The Dallas Cowboys are losing ground in the latest NFL power rankings after suffering a disappointing 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. Dallas fell to 2-3 after losing to a Tampa Bay team that entered the matchup without a victory, raising further concerns about the Cowboys’ ability to compete consistently.
Several national outlets have dropped Dallas in their latest rankings, with the team’s defensive struggles becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. However, the rankings also show that opinions differ on how much the Cowboys’ offensive talent can offset their problems on the other side of the ball.
Cowboys fall in NFL.com and CBS Sports power rankings
NFL.com dropped Dallas 10 spots to No. 18 in its Week 6 power rankings after the loss to Tampa Bay. The outlet pointed to the Cowboys’ inability to stop Bucky Irving, rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels’ performance and an offense that managed just 16 points.
CBS Sports was slightly more optimistic, ranking Dallas No. 17 after dropping the Cowboys five spots. However, Pete Prisco was critical of the team’s defensive performance, describing the unit as historically bad and questioning the effort being shown on the field.
Both rankings reflect the same concern: Dallas has struggled to find a reliable formula for winning games when its offense fails to produce at a high level.
ESPN and USA Today have different evaluations of Dallas
ESPN ranked the Cowboys No. 15 in its Week 6 power rankings, down three spots from No. 12 the previous week. The outlet identified the defense as Dallas’ biggest problem, highlighting its 27.2 points allowed per game, league-worst 168.4 rushing yards allowed per game and lack of interceptions through five games.
USA Today was considerably less optimistic, dropping Dallas seven spots to No. 24. The ranking reflects the team’s disappointing start and the challenge of overcoming its defensive shortcomings.
The difference between ESPN’s No. 15 ranking and USA Today’s No. 24 placement illustrates the uncertainty surrounding Dallas. The Cowboys still possess offensive playmakers in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, but their defensive problems make it difficult to view them as a legitimate contender right now.
Cowboys have an opportunity to respond against Packers
Dallas will look to bounce back Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay is coming off a 31-7 victory over the Chicago Bears and has climbed in several power rankings following its dominant performance.
The Cowboys’ defense will face another significant challenge, particularly after allowing 241 rushing yards against Tampa Bay. Dallas must improve its tackling, limit explosive plays and find ways to get opposing offenses off the field.
The rankings suggest the Cowboys still have enough talent to remain competitive, but their position will depend on whether they can address their defensive issues. A strong showing against Green Bay would help restore confidence. Another disappointing performance could push Dallas further down the rankings.
