The Cowboys did what they needed to do on Sunday. Facing an overmatched opponent in the Cleveland Browns, Dallas put the pressure on the defense, and after giving up a few early plays, suffocated the Browns’ offense. Cleveland was only able to manage 28 second-half yards, and Dallas used the sacrificial lamb to extend their winning streak to seven games, longest in the league both currently and for the entire season.

Yes, the Dallas Cowboys are hotter than any other team at any other point of the 2016 season. Through playing just eight games, they have, in essence, a two-game lead on their entire conference. The conversation has turned from “Is it another 4-12 season without Romo?” to “Do they have a legit shot at beating the Patriots?”

Got to love it.

Given troubling off-field news about Ezekiel Elliott, might be time to get Darren McFadden up and running pretty soon … just in case.

As for the teams in the NFC who will be in the way of that eventual matchup, there is a clear separation. In Week 9, Atlanta and Seattle were the two conference teams closest to Dallas and both won their respective games. Atlanta moves up to No. 3 while Seattle moved one spot as well, up to No. 4 after beating Buffalo on Monday night.

In the division, fresh off their victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and winners of three games in a row, the Giants moved to No. 9, a huge jump up from 17 last week. Philly dropped 4 spots to No. 18. Washington was on their bye and crept up one slot to No. 12.

The Cowboys next opponent, Pittsburgh, find themselves stationed at No. 20, a remarkable 13 spot drop after three consecutive losses.