NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys crack the top five, Raiders, Eagles plunge – CBSSports.com

The Dallas Cowboys have their quarterback of the future.

They also have their quarterback controversy of the now.

Do they stay with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, who is 5-1 as a replacement starter for the injured Tony Romo? Or do they go to Romo when he’s cleared to play, possibly next week after this week’s bye?

It’s a tough decision for sure. But ask yourself this: Who’s the better quarterback right now? It’s clearly Romo — if he’s healthy. Prescott has been impressive, but which of the games he’s won would Romo not have won with the way everything played out? Romo would have won them all as well.

The Cowboys, who are in the fourth spot now here in my Power Rankings, have run the heck out of the football behind the best offensive line and Ezekiel Elliott. They’ve also played much better defense than anybody expected. It was the defense and the running game sprinkled in with timely throws by Prescott — three for TDs — that led the Cowboys past the Packers Sunday.

Owner and GM Jerry Jones has always insisted that Romo would get his job back when he was healthy, but he’s been non-committal the past couple of weeks and almost sounded like Prescott would stay in as the starter after the Packers game. It’s a tough call in a lot of ways.

Romo has carried the Cowboys at times in his career, but three major injuries over the past two seasons are causing his body to break down. Prescott is young, fast and healthy and can make all the throws.

There is no sentiment in football, which is why the Cowboys have to do what’s right. I think going to Romo would be right, but I think they stay with the kid when they play next at Philadelphia against the Eagles on Oct. 30.

Whatever they do, it’s a controversy — even if they won’t admit it.