NFL Power Rankings, Week 13: 49ers thrash Packers, Patriots handle Cowboys

12. Dallas Cowboys (9)

Controversial tripping penalty or not, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the Dallas Cowboys struggled for most of Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots, and the scoreboard will back this claim up.

Seeing how the nine points scored by the Cowboys came on three field goals, this shows just how much the offense struggled for the most part throughout the entire contest, meaning what seemed like an unfair penalty shouldn’t be blamed for the outcome of the game.

Despite Dallas still holding a one-game lead over the Philadelphia Eagles at the moment in the NFC East, the concerns continue to pile up over how the team performs against some of the league’s top contenders, and comparing their wins/losses makes it easy to see why.

Until the Cowboys begin winning meaningful games against good teams, it’s going to be difficult to imagine this team having what it takes to make a run come January, that is if they hang on to the division title for a playoff spot.

Talent-wise, Dallas is fortunate enough to be loaded with great players on both sides of the football, and even though Jerry Jones continues to claim Jason Garrett‘s job is safe, the head coach better hope the Cowboys earn a trip to the playoffs, or he could finally be gone.