To this point in the NFL season, the talk has been that there are three elite teams in the league with the Bills, Chiefs and Eagles separating themselves from the pack. After back-to-back wins with their starting quarterback finally again under center, the Cowboys may be ready to join that elite group.
In each of their last two victories, the Cowboys have demonstrated the ability to dominate the game on both sides of the ball, a key trait in teams hoping to have postseason success. The level of talent has not been in question. The question has been whether the team could come together and realize its potential. Perhaps they are finally answering that call as they head into their bye week. Coach Mike McCarthy’s team will make its next appearance at a place that has doomed them — McCarthy’s former home in Green Bay.
Only five NFL teams have six victories or more. Amazingly, the once-downtrodden NFC East houses three of them. The Cowboys and Eagles are in that mix, as are the Giants. Perhaps even more shocking, the Commanders have evened their record at 4-4, meaning all four teams from that division are playoff contenders. That divisional race is just one of many surprises in the first half of the season. The rest of the NFC divisions are led by the Vikings, Falcons and Seahawks, none of whom were even close a year ago. The NFL acronym “Not For Long” seems to ring true every fall.
The Week 8 games featured five upsets, a shutout and another team scoring a season-high 49 points. Let’s take a look at how all of that action impacted my strength ratings as we head into a big Week 9 slate of games.