Power rankings roundup: Where do the Dallas Cowboys place after week 13 of the NFL season?
The Dallas Cowboys have won back-to-back games, including their first home win of the season when they beat the New York Giants 27-20 on Thanksgiving.
It was their first time winning consecutive games since the fourth and fifth week of the season.
Where do the Cowboys place on national power rankings following Thursday’s win?
TODD ARCHER, ESPN
With the Cowboys’ record and the defense’s slow start, Overshown might make the Pro Bowl only as an alternate. But he has shown he can be a playmaker after missing his rookie year with a torn left ACL. He can rush the passer. He can cover. He is a good tackler. Once he sees the play, he has the speed to go. And if he guesses incorrectly, he has the speed to make up for the error. The more experience he gains, the better he should become
ERIC EDHOLM, NFL
A few of us have been yelling at the Cowboys to just make Rico Dowdle the lead back, but that just seemed too easy, I suppose. They’d been sort of on-ramping toward Thursday’s breakout performance, but it was strange the Cowboys didn’t just lean on Dowdle after his big prime-time game in Pittsburgh back in Week 5 -- even with an illness that knocked him out Week 8. Anyway, it was nice to see him flourish a bit, even if this season is sort of spoken for.
FRANK SCHWAB, Yahoo Sports
The Cowboys were smart to hand over full-time tailback duties to Rico Dowdle. He had 22 carries to just one for Ezekiel Elliott in Week 13, and he had 112 yards and a touchdown. Maybe Dallas should have made that move sooner.
STAFF, Bleacher Report
At this point, Thursday’s win over a bad Giants team isn’t going to save a disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys. With quarterback Dak Prescott lost for the season, the Cowboys aren’t getting anywhere near the Super Bowl that has eluded team owner Jerry Jones for three decades.
VINNIE IYER, Sporting News
The Cowboys have won two consecutive division games with Cooper Rush to get back to some life in the NFC wild-card race. The upcoming schedule can keep them hot, but the Eagles and Commanders loom in the final two games.
DIANTE LEE, The Ringer
Maybe the only play from this game worth remembering was a DeMarvion Overshown pick-six that he tipped to himself—otherwise, it was just a march to the end, a fitting representation of Dallas’s season.
NATE DAVIS, USA TODAY
That’s two Ws in a row with the next three games against teams that are no better than .500. Is Mike McCarthy really about to coach himself into an extension?
PETE PRISCO, CBS SPORTS
They are still alive after beating the Giants on Thanksgiving. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
MIKE FLORIO, Pro Football Talk
They’ve still got a long way to go to be contenders.
CONOR ORR, Sports Illustrated
Another nice game plan from Mike McCarthy that showcased playmakers in space. Two of KaVontae Turpin’s best games in terms of total yardage amassed have been in the last three weeks, even though his target share has remained relatively consistent. Against an unwilling Giants defense, he was a speedy weapon that posed a lot of issues. If Dallas can beat the Bengals in prime time this week, I will officially allow myself to believe that the Cowboys are not yet dead.
MATT JOHNSON, Sportsnaut
The Dallas Cowboys are not making the playoffs and this two-game winning streak is absolutely hurting the draft position of a team that needs premium draft picks. With that said, the emergence of running back Rico Dowdle – the first Cowboys’ player with 100-plus rushing yards in the last 26 games – and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown are massive for this team’s long-term future. More than the win, Cowboys Nation should be excited about the emergence of those two.
