Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.
Here is where the Dallas Cowboys rank in terms of average, best and worst:
- Average ranking: 20.4 (T-19th)
- Best ranking: 18th (Multiple)
- Worst ranking: 24th (USA Today)
Below you will find a Week 6 roundup for the Cowboys in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.
The Athletic -- Rank: 20
I'll never understand how Dak Prescott was able to calmly call to the Cowboys' sideline as he sat on the ground looking at his broken ankle. Prescott's season is over and he's already on the long road to recovery, but there's reason to be optimistic about his long-term prospects. Assuming that Andy Dalton will be able to give the Cowboys similar quarterback play does a disservice to how good Prescott has been. Dallas has great wide receivers, and Michael Gallup came up huge in their win against the Giants. But they are without both starting offensive tackles, and their defense ranks 24th in EPA per snap. The Cowboys still have a decent chance at winning the division, but their ceiling is significantly lower with Dalton filling in for Prescott.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 18
Dak Prescott is lost for the season, which means Andy Dalton is in as the starter. With the way the defense is playing, he's going to have to chuck it around a lot.
USA Today -- Rank: 24
Andy Dalton's new team just lost its best player but definitely still has horses to win lackluster NFC East if troops rally post-Dak.
ESPN -- Rank: 18
Biggest weakness: Defense
With Dak Prescott out for the season, you would think it would be the offense's ability to put up points with Andy Dalton at quarterback. But it's not. It's on the defense -- the entire defense. Cowboys opponents have had 60 drives in the first five games and have scored on 31 of them, with 19 touchdowns and 12 field goals. (And four of those possessions were either taking a knee or running out the clock to kill the half or a game.) The Giants entered Week 5 with 47 points, and their offense scored 24 points on two touchdowns and four field goals. With dynamic offenses to come, the Cowboys' defense has a lot to fix. -- Todd Archer
With Dak Prescott out for the season, you would think it would be the offense's ability to put up points with Andy Dalton at quarterback. But it's not. It's on the defense -- the entire defense. Cowboys opponents have had 60 drives in the first five games and have scored on 31 of them, with 19 touchdowns and 12 field goals. (And four of those possessions were either taking a knee or running out the clock to kill the half or a game.) The Giants entered Week 5 with 47 points, and their offense scored 24 points on two touchdowns and four field goals. With dynamic offenses to come, the Cowboys' defense has a lot to fix. -- Todd Archer
NFL.com -- Rank: 22
Complete disaster. That's the only way to describe what happened on Sunday in Jerrah World, a last-second 37-34 win over the Giants that will be remembered for the awful ankle injury tha ended Dak Prescott's season after a brilliant month. Enter Andy Dalton, whose smart offseason signing looks genius now that Dallas will be forced to go with a backup QB the rest of the way. Dalton, 32, has shown in his years of starting experience that he can play at a high level when surrounded with the right parts. He's got that now in a way he never had in Cincinnati. Dalton has the ability to keep the Cowboys relevant, but there's no sugarcoating the ugly nature of Prescott's loss. For a team that entered 2020 with Super Bowl aspirations, it's an absolute crusher.
Previous update: Dallas Cowboys Week 5 NFL Power Rankings Roundup
More Dallas Cowboys pages:
- Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft Roundup
- Dallas Cowboys Snap Counts
- Dallas Cowboys Franchise Leaders
- Dallas Cowboys Draft History
- Dallas Cowboys Schedule
- Dallas Cowboys Tickets
More of our content:
