NFL power rankings: Eagles regain respect, Cowboys chasing

The Eagles just keep winning, and their Week 13 victory over the Titans was possibly the most complete win of the year for the Birds.

Jalen Hurts dominated through the air, A.J. Brown big-boyed the entire Tennessee franchise, and the defense turned Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill into mulch. It was a ball, and the NFL world seems to have come to its senses about this Eagles team.

Let's scour seven outlets around the internet and see what they're saying about the Birds after win No. 11:

NFL.com

Last week: 1

This week: 1 (+0)

"The Eagles continue to prove themselves to be a tier above nearly every team in football. On Sunday, they took the Titans apart at the Linc, outgaining the AFC South leaders by nearly 250 yards in a 35-10 laugher. A.J. Brown went full Jefferson-against-Lincoln High mode in his Titans revenge game, piling up 119 yards and two touchdowns before telling reporters how personal this matchup truly was against his former team. "It's been personal since the trade," he said. "I was just trying to keep it down. That's where I wanted to be. Things just didn't work out. It was like here, we don't want you anymore." Tennessee's big loss is Philly's massive gain."

USA Today

Last week: 1

This week: 1 (+0)

"Their 11-1 record remains the league's best, but Philadelphia must now maintain its pace despite going on the road for the next three weeks – a trip that will conclude in Dallas for perhaps the league's most-anticipated matchup of the season. QB Jalen Hurts can also further fuel his billowing MVP campaign. Quite surprisingly the NFL's third-rated passer (108.3), Hurts needs one more rushing TD to become the first quarterback with at least 10 in successive years."

ESPN

Last week: 2

This week: 1 (+1)

"The Eagles are an NFL-best 13-plus in [the turnover department] -- a major reason why they have the league's best record. The defense is top in takeaways with 23 while the offense has turned the ball over just nine times, which ranks second. Quarterback Jalen Hurts deserves much of the credit, having thrown three interceptions to 20 touchdowns on the year."

Sports Illustrated

Last week: 2

This week: 1 (+1)

"One of my favorite parts of the Eagles’ win over the Titans on Sunday was when Miles Sanders blasted Amani Hooker on a Jalen Hurts designed run, which went for a touchdown. It’s the kind of play that only works with complete and total buy-in from every person on the roster and the reason the Eagles are truly successful (beyond all the stars they’ve acquired and the really good coaching staff)."

The Athletic

Last week: 2

This week: 1 (+1)

"The stakes at this point for the Eagles are clear: No. 1 seed or bust. They hold a one-game edge over the Vikings with a tiebreaker in hand thanks to their head-to-head victory. The Cowboys loom two games behind, with all eyes on the Dec. 24 showdown in Arlington, Texas. The difference between the prospect of having to win two home games to make the Super Bowl instead of potentially having to win three straight road games is obvious. Win on the road against Dallas and Philadelphia might be in position to really take it easy on its veteran starters down the stretch. Right now, Mock projects the Eagles with a 78.9 percent chance of earning the NFC’s bye."

Pro Football Network

Last week: 2

This week: 1 (+1)

"After last week, detractors wanted to say that the Eagles’ passing attack would be its eventual downfall. So they went out and threw the ball early and often against what, up until recent weeks, had been arguably the best secondary in football.

"And while injuries have robbed the Titans of their coverage efficiency, the Eagles imposed their will. Their talented receivers separated whenever they wanted to, and Jalen Hurts played an outstanding game in a pocket that never really seemed to be congested.

"Philadelphia is showing they can win in more ways than one."

Sporting News

Last week: 1

This week: 1 (+0)

"The Eagles went back to their early-season dominance at home by ripping the Titans with plenty of Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They can win offensively in so many ways and adjust week to week, with the defense always being a strong all-around backbone."

A clean sweep!

It doesn't feel particularly up for debate at this point in the season: the Eagles are currently the best team in the NFL. That doesn't mean they will be the best team at the end of the year, or in the postseason, or that they'll win the Super Bowl. But I'd take the team we saw dismantle the Titans on Sunday to beat any team in the league tomorrow, and I'd feel pretty comfortable.

For what it's worth, here's where the hard-charging Cowboys ranked:

• NFL.com: 2
• USA Today: 2
• ESPN: 4
• SI: 2
• Athletic: 5
• PFN: 3
• SN: 3

Despite the Eagles' 11-1 record they need to keep winning, because the Cowboys are good and they aren't slowing down. Christmas Eve is going to be a slobberknocker.

We're into the final five weeks of the season, folks. Get excited.