NFL power rankings, Week 14: Steelers rise, Falcons fall

11-1. Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 1. team. 123. Dallas continues to surprise, and has become the first team to have clinched the first playoff spot of the season. The Cowboys snuck by the Vikings on the road, largely thanks to a non-call on a late face mask penalty. Sam Bradford was clearly having his helmet grabbed at on a last-second two-point conversion attempt, but the officials missed the foul. Ultimately, the Cowboys were able to overcome turnovers and an excessive amount of penalties. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott may need to share the Rookie of the Year award, as both have outperformed expectations this year. <p>Next Week: The Cowboys travel to New York for Sunday Night Football, the start of a three-game primetime stretch for Dallas. Their only loss of the season came against New York in the first game of the year. New York will need this game should a tie-breaker become reality in the wild card race.</p> <p>Playoff hopes: Dallas has turned their distant playoff dreams into reality. Who could have imagined when Tony Romo went down the kind of response this team would have throughout the season. It’s been a nearly perfect season for the Cowboys, and it will be one that could run through Dallas for the entirely of the NFC playoffs.</p>