The Dallas Cowboys suffered another embarrassing defeat against a playoff-caliber opponent, raising questions about their resilience.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have established themselves as the most unstoppable duo in the NFL. While Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears have officially made their mark.
On a more troubling note, the Jets have reached a critical point of desperation.
With these developments in mind, here are the Week 7 NFL Power Rankings.
Can someone explain the point of benching Bryce Young? Perhaps he needed to take a step back and watch how the Panthers’ offense should be run. It’s clear now that Young needs to stay in the starting lineup because this team is going to lose no matter what.
The Jaguars have the individual talent to make a deep playoff run, as evident during their playoff journey two years ago. This year they are terrible as a team and need to start searching for answers, which might begin with firing coach Doug Pederson.
Drake Maye definitely looked like a rookie quarterback playing in his first game, and that’s exactly what it was. However, he managed to put up a season-high 21 points for the Patriots offense and threw for three touchdowns. Starting him now was the right decision, and it will lead to more wins, just not in 2024.
Nobody is questioning whether Tua Tagovailoa is good after the way the Dolphins have performed without him. With Tua’s return to the field uncertain, Tyler Huntley will not be able to keep this team afloat.
Easily the best stat of the week was that Will Levis has fewer passing yards than Derrick Henry has rushing yards. The front office surrounded Levis with weapons, and he has failed to perform. He needs to step up down the stretch, or Shedeur Sanders may soon be running the show in Music City.
The Browns are the only team in the NFL that has not scored 20 points in a game this season. Deshaun Watson should be benched, and general manager Andrew Berry, who decided to guarantee Watson’s entire contract, should never be allowed to run an NFL team again.
The Rams are not enjoying life after Aaron Donald’s retirement. They continue to compete in games, but they’re missing that crucial piece to get over the hump. With Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford on the offense, they are running out of time and may consider going all in for one last season in 2025.
The Raiders made their first quarterback change of the year, and it likely won’t be their last after Aidan O’Connell’s performance this past Sunday. The Raiders are another team that should be searching for a new quarterback for 2025.
The Cardinals are a threat to get hot offensively, but when they can’t get their offense rolling, this team looks really bad. They have the weapons, but now they need the offensive line, defensive line, cornerbacks, and linebackers.
The Giants should be scouting for their next quarterback right now. Daniel Jones isn’t terrible, but he certainly isn’t good either. The Giants’ defense gave up just 17 points on Sunday and consistently gave the offense opportunities to score, but Daniel Jones simply couldn’t get the team into the end zone.
The Saints started the season looking like a Super Bowl contender, but now it seems more likely they’ll be fighting for the highest draft pick. With several Pro Bowl players nearing the end of their careers, maybe it’s time to let Spencer Rattler take over.
The Bengals are a team that nobody wants to face now that Burrow, Chase, and Higgins are officially clicking, and their defense is gaining its footing. But is it too late for the 2-4 Bengals?
The Denver Broncos surprised everyone with their three-game win streak and seem to be improving week by week. With a manageable schedule, a great defense, and an improving offense, the Broncos should be fighting for a playoff berth in December.
The Colts look like a team that could compete for the playoffs with Joe Flacco under center. The question is how this Colts team will fair when the developing Anthony Richardson takes the field again.
The Jets certainly looked like a better team without Robert Saleh leading the charge. Their run game improved, and Aaron Rodgers looked like his usual self. It’s kind of ironic that the week the offense showed up, the defense and special teams were terrible.
After starting the season 3-0, the Seattle Seahawks are now 3-3. Seattle’s defense can’t stop anybody, not even the Giants without Malik Nabers, and their offense doesn’t show up when they need it most.
The Eagles might be the worst team in the NFL with a winning record since the Cowboys were 3-2 just a week ago. They have yet to score in the first quarter this season, and it seems both fans and players are fed up with Nick Sirianni’s antics.
