The idea of a professional team’s season being a roller coaster is one of sports’ most tired clichés. Until you apply it to the Dallas Cowboys, that is, whose season has been a roller coaster within a roller coaster.
They’ve been up, down and up again, and that’s just the first quarter of most of their games. (For evidence, see any of comedian Cameron Magruder’s stellar game-recap videos.)
But forget the micro picture for a second. In the macro, they are way up after beating the New Orleans Saints to notch their fourth consecutive victory and maintain their place atop the NFC East division, leading to a major bump in the power rankings from our expert NFL panel.
As always, the panel includes editor Geoff Lowe, as well as staff writers Donnovan Bennett, Mike Johnston and Emily Sadler.
1. Los Angeles Rams
2018 record: 11-1
Last week: 2
The Rams became the first team to punch their ticket to the post-season, clinching the division for the second straight year with a decisive win over the Lions. (ES)
2. New Orleans Saints
2018 record: 10-2
Last week: 1
They ran into a hot Cowboys team that excels at home. New Orleans can simply take a mulligan and not panic. The defence looked solid even though the offence was stifled by Dallas. The Saints will still get a bye to start the playoffs. (MJ)
3. Kansas City Chiefs
2018 record: 10-2
Last week: 3
Sunday brought another high-scoring win for the Chiefs, but it also brought a little anxiety for Kansas City as the club allowed the Raiders to put up 33 points in a second-half shootout — Oakland’s second-highest offensive effort this year. Yikes. (ES)
4. New England Patriots
2018 record: 9-3
Last week: 4
Home-field advantage in the playoffs is going to be crucial for the Patriots, who are exponentially better at Gillette Stadium than on the road. (GL)
5. Houston Texans
2018 record: 9-3
Last week: 6
Make it nine straight for the Texans, whose defence shut down Cleveland’s ground game and forced four turnovers. (MJ)
6. Los Angeles Chargers
2018 record: 9-3
Last week: 7
It came down to the final field-goal attempt — or three, actually — but the Chargers showed us they’re capable of winning the close ones down the stretch on the big stage. (ES)
7. Chicago Bears
2018 record: 8-4
Last week: 5
The Bears have allowed just 15.4 points per game over their last three. Even with a loss last week, they still control the NFC North as the rest of the division lost as well. (DB)
8. Dallas Cowboys
2018 record: 7-5
Last week: 13
What more can be said about the Cowboys’ defensive performance against the Saints? Boasting one of the best young front sevens in the game, Dallas’s defence will help shield a team that still has its fair share of question marks offensively. (GL)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
2018 record: 7-4-1
Last week: 8
Pittsburgh is now 0-3 versus AFC West opponents. Why do the Steelers continue to lose close games against elite teams? The Steelers are currently minus-8 in turnover differential. They are on pace to have their worst turnover differential season since minus-10 in 2012. (DB)
10. Seattle Seahawks
2018 record: 7-5
Last week: 11
Russell Wilson completed just 11 of 17 passes Sunday against the 49ers, but he certainly made them count. His four touchdown passes drove the Seahawks to a blowout win that puts them firmly in the playoff picture. (ES)
11. Baltimore Ravens
2018 record: 7-5
Last week: 12
Lamar Jackson has struggled to throw the ball, but he has won all three of his starts. Joe Flacco might not get his job back in Baltimore. (DB)
12. Minnesota Vikings
2018 record: 6-5-1
Last week: 9
The Vikings are back in the NFC’s No. 6 spot, a half-game up on the Philly, Washington and Carolina with four games to go. Minnesota can pretty much secure a playoff spot with a road win against the Seahawks, who hold the No. 5 seed at 7-5. (DB)
13. Denver Broncos
2018 record: 6-6
Last week: 16
They’re not in the playoff picture just yet, but their play down the stretch has the entire league taking notice. (ES)
14. Indianapolis Colts
2018 record: 6-6
Last week: 10
The Colts had scored at least 24 points in eight straight weeks before being blanked by the Jaguars. It was the first time an Andrew Luck-led offence has been shut out in the NFL. (MJ)
15. Carolina Panthers
2018 record: 6-6
Last week: 14
Once a strong 6-2 contender, the Panthers are now a .500 team that looks lost. Cam Newton is not throwing the ball well and the team just fired some of its defensive personnel. A playoff longshot at this point. (MJ)
16. Philadelphia Eagles
2018 record: 6-6
Last week: 18
