NFL Power Rankings: Why Cowboys and Bears Are the Streakiest Teams in NFL

Who are you, Dallas Cowboys?

Are you the team with the top-ranked rush defense? Are you the team that almost beat the Patriots, Lions and Jets, while getting “W’s” against formidable opponents in the Redskins and 49ers?

Or are you the product of your record…2-3 and swimming near the bottom of the surprisingly mediocre NFC East?

No. 18 Dallas Cowboys (2-3)

QB Tony Romo can be a turnover machine that self-combusts at the worst possible times. Yet he can also sling the pigskin with the best of them, and that’s why the Cowboys have the fourth-ranked pass offense in the league.

Sure, they’ve played five potential playoff teams, but you have to win some of these last-second games.

A big test comes this weekend against the Rams. Can they put a bad team away early? Can they step on the Rams' hapless throats and take them to the woodshed?

Or will they let them hang around for another furious fourth-quarter finish?

I think this is the week the Cowboys answer those questions.

No, they can’t put them away early, no, they can’t step on the Rams throats, and yes, this game will come down to the fourth quarter.

We should find out a lot about the mental health of this team on Sunday. The forecast is cloudy.

Speaking of incredibly streaky teams:

No. 17 Chicago Bears (3-3)

They crushed the Falcons and Vikings, but lost all three games against better competition (Saints, Packers, Lions).

The Bears don’t do anything special (21st in passing, 20th in rushing, 25th against the pass, 22nd against the rush) but offensive coordinator Mike Martz is finally calling plays where QB Jay Cutler gets the ball out of his hands quicker with three- and five-step drops.

With potentially the worst O-Line in the game, Cutler doesn’t have time to be sitting back in the pocket. With teams seeing the film, how will they rush Cutler now?

I think the Bears stick with the mass protection and Cutler continues the impressive recent run he’s been on.

With a defense that has a nice blend of veterans and young guys, this team is well balanced. Well, except for Devin Hester and the special teams, which is top-notch.

I think the Bears are only going to get better as the season goes along; expect them to creep up the rankings slowly. 

Eric Ball’s Week 7 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New England Patriots

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. San Diego Chargers

5. San Francisco 49ers

6. New Orleans Saints

7. Detroit Lions

8. Buffalo Bills

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

10. New York Giants

11. Cincinnati Bengals

12. Oakland Raiders

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

14. Tennessee Titans

15. Houston Texans

16. Washington Redskins

17. Chicago Bears

18. Dallas Cowboys

19. Atlanta Falcons

20. Philadelphia Eagles

21. New York Jets

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Cleveland Browns

24. Kansas City Chiefs

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

26. Arizona Cardinals

27. Carolina Panthers

28. Minnesota Vikings

29. Denver Broncos

30. Indianapolis Colts

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Miami Dolphins