2023 NFL Power Rankings: Dallas Cowboys

Pleasant surprise: CB DaRon Bland

Who else could it be? Bland leads the NFL with eight interceptions, and his five pick-sixes are a single-season NFL record. All this while filling in for Pro Bowl CB Trevon Diggs, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee in a Week 3 practice. The Cowboys thought they would be OK with Bland, who had five picks last year to lead the team, but they couldn't have expected he would do this. In his past two games, he has given up a lot of catches and yards, so maybe he is hitting a wall or just learning what life is like for a regular cornerback. -- Todd Archer

Since the loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys have gone 4-0, winning the first three of those games by an average of 30 points. This past Thursday's triumph was notable for the fact that Dallas never panicked despite Seattle leading for much of the second half. It's a testament to how dangerous the Cowboys' offense has become, even if the defense struggled to get off the field against the Seahawks. But the 'Boys now have extra rest coming into the big rematch against the Eagles in Dallas this Sunday night. The Eagles' Week 13 loss really invigorated the races for the NFC East crown and the conference's top seed. Dallas has won 14 straight at AT&T Stadium, but the defense will have some work to do after the Seahawks diced it up.

The defense let them down against the Seahawks, but the offense came up big. Dak Prescott is firmly in the MVP conversation.

Beat the Eagles on Sunday, and that's 15 victories in a row at AT&T Stadium — not to mention first place in the NFC East. And, naturally, that's important because a division title guarantees at least one playoff game at home — where Dallas just became the third team in league annals to score at least 30 points in its first six games in its own yard to start a season. The Cowboys are also the fifth team to crack 40 points in four consecutive home games.

Worst case: Down day from Dak

The Cowboys can beat anybody when Dak Prescott plays like he did Thursday night against the Seahawks. Prescott was 29-for-41 for 299 yards and three touchdowns, and Dallas scored on eight of its nine possessions. For the season, he is second in EPA per attempt (0.30) and passer rating (108.3). However, Dak does have "those days." He's had a negative EPA per attempt twice this year. The Cowboys have lost both games (to Arizona and San Francisco).

Simply put, Dak Prescott is playing the best ball of his career right now. There's more work to be done with the Eagles on deck, but Thursday's scintillating performance against Seattle was a hell of a start to the home stretch. If he manages to beat Philly, I think he'll be the MVP front-runner the next time I write this blurb.

The game in Week 14 is a must-win for Dallas if it has any hope to earn home-field in the NFC postseason. Since the Cowboys are menacing at AT&T Stadium it would be a huge edge if they somehow could pull it off.

They finally get perhaps their chance to beat the Eagles on Sunday night.

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