The Steelers’ formula for winning games is quite simple: establish a strong running game and bully the opposing team’s offense. While this strategy may not work against the top teams in the NFL, they will continue to dominate the weaker opponents.
The Dallas Cowboys were blown out at home once again, this time by the NFC title-contending Detroit Lions. While the team will be healthier after their bye week, which should bring some improvement, it won’t change the fact that they struggle to stop the run or establish a running game themselves.
The Chargers showcased their best passing attack of the season against a formidable Denver secondary. Although injuries have consistently been a setback for the team, the partnership between Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh seems to be a perfect fit.
It seems the training wheels have finally come off for rookie Caleb Williams. The Bears’ offense has been firing on all cylinders over the last two weeks, while their defense continues to rank among the best in the NFL.
Kirk Cousins is making a graceful comeback from his torn Achilles, currently leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 4-2 record and a playoff spot. He’s maximizing the potential of the promising weapons around him, and the defense has shown positive moments as well.
The Commanders may have lost this weekend, but they put up a valiant effort against the most unstoppable team in the NFL right now. The only person happier than the Commanders’ fan base is Terry McLaurin, whose connection with Jayden Daniels will continue to grow.
If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that the 49ers are nowhere near as good as they will be by the end of the season. Despite a slow 3-3 start, they remain at the top of their division and are just weeks away from getting their star running back back on the field.
The Green Bay Packers have certainly carried last season’s success into the 2024 season and have become an even better team. With an elite passing game, Josh Jacobs serves as the perfect bruiser to balance their offense in any environment they face.
The Bills have certainly established themselves as one of the best teams in the NFL, but it remains unclear whether they are true contenders. Their only two losses have come against teams they will likely face in the playoffs, and Josh Allen looked abysmal in both of those games.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers undoubtedly have the best array of weapons in the NFL. With five good to great wide receivers, three versatile running backs who can get the job done, and a solid tight end group. However, the question remains: can Baker Mayfield continue to lead this team to victory? After all, it was his three interceptions that kept the Saints in the game for so long.
After losing their first two games of the season, the Ravens have won four straight and now look like the best team in the NFL—or at least the best offense. With Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, they could run the Army offense, and defenses still wouldn’t be able to stop them.
The Houston Texans are the latest example of going all-in on their quarterback while he’s on a rookie contract by building a super team around him. Losing the league leader in receiving yards? No problem—just give the ball to Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, or Tank Dell.
The Detroit Lions could have beaten the Cowboys on Sunday even if they had used their offensive linemen as pass catchers all game. They completely bullied the Cowboys and are certainly up there with the Ravens as one of the most physical and unstoppable offenses in the league.
The Minnesota Vikings went into their bye week stress-free with a 5-0 record. However, with the rest of the NFC North sitting at four wins, the Vikings certainly aren’t comfortable atop the NFC North throne.
Whether you love him or hate him, Travis Kelce is back, ladies and gentlemen, and he’s likely here to stay with most of the Chiefs’ offensive weapons sidelined due to injury. As long as the trio of Patrick Mahomes, Kelce, and Chris Jones are under the guidance of Andy Reid, this team will continue its reign of dominance in the NFL.
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If you want some insight into how the Cowboys are thinking heading into free agency Monday, consider the trade they didn’t make this weekend.
The Cowboys were interested in star edge rusher Maxx Crosby before the Las Vegas Raiders sent him to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. Dallas offered one of its first-round picks in this year’s draft and a second-round pick in 2027, a person familiar with the team’s thinking told The Dallas Morning News.
In doing so, the Cowboys made it known how willing — or unwilling — they were to go to get a premium defender.
It’s no secret the Cowboys have a lot to do this offseason. That’s especially true on defense, where the Cowboys are tasked with rebuilding the league’s worst defense from a year ago. It’s factual, as well, that there are many ways the Cowboys could approach this offseason.
Here are 10 steps the Cowboys can take toward achieving a perfect offseason — at least in our eyes.
