Go ahead, pick a team to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LI.

Here’s my educated guess: Whoever you picked is significantly flawed.

The NFC is wide open, and somehow the most stable contender has a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back. The Dallas Cowboys are as good of a pick as anyone.

It’s not like Dallas is a balanced power on both sides of the ball. The defense ranks in the middle of the league or worse at almost every statistical category (though they do a fairly good job of limiting long pass plays). The win on Sunday night shouldn’t blow anyone away. They needed a big comeback in the fourth quarter to pull out an overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles at home.

[Play our $125K Baller | Free Yahoo Cup entry | Tips for your Daily lineup]

But here’s what they do well: They run the ball. They lead the NFL in time of possession, limiting the time the defense is on the field. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is protected well by a great offensive line and he has been remarkably efficient. This is exactly how the Cowboys played in 2014, and they were a Super Bowl contender then (Dez caught it). Just replace DeMarco Murray and Tony Romo with Ezekiel Elliott and Prescott. It’s the same formula.

Yet, if you’re all in on the Cowboys, you’re banking on a mediocre defense, an offense built around a rookie back on pace for 398 touches and a rookie quarterback who started to show a few signs of slowing down with a sluggish performance on Sunday night (14 of 34 for 231 yards in regulation before a huge overtime). And then there’s the whole potential Romo distraction when he gets healthy.

I figure many of you picked the Cowboys to that first question at the top of this post. It’s hard to take Seahawks (which hasn’t looked right), Packers (massive injury issues and no running game), Falcons (bad defense), Vikings (bad offense) or anyone else in the NFC. At least the Cowboys have a shiny record and a two-game lead in their division.

If you have to pick someone to win the NFC, maybe the best option is to take a team that does at least a few things really well. The Cowboys apply.

Dak Prescott has led the Cowboys to a 6-1 record (AP) More

Here are the power rankings after Week 8 of the NFL season:

32. San Francisco 49ers (1-6, Last week: 32)

I’m not sure why a Torrey Smith trade hasn’t happened. Are the one-win 49ers holding out to get more for a receiver they don’t really use? Isn’t that what happened this past offseason with Colin Kaepernick?

31. Cleveland Browns (0-8, LW: 31)

The Jamie Collins trade makes a lot of sense for them. They need playmakers. They can afford to front-load a big contract for him. If someone else signs Collins next offseason, they’ll get a compensatory pick that’ll make up for the one they gave up. It’s hard to find a downside.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5, LW: 29)

Blake Bortles is reportedly bringing in his own quarterbacks coach to work on his fundamentals. Something needs to change. It’s hard to watch him play lately. I’ve seen baseball pitchers with a more compact windup.

29. Chicago Bears (2-6, LW: 30)

Just when the Bears thought they were out on Jay Cutler, he pulls them back in.

28. New York Jets (3-5, LW: 27)

Ryan Fitzpatrick first half vs. Cleveland: 3 of 14, 30 yards. Ryan Fitzpatrick second half: 13 of 20, 198 yards. Because that makes sense.

27. Miami Dolphins (3-4, LW: 26)

The next time the Dolphins play a team with a winning record? Jan. 1 against the Patriots, in Week 17. The Dolphins aren’t very good, but the schedule is easy.

26. Los Angeles Rams (3-4, LW: 25)

Now that Jared Goff is getting a few first-team reps in practice, when’s the most likely date for him to actually see the field? At home against the Dolphins on Nov. 20? At the Saints the following week? When Jeff Fisher signs a contract extension?

Story continues