Yahoo NFL Power Rankings: New England No Longer #1

[TwoDeep3]

Before this season, Las Vegas oddsmakers figured the Dallas Cowboys would be about 8-8.

The over/under for the Cowboys’ win total was eight, according to OddsShark. On Nov. 13, with seven games to go, the Cowboys hit that mark.

Odds on Dallas to win the Super Bowl rose to about 20-to-1 at various points this offseason. Things didn’t look good when Tony Romo broke a bone in his back and the Cowboys had to turn to fourth-round rookie Dak Prescott at quarterback. There were no real expectations from anyone, and we mean anyone.

“I didn’t expect it,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after the Cowboys started 3-1, and that was five wins ago. “I really didn’t expect it.”

The Cowboys, expected to be 8-8 with about a 20-to-1 chance to win the Super Bowl, are the best team in football. They’re writing an amazing story.

We can argue if the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots would beat the Cowboys on a neutral field, and perhaps they would. But with eight wins and a one-point loss on their resume, the Cowboys deserve the top spot in the power rankings for now. They have solid wins at Green Bay, at Washington and at Pittsburgh. Four of their wins in this eight-game winning streak have been by at least 14 points. The defense is playing well enough, and the offense has been extremely efficient behind an offensive line that could go down as one of the best ever.

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https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/n...ing-season-and-now-theyre-no-1-052004725.html

 

[Bullflop]

Jerry says he didn't expect the sudden upturn in our fortunes -- that sounds about right, I seriously doubt anybody did. There doesn't appear to be any teams left out there that aren't totally within our ability to beat on a good day. The Pats and Seattle are just about the main ones that pose a serious threat to beat us if we fail to perform flawlessly.

Even then, one can't help but think we're very capable of beating anyone that comes along, provided we're at our best. Once we get those like Claiborne and a few others back from injury as we should, things look promising. It's funny how drastically things can change from one year to the next.

 

[DogFace]

I would worry about the Patriots because they are known repeated cheaters. Also, Brady and Gronk and Bill B. Are pretty damn good. We could run the ball down their throat though.

Seattle gets away with a lot of crap. They've basically won two games off questionable PI calls not called. The one on the Falcons was terrible. The one on Gronk was the right call. I feel we are better than them and would run just like we have been and did in preseason.

I think we'll find out.

 

[DogFace]

Jerry says he didn't expect the sudden upturn in our fortunes -- that sounds about right, I seriously doubt anybody did. There doesn't appear to be any teams left out there that aren't totally within our ability to beat on a good day. The Pats and Seattle are about the main ones that pose a serious threat to beat us if we fail to perform flawlessly. Even then, one can't help but think we're very capable of beating anyone that comes along when we're at our best. Funny how things can change from one year to the next.

I guess Homer FANS like me always think we will be good. However, After 2014 I thought things were different and I knew if we got healthy we would be a pretty to very good team. 8-1 is a surprise.

 

[Bullflop]

I guess Homer FANS like me always think we will be good. However, After 2014 i tough things were different and I knew if we got healthy we would be a pretty to very good team. 8-1 is a surprise.

While we were on the rise during the offseason and later, other teams at the top seemed to descend more to our level. We're sitting pretty now.

 

[Bullflop]

I would worry about the Patriots because they are known repeated cheaters. Also, Brady and Gronk and Bill B. Are pretty damn good. We could run the ball down their throat though.

Seattle gets away with a lot of crap. They've basically won two games off questionable PI calls not called. The one on the Falcons was terrible. The one on Gronk was the right call. I feel we are better than them and would run just like we have been and did in preseason.

I think we'll find out.

I know of no team that we can't run on when our OL is healthy and operating like they are now. Our OL could stand to improve somewhat in their pass blocking at times but for the most part, they're holding their own against most teams. It's a good thing that we have someone like Dak who can deliver the ball in a hurry with great consistency. I think that's an added advantage that we didn't always have previously.

Additionally, our OC, Linehan, is really clicking in his play calling now with Dak and Zeke around to play with such impact and consistency. We're a obviously a serious contender now -- there's no two ways about it. I can't wait for Claiborne to get back to solidify our "D."

 

[1972COWBOY]

This is good news but my concern would be how easy it was for Pittsburgh to score at will at the end of the game. Maybe #1 offensive power ranking but not #1 defensive. We have a few areas of exploit on defense at this time but its not from lack of trying as the team is playing very hard and with a lot of heart..

 

[itsaboat]

>We can argue if the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots would beat the Cowboys on a neutral field, and perhaps they would.

We would beat Seattle all day. Their front seven can't handle our offensive line and Wilson struggles against our coverage. New England would definitely expose our lack of a pass rush and injuries to our secondary.

