NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Focus on the Dallas Cowboys

Doing power rankings are tough because of the limited number of games on the NFL schedule, but it's one of the only ways to get an idea for which teams are better, besides just looking at their records. 

At my site—www.GuysNation.com—I do a weekly power ranking of all 32 NFL teams.  It's a hugely subjective process, in which I account for a team's strength of schedule, margin of victory, good wins and bad losses.

So where do the Dallas Cowboys currently rank?

I don't have to tell anybody that the first half of the season went really poorly for the Cowboys.  Thankfully for Dallas fans, I don't compile the GuysNation NFL Power Rankings based solely on overall win-loss record and, quite frankly, there are some things they can be proud of, especially lately.

Beating the Giants on the road was a very good statement and should be inspiring.  Jason Garrett proved he was deserving of the head coaching position with that win.

Beating Detroit isn't such a huge deal, but at this point, Dallas needs all the wins it can get.

Hanging tough against the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints was a considerably inspiring battle for the Cowboys, who came within three.  It was a home game for Dallas, so you expected the Cowboys to at least fare well, though I don't think many people expected a victory.  Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but I definitely take it into account in the GuysNation Power Rankings.  Not nearly as good as a victory, but close losses can certainly add up.

Although the Indianapolis Colts don't look as good as they have in previous seasons, a road victory over them is a very big deal for the Cowboys and it's something to be proud of.

Last week's loss to Philly, by only three points, should've been a very inspiring game for Cowboys fans, as the Eagles look like they could be viable contenders to win the Super Bowl and Dallas had a shot to beat them with Jon Kitna at QB!  It took a 200+ yard receiving night from DeSean Jackson and a huge touchdown reception from him to even have the three-point victory.  Hang your hats on that, Dallas fans.

In Week 15, as a Washington Redskins fan, I'm sad to have to admit, but the Cowboys defeated their division rivals to even the season series.  

Don't get too excited Dallas fans because you're supposed to win your division home games, and you're supposed to do it by more than three points, without letting your rivals make a huge comeback to tie it up late in the game. Especially, when your rivals are starting their second best quarterback to see what he's capable of doing next year!  Still, a win is a win and while I had the Redskins ranked one spot above the Cowboys last week, both teams are on the move.

Then, the Cowboys went to Arizona to play the lowly Cardinals...and they lost by one.  Sure, it was a road game, and the margin by which they lost was the smallest possible defeat, but still, they failed to win, against a bad team with a rookie quarterback.

So how did that affect Dallas' position in the list?

For the complete rankings and analysis, check out the article on my website, www.GuysNation.com! Unlike Power Rankings you see elsewhere, your comments could help persuade me to rank your team better after Week 17!

You also will probably enjoy voicing your opinion through voting in nearly a dozen polls set up to help get people's feedback on the Power Rankings!

You also might like the dueling NFL Week 17 picks article on GuysNation.com, a new(ish) feature where the games on a given week's NFL schedule are debated between myself and another author on my site (who just happens to be a LIFELONG PHILADELPHIA EAGLES FAN, so you KNOW he's got a high opinion of his opinion!).