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Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys rise up to take over No. 1

ESPN Illustration

For the first time since Week 4 of the 2008 season, the Cowboys have ascended to No. 1 in ESPN's NFL Power Rankings. ESPN's power panel (a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities) moved Dallas up this week from No. 2 after the team won its eighth straight game.

The top eight teams shifted all around from last week's rankings, including the Chiefs moving up to No. 5 and the Eagles jumping 10 spots to move back into the top 10.

Methodology note: These rankings reflect which teams voters think would win head-to-head matchups. Higher-ranked teams would be favored against lower-ranked teams. Coming off a win doesn't guarantee a jump, and coming off a loss doesn't guarantee a fall.

Check out the rest of the league and where each team ranks.

Previous rankings: Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Preseason

ESPN Stats & Information contributed the following research.

1. Dallas Cowboys

2016 record: 8-1 | Week 10 ranking: 2

The Cowboys have won eight straight in a single season for the first time since 1977. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Ezekiel Elliott has the third-most rushing yards through a player's first nine games with 1,005. And QB Dak Prescott is second in the league this season in Total QBR (82.5). Up next: the Ravens.

2. Seattle Seahawks

2016 record: 6-2-1 | Week 10 ranking: 4

The Seahawks are 4-1-1 in their past six games, and most impressive about that stretch is the fact they've committed only one turnover. They had none against the Patriots in Week 10 and will look to keep that trend rolling against the Eagles in Week 11.

3. New England Patriots

2016 record: 7-2 | Week 10 ranking: 1

Even after the Week 10 loss to Seattle, NFL FPI has the Patriots as the top-ranked team by a wide margin and still gives the Patriots a 31 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl this season (next closest: Cowboys, 17 percent). New England travels to San Francisco to take on the 49ers (1-8) this week.

4. Denver Broncos

2016 record: 7-3 | Week 10 ranking: 7

Denver kept pace in the AFC West thanks to a blocked extra point attempt that was returned for a touchdown. The Broncos are still winning (three of their past four), but turnovers are starting to become a problem and could be a focus during their Week 11 bye. Denver has had at least two turnovers in each of its past three games.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

2016 record: 7-2 | Week 10 ranking: 6

The Chiefs are now 17-2 in their past 19 games dating back to last season, with 15 giveaways to 45 takeaways over that span. The next best turnover differential in that time is plus-14 by the Vikings. The Chiefs take on the turnover-prone Buccaneers in Week 11.

6. Oakland Raiders

2016 record: 7-2 | Week 10 ranking: 3

Derek Carr makes his Monday night debut this week against the Texans in Mexico City. Carr is 3-0 in his career in prime time, and with the Chiefs and Broncos still looming in the division race, another prime-time win would go a long way in getting the Raiders home-field advantage in the playoffs.

7. Atlanta Falcons

2016 record: 6-4 | Week 10 ranking: 5

Opponents are completing 68.2 percent of their passes against the Falcons this season, the third-highest completion percentage allowed. That's also the same as QB Matt Ryan's completion percentage this season. Atlanta will undoubtedly work on its pass defense while on bye this week.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

2016 record: 5-4 | Week 10 ranking: 18

The Eagles have a 41 percent chance of making the playoffs according to NFL FPI, but they also have the second-most difficult remaining schedule based on opponent win-loss records. A road game against Seattle this week is as tough as they get.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

2016 record: 4-5 | Week 10 ranking: 9

The Steelers could use a win following their first four-game losing streak since 2013, and they may very well get one this week at Cleveland. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is 19-2 in his career against the Browns, who are 0-10 this season.

10. Arizona Cardinals

2016 record: 4-4-1 | Week 10 ranking: 16

The Cardinals are 3-1-1 in their past five games, but two of those wins came against the 49ers, a team with just one win. The Cardinals' schedule picks up down the stretch, with five road games and all seven games against teams no worse than one game under .500. First up are the Vikings in Week 11.

11. Washington Redskins

2016 record: 5-3-1 | Week 10 ranking: 13

Is there a more under-the-radar team right now than the Redskins? On one hand, they have only a plus-3 point differential, but on the other hand, they're 4-0 against teams that entered their game with a winning record. Washington hosts the 4-5 Packers on Sunday night.

12. Detroit Lions

2016 record: 5-4 | Week 10 ranking: 14

The Lions are 5-4, have a minus-one point differential and have trailed in the fourth quarter in all nine games this season. The Lions are living on the edge but have a chance to break away from both the Jaguars and the NFC North in Week 11.

13. Baltimore Ravens

2016 record: 5-4 | Week 10 ranking: 15

The AFC North is not at its strongest right now, and the Ravens are taking advantage. Baltimore is currently 3-0 against the AFC North and 2-4 against every other division, losing the past four. They not only play a team outside their division this week, they play the team with the league's best record (8-1 Cowboys).

14. Houston Texans

2016 record: 6-3 | Week 10 ranking: 19

The Texans finally won a road game -- albeit against the Jaguars. The Texans scored 24 points after scoring a combined 22 in their first three road games. They'll need to continue that mojo, as three of their next four are on the road.

15. Minnesota Vikings

2016 record: 5-4 | Week 10 ranking: 10

QB Sam Bradford's average pass has traveled 6.4 yards past the line of scrimmage this season, which ranks as the shortest in the NFL. That average is fine when your team is winning, but when you've lost four straight, you need a little more from the passing game. The Cardinals are up next.

