Dallas Cowboys Power Rankings Week 8: Rising Momentum

Expanded Average Ranking Movement

To gauge Dallas’s progress, here are the Week 8 and Week 7 rankings from seven major outlets, with the change shown:

Power Ranking Movement from Week 7 - 8

Average this week (all 7): (17 + 16 + 18 + 20 + 17 + 16 + 19) ÷ 7 ≈ 17.6 ≈ 18th place

Average last week (all 7): (20 + 21 + 22 + 21 + 21 + 24 + 23) ÷ 7 ≈ 21.1 ≈ 21st place

Net change: ▲ ~+3.5 spots

Why the Cowboys Rose

Offensive resurgence

The win over Washington reignited confidence in the offense. Analysts pointed to the return of key contributors and smoother execution as reasons for the jump in the latest rankings.

For example, one outlet noted: “The return of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was huge for their No. 1-ranked offense.”

Defensive flashes

While the defense still draws concerns, some improved performances offered a hint of progress. A recent report remarked that Dallas “finally produced complementary football — something missing for much of 2025.”

Team morale and identity

The perception of the franchise shifted slightly, from a team with high variance to one showing signs of consistency. That attitude change is often reflected in power-rankings momentum.

Why They’re Still Outside the Top 15

Even with their rise, the Cowboys remain outside the upper echelon because of historic defensive inconsistency. As one analysis put it: “They’re a perfect microcosm for 2025 — explosive offense, unpredictable defense.”

Until the defense stabilizes, analysts are hesitant to move them into the top 10.

Outlook: Can the Cowboys Keep Climbing?

If Dallas can maintain its offensive rhythm and continue tightening up defensively, there’s a real opportunity to climb into the No. 12–14 range in the coming weeks.

The balance between Dak Prescott’s efficiency and a reenergized run game has given the offense the spark it needed, while recent defensive adjustments are showing gradual results.

The next two games against playoff-caliber opponents will determine whether this surge is sustainable. Strong performances could move Dallas closer to the top-15 in outlets like ESPN’s rankings and Sports Illustrated’s weekly list.

A flat showing or defensive regression would likely undo the recent progress.

Momentum and strength of opponent carry significant weight in most power-ranking models.

If Dallas can string together convincing wins — especially against top offenses — it could solidify its place among the NFC’s more dangerous contenders by midseason.

Defense Controls the Season

With the expanded seven-outlet view, the Cowboys’ average ranking improved from about 21st to 18th, confirming that multiple major media outlets view them as trending upward.

The data supports the notion of a rising offense and improving overall look — but the ceiling remains capped until the defense becomes reliably good.

If the Cowboys can address that gap and win meaningful games down the stretch, they may finally solidify themselves as true NFC contenders.