, force a fumble and essentially win that game. Chancellor is talented, football smart and, most emphatically, all heart.
RANK
3
7-2 PATRIOTS
2
Small drop for New England, for obvious reasons. The Cowboys have won eight in a row, with their lone loss of the season having come by one point, in their rookie QB's first ever NFL start. Meanwhile, Seattle just beat the Patriots at their place, and flat out played better football in the process. While the Pats have only lost one game with Tom Brady, Sunday night was the first time in two months when Russell Wilson appeared healthy. One factor in the defeat might have been the absence of recently traded Jamie Collins, as Seattle did isolate Elandon Roberts in pass coverage a few times. It will be interesting to see how New England fares on defense without the now Cleveland Brown. Coming into Sunday night, the Pats were second in points per game allowed. Wilson put 31 on them at Gillette.
RANK
4
7-2 CHIEFS
1
Eric Berry won the day in Carolina. What a play. The Chiefs blitzed Cam Newton right up the gut, and when the Panthers quarterback decided to shoot the ball up the seam, Berry read it beautifully from his center field spot. After catching the ball in mid-flight, he weaved and spun his way to the game's most important score. Now, while we hate to levy a tax on the #ChiefsKingdom, this dink-and-dunk stuff from Alex Smith isn't going to get Kansas City very far. He missed Chris Conley and Travis Kelce -- both wide open -- on vertical throws that would have been certain touchdowns.
RANK
5
7-2 RAIDERS
Last week, I said I'd compare this group to the last Raider team that won it all: the 1983 Los Angeles Raiders. That season represented one of my early years watching pro football, and I rooted hardcore with my brothers for the underdog Raiders to trounce the high flyin' Commanders in Super Bowl XVIII. They did, 38-9. Al Davis' team was coached by Tom Flores, who remains criminally underrated to this day. As nice a job as Jack Del Rio has done, I would give the coaching advantage to the '83 Raiders. And here's how the rosters stack up against each other, in my estimation:
QB: 2016 Raiders. Derek Carr has been far more productive -- with less negative plays -- than Jim Plunkett. Oh, but I love Plunkett.
RB: 1983 Raiders. Marcus Allen. Come on.
WR/TE: 2016. Would be a landside if just receivers (with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree), but TE Todd Christensen led the NFL in catches in 1983.
OL: 2016. They've been unbelievable in pass pro.
DL: 1983. Howie Long, Lyle Alzado, Bill Pickel and Greg Townsend. Nice.
LB: 1983. Rod Martin and Ted Hendricks were in the Pro Bowl. Matt Millen: solid.
DB: 1983. Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes, dude.
Special teams: Push. Kicker Chris Bahr was mediocre in '83, as Sebastian Janikowski is this year. Marquette King is better than Ray Guy was late in his HOF career. Greg Pruitt was a Pro Bowl returner in '83.
RANK
6
7-3 BRONCOS
1
The Broncos pulled out what was Sunday's most exciting early game. Thought the replay official did a nice job not overturning the call on the returned extra point. Initially, I believed the refs missed a defensive holding call on the center that allowed Justin Simmons to leap and block the extra point in the first place ... but no! Turns out the Broncos followed the law of the land, as explained by NFL officiating czar Dean Blandino. (Learn something new every day!) How Bradley Roby let Brandin Cooks catch that ball ...
RANK
7
6-3 GIANTS
2
The G-Men started a trend Monday night that they hope to continue. Well, a few, actually. First, not circling the toilet bowl to start the second half of the 2016 season. Under Tom Coughlin, the Giants went 40-56 during the second half ( Super Bowl wins notwithstanding). Second, New York produced some semblance of a running game Monday night. Lastly, how about those sacks on consecutive plays on the Bengals' last-gasp drive? Getting the quarterback down, with the ball still in his hand, has been rarer than an Eli Manning interception-free game. Hey, what do you think: NFC East = AFC West? ( @HarrisonNFL)
RANK
8
5-4 LIONS
The Lions were off last week, but thanks to losses by the Vikings and Packers, Detroit jumped into first place in the NFC North. I placed the Honolulu Blue above Washington here based on a head-to-head win and the fact that they've been in every game they've played. I was asked on Twitter why the Commanders, at 4-3-1 heading into Week 10, were ahead in the wild-card race. Better winning percentage. All the bye weeks and ties that you guys love so much seriously mess with the standings. Watching the Lions' run game messes with my brain.
RANK
9
5-3-1 Commanders
6
Huge, huge, huge win for the Commanders on Sunday. So often we see teams come out of the bye week flat. And although it might have looked that way early at FedEx, this football team that no one's paying attention to won with efficient quarterback play (Kirk Cousins: 22 of 33, 262 yards and two TD) and clutch defense in the end. Heckuva win. In other news, where are all those fans who angrily tweeted me in August claiming Matt Jones would be awesome in 2016? #healthyscratch
RANK
10
5-4 EAGLES
Every single NFC East team won in Week 10. Loved the way Jim Schwartz's defense competed -- again -- in leading Philly to the win. For all the love given to Carson Wentz, the reality is that he threw no touchdown passes and averaged well under 7 yards per throw. Not disparaging him at all, but right now he is closer to game manager than Norm Van Brocklin.
for rest-
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...rankings-week-11-dallas-cowboys-vault-to-no-1