The Seattle Seahawks had a dominant defense a year ago. It’s a major reason they won the Super Bowl. Fun fact: that defense also had just one player with a contract with an annual value over $20 million per year. The Cowboys, meanwhile, had three such players on their defense last season.
The point: sometimes it’s more about the collective than adding one high-priced, yet very good, free agent. That’s especially true for the Cowboys.
Trey Hendrickson is going to have a big market. Interested teams have waited for the opportunity to sign him for years. Spotrac projects his market value at $25.4 million, and there’s a chance his final deal goes above that.
The Cowboys aren’t one instant-impact free agent away from improving this defense. They need more than that.
New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants a versatile defense. He’ll need versatile chess pieces, especially in the secondary. Saints corner Alontae Taylor could be that chess piece. Taylor can play in the slot and outside. He also hasn’t missed a game in the last three seasons, lowering the injury risk for a secondary that has a bunch of it.
Taylor won’t come cheap. Spotrac gives him a market value over $11 million, though he could sign for more. The Cowboys haven’t waded into waters like that for a free agent in some time — but they should in this case.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) celebrates after sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the third quarter of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
The Cowboys are on the hunt for someone to play alongside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. They want someone who can be their green-dot Mike linebacker to get everyone aligned in Parker’s defense. It makes sense, then, that Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean will be one of their targets, multiple people familiar with the team’s thinking have indicated.
Dean understands the system, he fits what they’re looking for next to the speedy Overshown, and he can be a valuable blitzer. The one problem: he’s been injury-prone recently. That’s why he shouldn’t be the only linebacker they acquire this offseason — but he should be the first. Former Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke could be another option higher in the market.
It’s become obvious that this year’s safety draft class has the chance to produce a good amount of quality starters. Whether it’s Caleb Downs early, or TCU’s Bud Clark on Day 2, there are good options. That should also push down the price for some veteran safety free agents. The Cowboys should take advantage and double-dip. It’ll be interesting to see the market for former Eagles safety Reed Blankenship. Another affordable option could be Denver’s P.J. Locke. Both have familiarity with Parker.
One of the popular external conversations since the end of the season has been about veteran safety Malik Hooker and right tackle Terence Steele. The Cowboys could save $20 million in cap space by releasing both and designating them as post-June 1 cuts. While tempting, don’t expect the Cowboys to be in the business of adding more holes to a boat they’re trying to fix. They also lack known entities behind them worth entrusting.
Remember when I brought up Seattle? Part of the Seahawks’ success has come from drafting well on defense. The Cowboys haven’t drafted well on defense in a while. They need to hit on their 12th pick and they need to do it at a vital position like corner or edge. If one of the elite edge rushers falls and is there, take them. If Mansoor Delane from LSU is there, sprint to the podium. It’ll be hard to find affordable, quality options at both positions in free agency, making it more important to get one at the draft. Stick at No. 12 and pick there.
LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane answers questions during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Eric Gay / AP
As for Dallas’ second first-round pick, I’d recommend moving back to get more Day 2 selections. The Cowboys don’t have any after trading for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and George Pickens last year. It’s easier said than done, of course, but if a team is willing to move up and offer multiple picks to do so, then the Cowboys should be willing. People familiar with the team’s thinking have said they want to get back into Day 2. That portion of the draft, the second and third rounds, is very dense in talent this year. The Cowboys have a ton of holes on defense, but they could remedy those problems with more selections.
The Cowboys have nearly 20 free agents of their own. Outside of a few exceptions, and outside of exclusive rights free agents like corners Josh Butler and Reddy Steward, it would be wise for the Cowboys to let them hit the market. Dallas needs a clean slate on defense.