16. New York Giants

2016 record: 6-3 | Week 10 ranking: 12

The Giants rushed for a season-high 122 yards Monday night against Cincinnati, rediscovering a dormant aspect of their offense. The Giants entered the game with an NFL-worst 68.3 rushing yards per game. They'll try to keep the ground game going in Week 11 against the visiting Bears.

17. Miami Dolphins

2016 record: 5-4 | Week 10 ranking: 25

The Dolphins have won four straight behind Jay Ajayi's strong rushing but also behind Ryan Tannehill's improved play. Tannehill has thrown no picks during the four-game winning streak and has taken three sacks total, allowing Ajayi the chance to run. The Dolphins look to make it five straight at Los Angeles in Week 11.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

2016 record: 3-5-1 | Week 10 ranking: 8

In fairness to the Bengals, they've lost to the Steelers, Broncos, Cowboys, Patriots and Giants, who are a combined 32-14 this season. But at 3-5-1 overall, their playoff hopes are looking slim. The Bengals face a must-win at home against the Bills in Week 11.

19. Tennessee Titans

2016 record: 5-5 | Week 10 ranking: 23

QB Marcus Mariota has an 85 Total QBR and 14 touchdowns to two interceptions in the Titans' five wins this season (41 QBR, seven TDs, six INTs in losses). Mariota takes on the Colts on Sunday, a team he has yet to beat in his career.

20. New Orleans Saints

2016 record: 4-5 | Week 10 ranking: 20

Twice this season the Saints have lost on a two-point conversion. Those will sting badly no matter what, but when the Saints are 4-5 and the division leader is 6-4, there are going to be a lot of what-ifs. FPI currently gives the Saints a 24 percent chance of making the playoffs as they travel to Carolina for a Week 11 Thursday night game.

21. Buffalo Bills

2016 record: 4-5 | Week 10 ranking: 21

The Bills are on a three-game losing streak despite scoring exactly 25 points in each game. That's tied for the longest losing streak in NFL history in which the losing team scored at least 25 points in each of those games, according to Elias. The Bills' defense will look to hold down Cincinnati this week.

22. Green Bay Packers

2016 record: 4-5 | Week 10 ranking: 11

The Packers have allowed a combined 35 points in the first quarter alone the past two weeks and have trailed by at least 18 at some point in each game. The Packers are under .500 through nine games for the first time since 2008. They'll face Washington this week.

23. San Diego Chargers

2016 record: 4-6 | Week 10 ranking: 17

The Chargers have been outscored by 44 points in the fourth quarter this season, second worst in the NFL. They've outscored opponents by 61 in the first three quarters, fourth best in the NFL. Their bye couldn't come at a better time than Week 11.

24. Carolina Panthers

2016 record: 3-6 | Week 10 ranking: 24

Cam Newton has been blitzed on 44 percent of dropbacks this season, and he's posting a career-low 55 Total QBR against the blitz. That trend is unlikely to stop this Thursday as the visiting Saints are blitzing at the highest rate this season.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2016 record: 4-5 | Week 10 ranking: 28

QB Jameis Winston became the youngest player to reach 40 passing touchdowns Sunday, thanks to his fourth straight game with multiple passing touchdowns. Can Winston keep it up against the stout Chiefs defense in Week 11?

26. Los Angeles Rams

2016 record: 4-5 | Week 10 ranking: 27

The Rams won in Week 10 despite scoring nine points and no TDs among those points. In fact, the Rams are 2-1 this season when scoring fewer than 10, with the rest of the NFL going 0-13-2 in such games. The Dolphins await the Rams and whichever QB starts this week.

27. Indianapolis Colts

2016 record: 4-5 | Week 10 ranking: 22

This will be a crucial stretch for the Colts as they take on the Titans and Steelers at home the next two weeks. The Colts are looking to win two in a row under QB Andrew Luck for the first time since 2014, believe it or not.

28. New York Jets

2016 record: 3-7 | Week 10 ranking: 26

The Jets head into their bye with a 3-7 record, worst in the AFC East, and a 0.1 percent chance of making the playoffs according to NFL FPI. QB Bryce Petty should keep getting a chance to show what he has, but he'll need to do better than the 5.1 yards per attempt he posted against the Rams.

29. Chicago Bears

2016 record: 2-7 | Week 10 ranking: 29

It was just a matter of time before that Jay Cutler showed up again. Cutler doubled his turnover total this season with three in Week 10, and he also took a safety. Cutler and the Bears, who will be without receiver Alshon Jeffery, play at the Giants this week.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

2016 record: 2-7 | Week 10 ranking: 31

Four straight losses have the Jaguars down to 2-7, and with two straight road games at Detroit and Buffalo and then home games against the Broncos and Vikings, there could be trouble brewing for coach Gus Bradley & Co. This is the Jags' third losing streak of four games or longer in the past two seasons.

31. San Francisco 49ers

2016 record: 1-8 | Week 10 ranking: 30

Colin Kaepernick used his legs to keep the 49ers in Sunday's loss at Arizona, but his second-half performances pile on to the team's struggles. Kaepernick has completed 38.4 percent of his second-half passes this season, as opposed to 71.2 percent in the first half. He'll need a complete game to beat the Patriots this week.

32. Cleveland Browns

2016 record: 0-10 | Week 10 ranking: 32

The Browns are now 0-10 and host the Steelers this week. If the Browns lose again, they'll fall to 0-11 for the first time in franchise history and the first time leaguewide since the 2011 Colts.