Cowboys Receive Mixed Reviews In Power Rankings after Texans Win

The Dallas Cowboys moved up in Week 5 power rankings after beating Houston, but analysts remain divided how good Dallas really is.

by Romell Williams

Oct 6, 2026

The Dallas Cowboys moved up in Week 5 power rankings after beating Houston, but analysts remain divided how good Dallas really is.

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Dallas Cowboys finally have a winning record again, but the rest of the NFL still isn’t sure what to make of them.

After Dallas rallied past the Houston Texans 34-30 on Sunday, the Cowboys moved up in each of the four major Week 5 power rankings. However, there is a difference in how high those outlets are willing to place them.

NFL.com is high on Dallas at No. 8, while ESPN has the Cowboys at No. 12. Yahoo Sports and USA Today are considerably less impressed, ranking Dallas No. 18 in their respective rankings.

That wide range says plenty about the Cowboys entering Week 5.

NFL.com has Cowboys in the Top 10

The strongest endorsement comes from NFL.com, which moved Dallas from No. 11 to No. 8 following its comeback victory over Houston.

The reasoning is easy to understand. Dallas showed some resilience in a game that could have easily gone the other way, overcoming a 16-6 halftime deficit before Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for the game-winning touchdown with 40 seconds remaining.

NFL.com’s Nick Shook highlighted the obvious contrast within this Cowboys team: an explosive offense paired with a defense that continues to create concerns.

That offense has been good enough to make Dallas dangerous against virtually anyone. The Cowboys have scored at least 31 points in three of their first four games, and Lamb just delivered a franchise-record 17-catch, 189-yard performance against Houston.

If Dallas can find even moderate improvement defensively, a top-10 ranking could look much more justified.

ESPN sees progress but plenty of work remains

ESPN landed Dallas at No. 12, up from No. 15 entering Week 4.

That’s a meaningful jump, but ESPN’s assessment still reflects the uncertainty surrounding the Cowboys. The offense has demonstrated that it can score against good defenses, while the defense continues to be a major problem.

Dallas has allowed at least 20 points in every game this season, and the Cowboys gave up 397 total yards to Houston. ESPN also pointed toward the special-teams issues that have plagued Dallas early in the season.

The next two games could be important for changing that perception.

Dallas hosts winless Tampa Bay on Thursday before traveling to Green Bay. If the Cowboys can win both games, they would have a chance to enter the second half of October with a 4-2 record and considerably more respect around the league.

Yahoo and USA Today aren’t buying Dallas yet

Yahoo Sports and USA Today are much more skeptical.

Both have Dallas at No. 18, although Yahoo moved the Cowboys up four spots from No. 22 while USA Today actually dropped Dallas four spots from No. 14.

USA Today’s Nate Davis pointed toward Joey Porter Jr.’s debut as a potential positive development for Dallas, noting that the cornerback could become an important addition to the defense after arriving from Pittsburgh.

Yahoo, meanwhile, acknowledged Lamb’s historic performance but continued to emphasize Dallas’ defensive problems. The Cowboys rank near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency, making it difficult to view them as a legitimate contender despite the offense’s production.

That may ultimately be the biggest question facing Dallas.

The Cowboys are 2-2, their offense looks capable of carrying them and they have now proven they can win a close game. But until the defense becomes more reliable, some analysts will continue to view Dallas as a dangerous team rather than a legitimate top-tier contender.

For the Cowboys, the good news is they have an opportunity to change that perception quickly.