The Cowboys already restructured the deals for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, left guard Tyler Smith and quarterback Dak Prescott. More moves to open up cap space should be expected, as well. The two logical areas are the contracts for Williams and Clark. Both have over a $21 million cap hit for next season. That has to change. For Williams, I’d get ahead of things and sign him to a major extension now. He’s one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL and should be a cornerstone for this defense. Pay him like it. Clark could be an extension or pay-cut candidate. His cap hit can’t be that high if the Cowboys want to make the moves they’re motivated to make.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey indicated this week he’s open to seeing what the market looks like for him as a restricted free agent. The Cowboys have had an offer on the table that would make him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, eclipsing Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who makes $6.4 million per year. No deal has been consummated, however, resulting in the Cowboys placing a second-round tender on Aubrey worth around $5.8 million.
If a team wants Aubrey they’ll have to sign him to a record deal and give up a second-round pick for him — a price that is unlikely to be met.
The Cowboys have every reason to let Aubrey’s situation play out. The same can be said for George Pickens. The Cowboys placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens, worth just under $28 million a year. Pickens is worth more than that, but how much? The market should give some indication, but just like Aubrey, the price will likely be too high for other teams. The Cowboys would get two first-round picks if someone agreed to a deal with Pickens and the Cowboys elected not to match.
The Cowboys have leverage in both situations. Aubrey and Pickens have some, too: they’re both Pro Bowl players and their services would be missed.
I know, I know: Is it worth having more offseason contract drama? In this case, for the Cowboys, it probably is.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Recent headlines: Dallas Morning News, Wednesday, “Hundreds of Voters Turned Away at Polls” and ”Residents frustrated after being redirected to their assigned sites.”
The Texas Tribune, Wednesday, “In Dallas County, frustration and confusion after GOP forces switch to precinct-based voting.”
VoteBeat Texas, Tuesday, “Primary voters frustrated and confused after Dallas County switches to precinct-based voting.”
All this despite the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court spending $1 million on a voter outreach campaign to alert voters to the changes.
Thanks, Dallas County Republicans, you’ve wasted our time and money!
Kimberly Farrar, Richardson
Having recently voted in the 2026 Texas primary elections, I should feel a degree of satisfaction for meeting my civic duty and my obligation as a U.S. citizen. Why is it that I feel as if I am perpetuating an egregious fraud?
The rules governing this election obligate me to declare that I am either a Democrat or a Republican before I am allowed to participate. I am neither. What are my options?
I can play along, pick a side and vote for the candidates on my ballot that I truly support while being unable to express that same support for other candidates because their names do not appear. Or I can join the vast majority of my fellow citizens and choose not to participate at all.
I was always taught that in a democracy, elections are fair and free. How can elections be considered fair when (by rule) the names of half of the candidates are not even on my ballot?
May the best candidate win, even if I was never given the chance to vote for him/her.
Wayne Hardey, northwest Dallas/Disney Streets
Re: “City Hall debate is a rerun of AAC debacle — We need to slow down, insist on transparency and get this right,” by Laura Miller, Wednesday Opinion.
Laura Miller is right about everything! There isn’t enough transparency about the deal with City Hall. The iconic building is unique and one of a kind and should be repaired and preserved.
I.M. Pei personally mixed the concrete to a specific color to appear warm in the Texas sun. The city council should be ashamed of allowing the building to get into such bad shape.
Paul Taylor, Dallas/Oak Lawn
If my memory serves, Laura Miller singlehandedly quashed Jerry Jones’ desire to build Cowboys Stadium in downtown Dallas. The tremendous benefits Dallas residents would have received were innumerable, and it would have enhanced property values in an area that desperately needed that.
I find it ironic that Miller is opining on anything related to building in Dallas.
Michael DeMott, Frisco
I grew up in Plano, and I live in Richardson now, so I’ve been observing Dallas up close for nearly seven decades. One thing that sticks out is that Dallas is really good at building glitzy shiny structures, but it’s not good at taking care of them.
I read about City Hall, the futuristic building built in 1978 that is becoming unusable largely due to lack of maintenance. Now, they are trying to decide if the building is worth saving, or do they need to build yet another. They build designer bridges, but can’t fix streets and can’t replace aging water lines.
