NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Cowboys & Seahawks Make Jump

No. 7 Dallas Cowboys

No. 8 Seattle Seahawks

The NFC East has been noticeably absent this season in our power rankings since the Eagles have fallen off. The Cowboys win against the Saints changes that with what was one of the best wins by any NFL team this season. Dallas was widely criticized for trading a first round pick for wide receiver Amari Cooper, but it looks like it is the Cowboys who could have the last laugh.

The trade has transformed a stagnant offense as Cooper has given Dak Prescott a legit WR1. Over the last two games, Cooper has had 16 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

After rumors swirled around Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett's future earlier in the season, Dallas owner Jerry Jones made it a point to give his coach credit for a big victory.

“Well, he’s won a big game tonight," Jones said per Pro Football Talk. "I’ll just leave it at that. He won a big game tonight...What? I’m not [witholding praise]. Give him everything you should give him for having just beaten the top-rated team in the NFL. You’re the wordsmith. Give it to him. I’m serious. Give it to him, yes. Because we know how tough it is when it goes the other way. But give that to him, for sure.”

For all the praise the offense deserves for its turnaround, the Cowboys defense is why the team is winning games. The Dallas defense is one of the best units in the league as they displayed on Thursday by holding one of the top offenses in the league to just 10 points.

Dallas hosts the Eagles in Week 14 in a matchup where they are likely to be favored as they look to hold their lead on the Redskins in the NFC East.

The Seahawks beat the Cowboys earlier this season, but we'll give Dallas the slight edge in the rankings after their win over the Saints. The Cowboys' offense also looked much different earlier in the season without Cooper.

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The Seahawks Are Starting to Find Their Footing

Seattly may not have started the season strong, but they are poised to finish it much differently. Pete Carroll's teams have a history of playing their best football just in time for the postseason push. The Seahawks defense was expected to take a step back this year after losing veteran leaders like Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman.

Instead, the younger Seahawks players have stepped up in their expanded roles. The Seahawks defeating the 49ers is not exactly an impressive win, but beating any NFL team 43-16 deserves a hat tip. Linebacker Bobby Wagner came up with a pick-six that put the game away for the Seahawks.

“You can’t talk about this game unless you talk about Bobby Wagner,” Carroll said per Seahawks.com. “He just had a phenomenal game. There’s not many more things the guy could do. He had (12) tackles, he took the ball away from them on a fumble, he had a sack, he had an interception for a touchdown, all-time ever longest play in the history of the franchise. Just did another marvelous job of taking care of all the leadership stuff that he does, too. He’s playing as good as you can play the game. He’s a phenomenal football player, really in the peak of his career, doing a great job, making all the plays. But he does so much more than that for us. He’s a great Seahawk, and we’re lucky to have him.”

The Seahawks have already been eliminated from contending for the NFC West title, so they will need to grab one of the two Wild Card spots to play in the postseason. Seattle hosts a big time playoff-caliber game in Week 14 against the Vikings. Both teams are fighting to make the playoffs in the NFC.

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