Thursday, September 14, 2023

Dallas Cowboys Week 2 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Dallas Cowboys in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 4

Best debut performance: CB Stephon Gilmore
Week 1 stats: 4 tackles, 3 passes defensed, INT

With Gilmore and Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys have their best cornerback duo in years. Gilmore matched up with tight end Darren Waller, he matched up with the Giants' speedy receivers and he was able to get the better of all of them. "He's an incredible route reader, just the pattern of concepts and understanding of the stems," coach Mike McCarthy said. "The way he sees the game is exceptional. I look back at [former cornerback] Charles Woodson and some of those guys that had that special trait, and he definitely has that." -- Todd Archer

NFL.com -- Rank: 4

The Cowboys had a pedestrian night offensively -- two of their five touchdowns came via the defense/special teams -- and utterly dominated the Giants in MetLife Stadium. Even we true believers could not have imagined a defensive performance like that, rainy conditions or not. It took Dan Quinn's unit about five plays to settle in and then completely dismantle the Giants' offense in a performance that won't quiet the Super Bowl talk in Dallas. The one interesting offensive wrinkle for the 'Boys: a package of plays for KaVontae Turpin. After logging a grand total of four offensive touches in 2022, he had five on Sunday night. And they were pretty effective, too! Who said Mike McCarthy isn't a clever play-caller?

CBS Sports -- Rank: 5

They were dominant in blowing out the Giants Sunday night. The defense, especially up front, was suffocating. The pass rush is elite.

USA Today -- Rank: 3

Whatever reservations you might have about Dallas' offense — and I've expressed multiple in this space — such concerns are largely moot if this defense manifests as Doomsday III (or is it IV, depending how you feel about the 1990s groups?). QB Dak Prescott and HC Mike McCarthy, the new play caller, didn't have to show much Sunday night after the D and special teams ignited the biggest shutout in club history and largest in Week 1 in 24 years. They get the reeling Jets next.

The Athletic -- Rank: 1

Mike McCarthy said this offseason that he was willing to sacrifice some offensive flash to help his defense. Turns out, the Cowboys may not even have to play offense this season. The Dallas defense got a pick-six touchdown, seven sacks (from five players), 12 quarterback hits (from seven players) and 10 tackles for loss (from seven players), and the Cowboys added a special teams score. The Giants averaged 2.6 yards per play, the 14th-lowest total in an NFL regular-season game in the last five years.

"We're the best defense in the National Football League," Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons said after the game.

Forget that, Micah. We're overreacting this week. The Cowboys have the best defense ever!

FOX -- Rank: 3

The Giants entered Sunday night with a chance to announce themselves, and the Cowboys spent the next three hours dribbling them like so many basketballs. A 40-0 win is about as thorough a beating as you'll ever see in the NFL, and Dallas seemed to enjoy reminding New York that there are levels to this thing.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 4

Tony Pollard delivered in his first game as the Cowboys' main back, with Ezekiel Elliott out of the picture. Pollard averaged five yards per carry, picking up 70 yards and two touchdowns. We'll see if he can hold up over a full season, but the first step was a positive one.

PFT -- Rank: 6

They're capable of blowing teams out in the regular season. Can they beat one or more teams in the postseason?

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