One of the things I learned in business is to make sure what you have is right and is working properly before branching out into new ventures. It’s that way with infrastructure.
Infrastructure isn’t glamorous, but we certainly notice when it fails. It’s crucial to a modern city.
Years ago, Miller ran for mayor partly on a platform of fixing Dallas’ aging infrastructure. She was ridiculed as the “pothole mayor.” I think she had the right idea.
Steven Ritchey, Richardson
Re: “’One Riot, One Ranger’ statue finds new home — Sculpture removed from Love Field in 2020 now at Globe Life Field,” Tuesday Metro & Business story.
As a 50-year fan of the Texas Rangers baseball club, I was extremely disappointed to learn of the relocation of the banished Texas Ranger statue to Globe Life Field. The statue was removed from Love Field for the systemic racist history it represents, as the Rangers are well known for abusing minorities, especially the Mexican-American communities.
Given the ongoing ICE raids and roundups of anyone who looks brown or black, the statue’s new location at the ballpark is questionable at best and insulting at worst to the large Latino fan base the Ranger baseball team enjoys.
The public relations office really struck out with this boneheaded idea. They should have read some Texas history or the book, Cult of Glory: The Bold and Brutal History of the Texas Rangers.
Tony Torres, Garland
My most perfect day. I was high up in the mountains and came upon a green pasture filled with wildflowers, including beautiful columbines. There on my left was a worn-down home and Aspen trees, glittering silver to green in the cool gentle wind. And on the ridge before me was a full-grown porcupine just wandering across, coming from the Aspens and heading to the snowcapped mountains. I was 14 and it was a perfect day, time and moment.
Hold unto these moments. You never know when they can come around. The summer days lumbered on, like the porcupine, but way too quick, it was back to school. Back to W. T. White among my friends.
I miss my youth in Dallas. Times in the creek on hot summer days. Crawling under the wired fence to watch Jesuit High School games, a snowball fight with Dallas police and so much more.
This is my love letter to Dallas.
James K. Waghorne, Wichita Falls
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If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com
Food influencer Keith Lee announced a new phase of his career by becoming an investor in Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, an Asian-fusion restaurant chain with several locations across the U.S.
The announcement was accompanied by a special event at the brand’s Dallas restaurant, where Lee made a public appearance to celebrate the new partnership.
“I love the innovation. I love the way that they move. I love the business mind that they have,” Lee said about his investment in the brand to The News. “I think there is just a bunch of really dope things that we can do together and bring the community together.”
The popular influencer’s presence drew hundreds of people to the restaurant, hoping to meet him in person. Lee interacted with attendees, greeted fans and provided customer service inside the restaurant, taking pictures, chatting and serving menu items.
Keith Lee (left), influencer, food critic and Dallas resident, speaks to Kristel Clouse as she tells him to visit her Forney restaurant Brunch Room Bistro during an appearance by Lee at Brooklyn Dumpling Shop on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. Lee has joined the brand as an investor as part of a landmark, multiyear partnership.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
“Keith is so hot right now, and what we love about him is his authenticity and the way he always supports the community,” said Jeff Galletly, CEO of Brooklyn Dumpling Shop.
Lee, who has more than 20 million followers on different digital platforms, reviews restaurants across the country. In his videos, he usually eats in his car and gives an honest opinion on the food’s quality. After publishing his review, food businesses are impacted either by stratospheric demand or public disapproval.
“I love Dallas. Dallas is amazing,” Lee said. “We have been here for the last year. It’s really quiet, it’s peaceful. I love it out here.”
Keith Lee, influencer, food critic and Dallas resident, puts on an apron during an appearance at Brooklyn Dumpling Shop on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. Lee has joined the brand as an investor as part of a landmark, multiyear partnership.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
From Dallas, Lee continues traveling across the country to visit restaurants and post his reviews on social media.
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop is at 2548 Elm St., Dallas. brooklyndumplingshop.com.
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