The Eagles should beat a Mark Sanchez-led team 10 games out of 10, but Monday’s was an important win. The offence finally looks to have found a groove as Philadelphia heads to Dallas with the season on the line. (GL)
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17. Tennessee Titans
2018 record: 6-6
Last week: 19
The Titans earned yet another come-from-behind victory to remain in playoff contention. They’re a team that can win ugly, which at this time of year is a good quality to possess. (MJ)
18. Miami Dolphins
2018 record: 6-6
Last week: 20
Miami’s win over Buffalo keeps the Dolphins in the playoff conversation. Now they get a crucial home game against the Patriots, which is a potential upset in the making – the Dolphins are 4-1 against New England over the last five games in Miami. (GL)
19. Washington
2018 record: 6-6
Last week: 15
Injuries have completely ravaged this team – Colt McCoy is the latest Washingtonian whose campaign has ended prematurely – and ruined a season that started off with such promise. (GL)
20. Green Bay Packers
2018 record: 4-7-1
Last week: 17
Even though Mike McCarthy is gone, the Packers still have issues — and none is bigger than the play of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has a 31 per cent completion percentage when under duress (worst in the NFL) and 35 throwaways (15 more than any other QB), and has been sacked 19 times on third down (fourth most in the NFL). He’s not playing like the highest-paid player in the history of the NFL. (DB)
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2018 record: 5-7
Last week: 25
That’s two straight weeks in which Tampa Bay looked like a real, functioning football team and Jameis Winston looked like someone you can trust on the field going forward. There’s a good chance that all comes to an end this week against the Saints. (MJ)
22. Cleveland Browns
2018 record: 4-7-1
Last week: 21
Bruce Arians, Josh McDaniels and Mike McCarthy have already been mentioned in relation to the Browns’ vacant coaching job. Yes, Cleveland is a desirable coaching destination. Why? They have a foundation for offensive success with a first-overall-pick QB and a strong offensive line. The Browns’ offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack in three weeks. (DB)
23. Cincinnati Bengals
2018 record: 5-7
Last week: 24
A.J. Green is having season-ending toe surgery. He joins Andy Dalton, Tyler Eifert, Preston Brown, Carl Lawson, Tyler Kroft, Ryan Glasgow, Jake Fisher and Vontaze Burfict on the Bengals’ injury report. If it wasn’t already, the Bengals season is now done. (DB)
24. Atlanta Falcons
2018 record: 4-8
Last week: 23
Linebacker Deion Jones had a crazy stat line in his return from injury, but was basically the lone bright spot for a Falcons team that has lost four straight and thrown in the towel. (MJ)
25. Buffalo Bills
2018 record: 4-8
Last week: 22
Josh Allen is far from perfect, but is he ever fun to watch. After running for 135 yards in Miami, the rookie quarterback is quickly gaining on LeSean McCoy as the Bills’ leading rusher. (GL)
26. New York Giants
2018 record: 4-8
Last week: 28
Taking Saquon Barkley over a quarterback may not have been the best move for New York, but No. 26 is the real deal. The Giants are still a ways from being contenders, but are set at RB and WR for years to come. (GL)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
2018 record: 4-8
Last week: 27
The Jags defence came to play and shut out the Colts for the second time in as many seasons. (MJ)
28. Detroit Lions
2018 record: 4-8
Last week: 26
The Lions are currently fifth in the NFL draft order. They also have the second-easiest schedule to end the season. Don’t mess this up, Detroit. (DB)
29. New York Jets
2018 record: 3-9
Last week: 29
Hope returns this weekend with Sam Darnold back under centre, but it’s a tough matchup against a strong Bills defence in Buffalo, always a hard place to play this time of year. (GL)
30. Arizona Cardinals
2018 record: 3-9
Last week: 32
Spoiler alert! Though not mathematically ruled out, the Cardinals won’t be playoff-bound. They also took the Packers down with them on Sunday, thanks to a wild fourth-quarter game-winning drive by rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. Fun fact: Every first-round QB from the 2018 draft now has three wins as a starter. (ES)
31. Oakland Raiders
2018 record: 2-10
Last week: 31
They gave the Chiefs a run for their money, and look like they’re in “spoiler” mode down stretch. (ES)
32. San Francisco 49ers
2018 record: 2-10
Last week: 30
Another loss means that No. 1–overall draft pick is looking more and more likely for San Francisco. (ES)
