NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: Browns make significant progress with Joe Flacco, but Cowboys are real Super Bowl contenders
Ripping off Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott has become a fashionable activity in recent years. At the heart of it all was their inability to win big games in Dallas.
The truth is McCarthy has always been a better manager than football fans on social media give him credit for. This obviously means a play for the 10-3 Cowboys, who currently lead the NFC East. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 33-13 on Sunday night where they proved many skeptics wrong and eased the fears of many fans by beating a winning team. McCarthy trained for days after undergoing an appendectomy, showing a passion and tenacity that not many people know about him. But the biggest change in the Cowboys offense this season isn’t McCarthy’s calling, but who does it all.
Prescott has been sensational and may be the best player in the league. He leads the NFL with 28 touchdowns and has thrown for 23 and two picks since the Cowboys lost to the 49ers on Oct. 1. 8. Dallas has won seven of eight games during that stretch and should have won eight of eight if not for a minor setback in a loss to the Eagles in early November. When McCarthy took over the play-calling position this year, there was much speculation that he would lead a high-scoring offense. When I talked to McCarthy about it at a league meeting last March, he laughed and said it wasn’t going to happen. Anyone who’s followed McCarthy’s story knows that’s not his style, but the story still went viral. We now know that the idea that the Cowboys were a tough team is long gone. In fact, the offense looked the same earlier this season. But things have changed. Prescott entered the zone with the line staying healthy and wide receiver CD Lamb becoming a true star on the outside. The Cowboys are now on offense. Everything seems to click. This Eagles blowout puts Dallas second in my power rankings for the week as they head into a big game against the Buffalo Bills.
With their basic form, scoring offense and rushing to turn the ball over, the Cowboys are well positioned for a real Super Bowl push. The Eagles need at least one more loss for the Cowboys to still have a chance to win the division. But even if they make the playoffs, this will be a team to watch to see if Prescott shows he can play at an elite level this season. McCarthy and Prescott prove the doubters wrong. Of course, for the Cowboys, losing in the playoffs doesn’t matter. Face part of the Dallas Cowboys.
Prescott has been sensational and may be the best player in the league. He leads the NFL with 28 touchdowns and has thrown for 23 and two picks since the Cowboys lost to the 49ers on Oct. 1. 8. Dallas has won seven of eight games during that stretch and should have won eight of eight if not for two losses to the Eagles in early November. When McCarthy took over the play-caller job this year, there was a lot of speculation that he would run a huge offense. When I talked to McCarthy about it at a league meeting last March, he laughed and said it wasn’t going to happen. Anyone who’s followed McCarthy’s story knows that’s not his style, but the story still went viral. We now know that the idea that the Cowboys were a tough team is long gone. In fact, the offense looked the same earlier this season. But things have changed. Prescott entered the zone with the line staying healthy and wide receiver CD Lamb becoming a true star on the outside. The Cowboys are flying high on offense right now. Everything seems to click. This Eagles blowout puts Dallas second in my power rankings for the week as they head into a big game against the Buffalo Bills.
With a scoring attack and pass rush that can make life hell for opposing tight ends when playing with their starting lineup, the Cowboys are well positioned for a real Super Bowl push. The Eagles need at least one more loss for the Cowboys to have a shot at winning the division. But even if they make the playoffs, this will be a team to watch to see if Prescott shows he can play at an elite level this season. McCarthy and Prescott prove the doubters wrong. Of course, for the Cowboys, losing in the playoffs doesn’t really matter. Face part of the Dallas Cowboys.
