NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Dallas Cowboys and 3 Teams Most Thankful for Bye Week
Aaah, the bye week. That most beloved of round-robin traditions in the NFL begins in Week 5, and not a moment too soon for some teams, like these three, who will stay at home this weekend to lick their wounds and recharge their batteries for the remainder of the regular season.
If there's any team that needs some time off to clear its collective head and heal up, its the Cowboys.
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Dallas stumbled into its bye, plagued by inconsistent play and injuries on both sides of the ball.
Bruised egos included, after blowing a 27-3 lead against the Detroit Lions.
That loss only served to accentuate the fact that the Cowboys—and their assortment of busted ribs, separated shoulders, sprained knees, pulled hamstrings and bruised quadriceps—need a moment to rest.
Unfortunately for Tony Romo and company, they won't get to relax for too long, not with a trip to Foxboro to face the Patriots on tap for Week 6.
Then again, at least the Cowboys have a couple wins to show for their wounds.
The Rams, on the other hand, haven't been so lucky. St. Louis came into the season as the chic pick to win the NFC West but now finds itself locked in the basement at 0-4. Sam Bradford hasn't had the breakout season everyone expected he'd enjoy with Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator.
Injuries haven't helped either, especially those suffered by Steven Jackson, Cadillac Williams, Danny Amendola, and Michael Hoomanawanui.
The defense hasn't exactly held up its end of the bargain, either, with the Rams surrendering the second-most points and the seventh-most yards in the NFL.
Like the Cowboys, the Rams will hardly have the opportunity to settle down, as they'll ship up to Green Bay for their next foray into defeat.
I hesitate to say that the Dolphins really aren't that bad, but at 0-4, their ineptitude is difficult to ignore.
Miami has yet to be the victim of a bona fide blowout and has held its own against some pretty good teams, including the Patriots and the Texans.
The insult of four losses comes with a shoulder injury that knocked Chad Henne out of the team's loss to the Chargers in Week 4. Henne joined hamstrung rookie running back Daniel Thomas on the sideline, helpless to watch as Matt Moore and Reggie Bush stunk it up in tandem.
Henne and Thomas should be back in action after the week off, though the Jets don't figure to give the Fins much reprieve on the field. Nor will Gang Green show much sympathy for Tony Sparano, who finds his behind planted firmly on the coaching hot seat after a slow start.
Josh Martin's Week 4 NFL Power Rankings
3. Detroit Lions |
11. Tennessee Titans |
13. Dallas Cowboys |
16. Oakland Raiders |
17. New York Jets |
18. Atlanta Falcons |
19. Cleveland Browns |
20. Chicago Bears |
24. Denver Broncos |
25. Seattle Seahawks |
30. Miami Dolphins |
31. St. Louis Rams |
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