After a tough 19-13 OT loss to Arizona that featured some controversial late-game decision-making by coach Jason Garrett and QB Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys have slipped to No. 10 in the latest batch of NFL Power Rankings from SBNation:
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-5, LW: 8): The Cowboys had a chance to take a commanding two-game division lead but Jason Garrett and the timeout fiasco prevented that from happening. You gotta beat a 4-7 team in Week 13 when you're leading your division. You just have to.
Now, instead of a nearly insurmountable two-game lead on the New York Giants headed into the two teams' pivotal Week 14 showdown, Dallas can lose control of first place with a loss this week.
A Cowboys secondary that has been exposed in recent weeks by Rex Grossman, Matt Moore and Kevin Kolb needs to regroup fast against the fourth-rated Giants passing offense, although CB Mike Jenkins could be a huge addition as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Dallas has the lowest point differential (+39) of the NFC's four division leaders, but the rest of the NFC East is so weak, with the other three teams all in negative range, that the Cowboys are still in a great position to get their way into the playoffs.
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