 

[bayeslife]

>We can argue if the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots would beat the Cowboys on a neutral field, and perhaps they would.

We would beat Seattle all day. Their front seven can't handle our offensive line and Wilson struggles against our coverage. New England would definitely expose our lack of a pass rush and injuries to our secondary.

New England scares me but Seattle just does not match up well with Dallas.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

admitted I don't watch or follow other teams nearly in depth as I do the Cowboys but on the surface, I believe #1 may be a bit generous. It just seams to me our bend but don't break defense with its challenges in pressuring quarterbacks, combined with what appears to be Dak's need for a half of play to progress before he gets comfortable are big warts for us.

Maybe this ranking is more so a reflection on the state of play in the league where the other top tier team's warts are bigger and more numerous than ours.

 

[Jarv]

Just win baby!

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

This is good news but my concern would be how easy it was for Pittsburgh to score at will at the end of the game. Maybe #1 offensive power ranking but not #1 defensive. We have a few areas of exploit on defense at this time but its not from lack of trying as the team is playing very hard and with a lot of heart..

Not #1 defense? Wow, everyone here is gonna be shocked to hear that.

 

[big dog cowboy]

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I guess Homer FANS like me always think we will be good. However, After 2014 I thought things were different and I knew if we got healthy we would be a pretty to very good team. 8-1 is a surprise.

Yeah I don't know if anyone thought we would be this good but it was clear after 2014 that "process" that Garret worked on and that everyone laughed about finally came to fruition. Garrettt did something no other coach could do. He changed the culture of the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I prefer the underdog role for this team, but I suppose when you've won 8 games in a row and have the best record in the NFL, that kind of goes away.

 

[DogFace]

I prefer the underdog role for this team, but I suppose when you've won 8 games in a row and have the best record in the NFL, that kind of goes away.

Not really. We haven't really had a test yet.

I believe this narrative will go on. I've heard it already yesterday on First Take. Stealers no D. No above 500 team when we played them and so on.

So maybe we keep the underdog role.

 

[Trouty]

More rankings (CBS and ESPN not out yet)

Rank Team WaPo SBN Y! B/R USA NFL Avg SD 538
1 Dallas 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.0 0.0 5
2 Seattle 2 2 3 2 2 2 2.2 0.4 1
3 New England 3 3 2 3 3 3 2.8 0.4 3
4 Kansas City 5 5 4 4 4 4 4.3 0.5 2
5 Oakland 4 4 5 5 6 5 4.8 0.8 13
6 Denver 6 8 6 6 7 6 6.5 0.8 4
7 NY Giants 8 6 11 8 9 7 8.2 1.7 18
8 Atlanta 13 7 7 7 5 11 8.3 3.0 8
9 Washington 11 9 8 13 10 9 10.0 1.8 14
10 Philadelphia 12 10 10 9 12 10 10.5 1.2 7

SD -- stands for Standard Deviation. Guys, notice that all of the NFCE teams are in the top ten!

 

[noshame]

And I'd bet the farm on them last year

 

[CATCH17]

admitted I don't watch or follow other teams nearly in depth as I do the Cowboys but on the surface, I believe #1 may be a bit generous. It just seams to me our bend but don't break defense with its challenges in pressuring quarterbacks, combined with what appears to be Dak's need for a half of play to progress before he gets comfortable are big warts for us.

Maybe this ranking is more so a reflection on the state of play in the league where the other top tier team's warts are bigger and more numerous than ours.

Our defense is fine really.

If the game unfolds early like it did in Pittsburgh than yes it can be a worry but if Dallas is playing with a lead then our defense is a non-factor because the offense just keeps the ball and finishes drives with points.

Our offense is our defense. You can't judge Dallas like these 31 other teams because we don't play the same style as them. We don't fling it everywhere. We grind clock and score points. That is our defense.

 

[pugilist]

More rankings (CBS and ESPN not out yet)

Rank Team WaPo SBN Y! B/R USA NFL Avg SD 538
1 Dallas 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.0. 0.0 5
2 Seattle 2 2 3 2 2 2 2.2 0.4 1
3 New England 3 3 2 3 3 3 2.8 0.4 3
4 Kansas City 5 5 4 4 4 4 4.3 0.5 2
5 Oakland 4 4 5 5 6 5 4.8 0.8 13
6 Denver 6 8 6 6 7 6 6.5 0.8 4
7 NY Giants 8 6 11 8 9 7 8.2 1.7 18
8 Atlanta 13 7 7 7 5 11 8.3 3.0 8
9 Washington 11 9 8 13 10 9 10.0 1.8 14
10 Philadelphia 12 10 10 9 12 10 10.5 1.2 7

SD -- stands for Standard Deviation. Guys, notice that all of the NFCE teams are in the top ten!

shocked USA Today has Dallas anywhere near the top 5