FRISCO -- While Dak Prescott was hoping to catch a redfish or two in the lakes of Louisiana and Ezekiel Elliott took in an LSU game, the NFL, somehow, went on.

The bye week gave the Cowboys a chance to relax, spend time with family and friends and scope out the competition without having to prepare for a game. But as the players returned to work at The Star on Monday, none felt compelled to declare where this team ranks among NFC powers.

Reporters, thankfully, don't suffer from the constraints of common sense. Observations after watching the Cowboys' competition play over the weekend:

One: The Cowboys are the best team in the conference at this stage of the season.

Two: As good as this team has been, it will begin November in second place in the NFC East if it's unable to beat Philadelphia on Sunday night.

Let's start with the NFC.

The Cowboys' five-game winning streak is the longest in the NFL. Two teams have three-game winning streaks heading into Week 8. They are New England and -- wait for it -- Detroit.

Dallas and Minnesota sit atop the NFC standings with 5-1 records. After the Vikings' 21-10 loss to the Eagles on Sunday afternoon, it's difficult to argue that Minnesota rates ahead of Dallas.

The Vikings' defense is dominant. It's superior to the Cowboys surprising unit. But the Cowboys' offense operates on a much higher plane than Minnesota's.

Minnesota's offensive line gave up six sacks to Philadelphia. The Vikings turned the ball over four times and were held under 200 net yards passing and 100 net yards rushing. The offense has scored just 10 touchdowns in the first six games.

Make the Vikings play from behind, and this offense will be hard-pressed to overcome the deficit. The Cowboys have proved they can overcome a deficit.

Now, can you flip this formula on the Cowboys? Sure.

It will be interesting to see how the Dallas defense responds when it faces a team built to hammer it on the ground. When the Cowboys are in a make-or-break position to end the game, when there isn't enough time for the offense to get the ball back and a sack or turnover is required, can the Cowboys rise to the occasion? The Cowboys are as suspect here as the Vikings are on offense.

But so far, it hasn't materialized.

Those not swayed by what the Cowboys and Vikings have accomplished to this point probably watched Sunday night's game between Seattle and Arizona with the belief it featured the conference's two best teams.

Still feel that way after a 6-6 tie, the lowest-scoring overtime game in NFL history?

Again, give the Seahawks and Cardinals the edge over the Cowboys on defense. But does either of those teams have an offensive line that compares to the Cowboys?

No.

Does either have a kicker as reliable as Dan Bailey?

No contest, based on the short field goal attempts Arizona's Chandler Catanzaro and Seattle's Steven Hauschka missed in overtime that could have won the game.

Will the Seahawks or Cardinals -- or both -- be more feared than Dallas by the end of the regular season? That could well happen. But it's not the case at the moment.

All of that being said, if the Cowboys lose Sunday, they won't even be regarded as the best team in their division.

Philadelphia's win over the Vikings gives this upcoming matchup with the Cowboys a much different feel. Win and the Cowboys open the minimum of a two-game lead over every other team in the division.

Lose, and the Cowboys and Eagles will own identical 5-2 records. Philadelphia then earns the edge based on head-to-head competition. It would also leave the Cowboys with two division losses, with road games in New York and Philadelphia remaining.

What happens Sunday night at AT&T Stadium will have a dramatic impact on how the division race plays out.

"We really don't look at it like that,'' right guard Zack Martin said.

It doesn't matter how the Cowboys view it. That's the reality. And so is this: The Cowboys are the best team in the NFC.

Check back Monday morning to see if the club can continue to make that claim.

Catch David Moore and Robert Wilonsky as they co-host Intentional Grounding on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. through the Super Bowl.