Saturday, January 2, 2021

Dallas Cowboys Week 17 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: 21.8 (23rd)
  • Best ranking: 18th (NFL.com)
  • Worst ranking: 24th (The Athletic)

Below you will find a Week 17 roundup for the Cowboys in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 24

Dak Prescott, QB: After using the franchise tag on Prescott last offseason, the Cowboys' goal should be to lock him up long term. Prescott will be coming off of a season-ending injury, but quarterbacks his age (he turns 28 in July) and his caliber rarely reach the open market. In other words, there's no reason for Prescott to take any kind of a discount to return to Dallas.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 22

They have a chance to be the division winner, but they need help from the Eagles. The offense has really played well lately with Andy Dalton.

USA Today -- Rank: 23

With defense finally making plays and QB Andy Dalton in groove, you'd have to say they're NFC East's most dangerous team at this juncture.

ESPN -- Rank: 22

New Year's resolution: Commit to the defense

OK, maybe after signing Dak Prescott long-term, but make sure the defense has the talent to run the scheme Mike McCarthy wants to run, whether Mike Nolan is the coordinator again or it's somebody new. If a CeeDee Lamb-type offensive player falls to them again in the first round, have a discussion about it, but this draft and offseason needs to be about the defense. The Cowboys have major needs at all three levels, but especially in the secondary. -- Todd Archer

NFL.com -- Rank: 18

The Cowboys will enter the final week of the regular season with a chance to win the NFC East. It's a testament to the righteous power of hope, even in the dark corner of professional football known as the NFC East. Sunday's 37-17 win over the Eagles was another reminder of how smart Dallas was to sign Andy Dalton as an insurance policy this offseason. Dalton threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns against Philly, a performance that showed how explosive this offense remains when a competent passer is getting the ball to the playmakers. Michael Gallup has returned from the abyss to become a 1b option with Amari Cooper, while CeeDee Lamb continues to flash superstar ability in his rookie season. The Cowboys aren't good ... but they may be good enough to host a playoff game in January.

Previous update: Dallas Cowboys Week 16 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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