NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys climb following win

With a 38-23 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys finished as the sole winners from the NFC East in Week 10 and inched one game closer to the New York Giants. The win was good enough to earn some spots in most power rankings, although many writers said that aren't yet convinced that the Cowboys are a contender.

Joel Thorman of SB Nation is one of those doubters, although he did give the Cowboys a four-spot boost in his latest power rankings on Tuesday:

18. Dallas Cowboys (LW: 22, 4-5): They're only a game and a half behind the Giants in the NFC East, but does anyone think they're catching New York?

He's not alone in that thought, as Dan Graziano of ESPN offered the same doubts, while also mentioning that the Cowboys weren't exactly playing an impressive team on Sunday against the Eagles, in the latest power rankings from the network:

15. Dallas Cowboys: They won the battle of the disappointments Sunday in Philadelphia. Can they play well enough to push Giants? (Graziano)

Entering the fourth quarter against the Eagles, the two teams were tied, but a 78-yard punt return by Dwayne Harris and a 47-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Brandon Carr gave the Cowboys the two touchdown lead they needed to pull out the victory. It was a last minute effort that was solid for the Cowboys, but didn't impress CBS Sports' Pete Prisco much:

16. Dallas Cowboys: Their season looked dead in the fourth quarter, but they turned it around with two big plays, one on special teams and one on defense. Now what?

The Cowboys have struggled at home so far in 2012, but will have the opportunity to reverse that trend with a three-game home stand that will begin on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. That game at Cowboys Stadium is scheduled to kickoff at 12 p.m. CT.