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2021 NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Titans make another statement, Chiefs continue free fall

By Randy Gurzi

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 24: Matthias Farley #21 and David Long #51 of the Tennessee Titans celebrate after Farley recovered a fumble in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the game at Nissan Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 24: Matthias Farley #21 and David Long #51 of the Tennessee Titans celebrate after Farley recovered a fumble in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the game at Nissan Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 17: Trevon Diggs #7 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Jayron Kearse #27 after intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 17: Trevon Diggs #7 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Jayron Kearse #27 after intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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NFL Power Rankings, Week 8: Cowboys are for real

There aren’t many teams playing at the same level as the Dallas Cowboys right now. Quarterback Dak Prescott looks nothing like a man who is just over a year away from a compound fracture in his ankle. He’s also playing the position at a higher level than any of us have seen.

They’ve also had a resurgence from running back Ezekiel Elliott who looks like his younger self again while splitting carries with Tony Pollard, who is also playing out of his mind. Throw in the ascension of CeeDee Lamb and Dalton Schultz — with the steadiness of Amari Cooper — and this offense is one of the most dangerous in the game.

Of course, what really makes them tick is their defense. After a historically bad season on that side of the ball, Dan Quinn has come in and turned things around. Everyone is playing well and they even have a favorite for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Trevon Diggs who has seven interceptions in six games with two pick-sixes.

Even when this team doesn’t play great for 60 minutes, as was the case in New England, they’re finding ways to win which is the mark of a playoff team.

Having said all that, there’s one concern which is the calf injury that surfaced for Prescott in Week 6. On the game-winning touchdown in overtime, Prescott said he came down awkwardly on his right calf and was seen in a walking boot after the game. If this leads to missed time, it could allow some of the other NFC East teams to gain some ground. Should he be okay, they looked poised to run away with it.

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