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Dallas Cowboys pre-Christmas weekend power rankings

By Tyrone Starr

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 19: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys waits to take the field before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 19, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 19: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys waits to take the field before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 19, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Dallas Cowboys Micah Parsons Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The contenders

9. New England Patriots (9-5) – Previous rankings, 19th, 10th
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6) – Previous rankings, 15th, 11th
7. Tennessee Titans (10-5) – Previous rankings, 4th, 3rd
6. Arizona Cardinals (10-4) – Previous rankings, 1st, 1st
5. Los Angeles Rams (10-4) – Previous rankings, 2nd, 7th
4. Dallas Cowboys (10-4) – Previous rankings, 6th, 6th

All of these teams could be one and done or playing in the Conference Championship game. New England and Dallas are leaning heavily on their defense while hoping their offenses come alive. Arizona is in a downward spiral at the wrong time, but has been the best team for most of the season. The Colts and Titans have elite running games and good defenses, which has long been a formula for playoff success. No team, meanwhile, wants to play the Rams in an elimination game.

The elite

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4) – Previous rankings, 3rd, 5th
2. Green Bay Packers (11-3) – Previous rankings, 7th, 4th
1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) – Previous rankings, 13th, 2nd

The list of active Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks is made up of the three quarterbacks who lead these teams plus Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, and Nick Foles. Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady area combined 51-22 in their playoff careers. All have winning records.

The group of quarterbacks leading the “contenders” are a combined 3-8. None of them have winning records. In the playoffs, those things matter. To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.

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