The 2026 NFL season didn’t start the way Dallas Cowboys fans would have hoped. Instead of starting the season with a big win, the Cowboys were bested by the division-rival New York Giants, 28-20, in Week 1.
While it was only one game, it was a concerning start to the season nonetheless, and it’s never too early to look at how the ‘Boys stack up against the league’s other 31 teams. Here is a roundup and review of some national NFL power rankings and where the Cowboys stand in each after one week of the season.
Where the Cowboys Are Ranked in NFL Power Rankings After Week 1
- ESPN: 16
- Sports Illustrated: 19
- NFL.com: 17
- CBS: 17
What National Pundits Are Saying About the Cowboys
There was a lot of hype about Dallas’ new-look defense heading into the season, but national pundits weren’t impressed with what they saw in Week 1.
“The idea that the defense would be improved sure didn’t show in the loss to the Giants,” CBS’ Pete Prisco wrote. “They blew a lot of assignments in that one.”
Nick Shook of NFL.com echoed Prisco’s assessment.
“The offseason optimism regarding Dallas’ defense quickly faded on Sunday night. The Cowboys were bullied by the Giants’ bruising offense and didn’t get the one stop they needed most in a one-score loss,” Shook wrote.
“It’s only one week, but the ‘Boys already need to reflect on their shortcomings and work to quickly fix them, or else they’ll inspire the same criticisms that followed them to a 7-9-1 finish last season.”
Improvement Needed on Both Sides of the Football for Cowboys
Moving forward, the Cowboys will need to be better on both sides of the ball if they want to avoid missing out on the playoffs for a third consecutive season. The defense received a bulk of the blame for the loss, but the offense will need to be better too.
As a team, Dallas mustered just 244 total yards from scrimmage. They had just 69 rushing yards and 175 total pass yards. Both of those numbers must be improved upon moving forward. The Cowboys will have to figure out a way to get the running game going and to get their star pass-catchers more involved. George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb combined for just eight catches and 72 yards against New York.
