Saturday, December 26, 2020

Dallas Cowboys Week 16 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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: 25.2 (26th)
  • Best ranking: 22nd (NFL.com)
  • Worst ranking: 28th (The Athletic)

Below you will find a Week 16 roundup for the Cowboys in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 28

Wish: A new defensive coordinator. It doesn't take much convincing to envision a season when Dak Prescott returns and the offense is good. But the defense is another story. Dallas ranks 26th in EPA per snap, and performances the last two weeks against Brandon Allen and Mullens shouldn't be enough to change anyone's opinion. Maybe Mike McCarthy sees something behind the scenes that restores his faith in Mike Nolan. But if that's not the case, McCarthy needs to finds a defensive coordinator who can give the Cowboys an edge next season.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 24

Don't look now, but they are still alive in the NFC East race. The offense has played so much better with Andy Dalton.

USA Today -- Rank: 26

Backup RB Tony Pollard provided nice spark (132 yards, 2 TDs) for team with still-flickering playoff aspirations.

ESPN -- Rank: 26

Most underrated star: TE Dalton Schultz

This is a difficult choice because of the Cowboys' lack of success, but Schultz has overdelivered. He entered the season with 13 receptions in his first two years, and when Blake Jarwin went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1, the Cowboys needed Schultz to come through. He has 53 receptions for 524 yards and four touchdowns. He has helped move the chains in an offense that has needed help. Jarwin will be the starter when he is healthy again in 2021, but Schultz has shown that he can be a solid contributor. -- Todd Archer

NFL.com -- Rank: 22

The Cowboys, almost impossibly, are not dead. A 41-33 win over the 49ers, paired with Washington's Week 15 loss to the Seahawks, keeps Dallas in contention for the NFC East title entering Week 16. Who would have guessed that after Mike McCarthy's team got its doors blown off by the Football Team on Thanksgiving? We saw a big performance from Tony Pollard against the Niners, who looked better in his starting debut than Ezekiel Elliott has all season. Would the Cowboys think about sticking with the hot hand for Sunday's must-win matchup against the Eagles? At the very least, Pollard deserves a role in the game plan if Elliott were to return from a lingering calf injury.

Previous update: Dallas Cowboys Week 15 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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