Yahoo Sports NFL power rankings roundup: Where do Dallas Cowboys place after week 1 of season?
The Dallas Cowboys had an impressive 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in their season opener. Following their victory where did national pundits rank them on their NFL power rankings?
The Cowboys were one of the highest-ranked teams in power rankings across the league regularly placing in the top ten.
Todd Archer, ESPN
There were lots of choices thanks to Dallas’ big win, but Overshown gets the nod. He sat out his rookie season because of a torn ACL in his left knee but was all over the field against the Browns. He finished with nine tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits. His closing speed was eye-opening on his sack of Browns QB Deshaun Watson since he beat Micah Parsons to the signal-caller. There might be growing pains as the year progresses, but he is off to a great start.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com
I don’t know if you could have drawn up a much better game script for the Cowboys than what transpired in Cleveland, everything considered. CeeDee Lamb only needed a handful of practices to make his impact felt against some of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. Dak Prescott earned a new mega-contract before the game and played a strong first half before the Cowboys went to clock-draining measures.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
They signed Dak Prescott to a big deal Sunday and then went out and blew out the Browns. The defense was special that day, which is maybe a sign of things to come.
BR NFL Staff, Bleacher Report
The Cowboys allowed just 230 yards of offense. Forced a pair of turnovers. Sacked Deshaun Watson six times. And controlled the game throughout.
“With quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb signed and happy, as well as running back Ezekiel Elliott back in the lineup, the Cowboys offense will move the ball throughout this season,” Sobleski said. “That’s a given. How the defense would respond with new coordinator Mike Zimmer calling plays wasn’t.
Josh Kendall, The Athletic
Dak Prescott won the day Sunday. Not just in the NFL but on the planet. Nobody had a better day than the Cowboys quarterback. Hours before the game, Prescott finalized a six-year contract that guarantees him $231 million and makes him the first player in league history to make $60 million per season. Then he went out and had a very Dak game — efficient but not spectacular with 19-for-32 passing for 179 yards and a touchdown. It was plenty to beat an already flailing Cleveland team.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk
Better late than never to deal with some important contract issues. (It was still late.)
Nate Davis, USA TODAY
Let’s give them their flowers after handling QB Dak Prescott’s contract at the 11th hour. But the real story Sunday was the defense, a unit now run by Mike Zimmer and one that generated 25 pressures on Cleveland’s 56 dropbacks.
Ryan Dunleavy, New York Post
Hours after becoming the NFL’s first $60 million-per-year player, Dak Prescott piloted a 33-17 rout against the Texans. The heavy lifting was done by Brandon Aubrey, who made four field goals of 40 yards or longer. And KaVontae Turpin, who returned a punt for a 60-yard touchdown. And a defense that registered six sacks and two interceptions.
Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated
Good on the Cowboys, who continue to find themselves gifted with wounded doves to pound on at the beginning of the season. Last year it was the Giants, Jets and Patriots over a four-game stretch. This year, it’s the absolutely out-of-it Deshaun Watson and a pair of backup tackles for the Browns. That shouldn’t take away from a different but still creative gameplan from Mike Zimmer, who made his glorious return to football with six sacks of Deshaun Watson.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Cowboys were ironing out some offensive issues, but Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb earned their money with enough clutch plays. Brandon Aubrey also continued to be a vital kicking asset in Cleveland. The defense had a hopeful debut transitioning from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer.
