Nothing like an embarrassing loss to a winless team and a rookie quarterback- at home and on primetime television, no less- to make all those outlets spit out the Kool-Aid they’d been sipping just a little too hard. Any positive momentum the Cowboys had following their Week 4 win at Houston was positively gutted with Week 5’s devastatingly awful performance against Tampa Bay.
The 24-16 defeat has Dallas plummeting in all the major outlets’ power rankings, by as much as 12 spots in one case, and into the bottom third of the league in several.
Somehow, the Cowboys are still favored by many to win the suddenly-dreadful NFC East. But to have a chance at that crown, they must improve the defense to at least a mediocre caliber. That’s been the mission all season, but it’s one that coordinator Christian Parker has yet to look capable of completing. Will Mike Pettine be enough of a stabilizing influence? Will the promised roster changes or veterans returning from injury make a difference? Is there another move the club can make to right the ship in time to even matter?
Those are the glaring questions at The Star this week. The answers may start to reveal themselves Sunday night in Green Bay as the Cowboys look to get back on an upward trajectory.
For now, here’s where the latest power rankings have them placed, and what the outlets had to say about it.
: No. 15, ▼3
- “How do you pick just one issue when it comes to the Cowboys? They are giving up 27.2 points per game, which ranks 26th in the NFL. They are giving up 168.4 rushing yards per game, which is last in the league. They have recorded only five sacks and do not have an interception this season. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 72.3% of their passes. Through five games, new coordinator Christian Parker’s defense might not be worse than it was under Matt Eberflus last season. But it is at least the same and a big reason why Dallas is 2-3.”
No. 18, ▼10
- “The Cowboys suffered a disastrous loss on Thursday night, falling to a previously winless Buccaneers team that had every reason to lay down in Arlington. Instead, Bucky Irving ran through Dallas’ defense, Jalon Daniels produced a creditable performance in place of Baker Mayfield, and the Cowboys’ typically-explosive offense mustered just 16 points. We know Dallas only has one path to victory — light up the scoreboard — and when that doesn’t work, it exposes the flaws in this club. It’s only one loss, but it eliminated much of my confidence in this team being a real contender.”
No. 20, ▼6
- “This defense is just a total mess. The free-falling Buccaneers went to Dallas with their backup quarterback and left with more than 400 yards of offense after possessing the ball for nearly 40 minutes. Maybe newly acquired Joey Porter Jr. will make a big difference, but the defense is a problem.”
No. 17, ▼5
- “This thing has gotten ugly. The defense is historically bad. Their effort isn’t good either. Jerry Jones has to be seething.”Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.
No. 24, ▼6
- “At least they won’t have to suffer the ignominy of facing their Parsons mistake up close and personal − between the lines anyway − for a second straight season.”
No. 23, ▼12
- “I was listening to former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis the other day speak about Christian Parker’s staff in Dallas and his point was an interesting one: this is a very young staff around a first-time defensive coordinator. Multiple first-year coaches. My initial thought was that if Jerry Jones is truly a dangerous old man with money, he should pour some cash into a few analysts to help right the ship. Mike Pettine is a pretty good start.”
No. 22, ▼6
“The Cowboys’ expected defensive improvement has yet to materialize, and the unit again threatens to derail their season. Playing against a winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers team starting an undrafted rookie at quarterback, Dallas gave up 419 total yards and over 240 yards on the ground. The Cowboys knew exactly what Tampa Bay was going to do—and there was nothing they could do to stop it. Once again, Dallas is at the bottom of the league in total defense. They can’t stop the run, allowing almost 170 yards per game. The pass defense is better, but still below average. Joey Porter Jr. isn’t going to fix things and neither will another trade. The more things change in Dallas, the more they stay the same.”
Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Power Rankings Roundup: Cowboys fall to bottom third of league after Week 5 disaster
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