IRVING, Texas -- At 3-1, are the Dallas Cowboys for real?

According to a panel of 80 ESPN writers, editors and TV personalities, they just might be.

In the Week 5 Power Rankings, the Cowboys are No. 10, up eight spots from the previous week as a result of their 38-17 win against the New Orleans Saints. They are the sixth-best NFC team behind the Seattle Seahawks (No. 1), Arizona Cardinals (No. 4), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 6), Detroit Lions (No. 8) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 9).

After losing to the Niners in the season opener, the Cowboys dropped to No. 27 in the rankings.

This is the highest the Cowboys have been in the Power Rankings since Week 8 last year after they beat the Eagles 17-3 at Lincoln Financial Field. The last time the Cowboys were inside the Power Rankings’ top 10 was in Week 14, 2011 when they were 7-5.

A win Sunday against the Houston Texans (No. 13) could propel the Cowboys inside the top 10.

Where did I vote the Cowboys? I had them at No. 15. What’s keeping me from moving them up? Maybe the recent past. Are you sure they can be trusted?