National Football League

AP Power Rankings: Cowboys keep No. 1 spot

Published Nov. 22, 2016 5:34 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK (AP) Dak Prescott and the surging Dallas Cowboys keep on rolling.

The Cowboys have won a franchise regular-season record nine games in a row and host the rival Redskins on Thanksgiving Day in a key NFC East matchup.

The Cowboys also remained in the No. 1 spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll , which was released Tuesday.

Dallas received 11 first-place votes for 383 points from balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL.

''Dak Prescott passes another important test, not only solving the Ravens' top-ranked defense, but doing so with Tony Romo in uniform for the first time this season,'' said Newsday's Bob Glauber.

The top three teams all stayed the same from last week's poll as Seattle finished with 364 points and New England received the other first-place vote and had 359 points.

The AFC West dominates the next part of the poll as first-place Oakland and Denver each move up a spot to No. 4 and 5, respectively.

Kansas City fell two spots into a tie at No. 6 with the New York Giants, who have won five games in a row and face winless Cleveland on Sunday.

''Very quietly, the Giants have rattled off five straight wins,'' said Jenny Vrentas of The Monday Morning Quarterback.

''The difference between this year's team and last year's team is that the Giants finally have the talent on defense to close out tight games.''

Washington became the third NFC East team in the poll as it moved up a spot to No. 8.

''How do you like Kirk Cousins now?'' asked Ira Kaufman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

''In line for a big payday, Cousins is deftly guiding the NFL's No. 2 offense.''

A pair of first-place teams round out the top 10.

Atlanta, which leads the NFC South by a game fell a spot to No. 9.

And Detroit, which is tied with Minnesota in the NFC North, moved up two places to No. 10. And the Vikings, who play the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, moved up four spots to No. 11.

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