Road playoff wins measure greatness

[Bobhaze]

In their storied 66 year history, the Dallas Cowboys have won 36 playoff games, ranked 4th all time after the pats, niners, and packers. For nearly 2 and a half decades, the Cowboys had the most playoff wins.

In this great team timeline there have been a ton of really good teams. And certainly a few elite, great teams. If you want to measure the great teams, they are usually marked by their ability to win playoff games on the road. Something the Cowboys were certainly known for at one time - winning tough playoff games on the road.

To illustrate this point, in its history the Cowboys have won 10 ROAD playoff games. If you look at when they happened, you can see how difficult it is to win playoff games on the road.

COWBOYS ROAD PLAYOFF WINS

• 1970-82: 7 Road playoff wins (all under Tom Landry and 2 were NFC championship games!)
• 1991-95: 2 Road playoff wins (both under Jimmy Johnson; 1 was the 92 NFC championship game)
• 2022: 1 Road playoff win (under Mike McCarthy)

We all know all about the infamous 30 year drought without even one conference championship game appearance. Within this same era - in fact over the last 33 years, the Cowboys have won ONE road playoff game, the 2022 wild card win at Tampa to end Tom Brady’s career.

The reason this is so telling is unless you are the top seed in your conference (which we have only done 6 times in our entire history) you are going to have to win road playoff games!

The ability to win games on the road measures good teams. The ability to win playoff games on the road measures great teams.

 

[Kwyn]

Thanks Bob. Might have something to add later but just wanted to thank you for your continued contributions

 

[daveferr33]

The 92 NFC championship game. What a way to kick off a dynasty.

For me it was the perfect bookend for fandom that began with a 7 year old crying over The Catch.

 

[Bobhaze]

The 92 NFC championship game. What a way to kick off a dynasty.

For me it was the perfect bookend for fandom that began with a 7 year old crying over The Catch.

Yeah that loss to Montana and the niners in SF in Jan ‘82 was second only the SB losses to Pitts in ‘75 and ‘78 for me. The “Catch” game was just gut wrenching.

We haven’t even experienced as many of the gut wrenching playoff losses in so long because we only seem to lose in the first round, lol.

 

[SlammedZero]

To illustrate this point, in its history the Cowboys have won 10 ROAD playoff games.

Wow, I would’ve lost that bet. I would’ve thought the number was higher, which just proves your point about how tough it is to win on the road in the playoffs.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Yeah that loss to Montana and the niners in SF in Jan ‘82 was second only the SB losses to Pitts in ‘75 and ‘78 for me. The “Catch” game was just gut wrenching.

We haven’t even experienced as many of the gut wrenching playoff losses in so long because we only seem to lose in the first round, lol.

I remember "the Catch"...I was actually sick...

 

[blueblood70]

Does it? I mean is in bigness being great enough in the regular scene they have home field?

Isn't that what you pay for?

Mean short it's impressive you go on the road and win in the playoffs, but the goal is having the top seed I mean usually what the division winners all get home games I get out winning your division how great are you?

 

[acr731]

In their storied 66 year history, the Dallas Cowboys have won 36 playoff games, ranked 4th all time after the pats, niners, and packers. For nearly 2 and a half decades, the Cowboys had the most playoff wins.

In this great team timeline there have been a ton of really good teams. And certainly a few elite, great teams. If you want to measure the great teams, they are usually marked by their ability to win playoff games on the road. Something the Cowboys were certainly known for at one time - winning tough playoff games on the road.

To illustrate this point, in its history the Cowboys have won 10 ROAD playoff games. If you look at when they happened, you can see how difficult it is to win playoff games on the road.

COWBOYS ROAD PLAYOFF WINS

• 1970-82: 7 Road playoff wins (all under Tom Landry and 2 were NFC championship games!)
• 1991-95: 2 Road playoff wins (both under Jimmy Johnson; 1 was the 92 NFC championship game)
• 2022: 1 Road playoff win (under Mike McCarthy)

We all know all about the infamous 30 year drought without even one conference championship game appearance. Within this same era - in fact over the last 33 years, the Cowboys have won ONE road playoff game, the 2022 wild card win at Tampa to end Tom Brady’s career.

The reason this is so telling is unless you are the top seed in your conference (which we have only done 5 times in our entire history) you are going to have to win road playoff games!

The ability to win games on the road measures good teams. The ability to win playoff games on the road measures great teams.

They struggle to win playoff games at home as much as they struggle on the road. Remember the 2007 team? Might have been the worst blown opportunity in franchise history. Patrick Crayton will go down in infamy as the biggest slacker in team, maybe even in NFL history, when he quit on that route with 30 seconds left in the game.

 

[jazzcat22]

Which is why a team needs a great defense. Defense Travels.

 

[Bobhaze]

Which is why a team needs a great defense. Defense Travels.

100%!

 

[maryquality]

The ability to win games on the road measures good teams. The ability to win playoff games on the road measures great teams.

Bob, I would settle for winning some playoff games at home too!! It kills me that we have lost at home in playoff games in recent years. Especially that one year where we were the #1 seed!!

 

[JoeKing]

Playoffs!? We're talking about playoffs?

Just make the playoffs and then we can talk.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The ability to win games on the road measures good teams.

This teams recent inability to win regular season non-division games on the road against good teams is simply HORRIBLE.

I'd just be happy winning a few of those and actually getting into the playoffs.

 

[dupree89]

Playoffs!? We're talking about playoffs?

Just make the playoffs and then we can talk.

this is the year, stand by Joe

 

[stuckindc]

I remember "the Catch"...I was actually sick...

And Drew Pearson was a half step away from breaking their hearts

 

[Arkyvarminter]

I was a kid in the 70's and hated the Steelers so I may be just dreaming this but I remember the Steelers in those early Super Bowls were kinda dirty...and got away with it..

 

[acr731]

I was a kid in the 70's and hated the Steelers so I may be just dreaming this but I remember the Steelers in those early Super Bowls were kinda dirty...and got away with it..

50 years later and they're still getting away with things...

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

In their storied 66 year history, the Dallas Cowboys have won 36 playoff games, ranked 4th all time after the pats, niners, and packers. For nearly 2 and a half decades, the Cowboys had the most playoff wins.

In this great team timeline there have been a ton of really good teams. And certainly a few elite, great teams. If you want to measure the great teams, they are usually marked by their ability to win playoff games on the road. Something the Cowboys were certainly known for at one time - winning tough playoff games on the road.

To illustrate this point, in its history the Cowboys have won 10 ROAD playoff games. If you look at when they happened, you can see how difficult it is to win playoff games on the road.

COWBOYS ROAD PLAYOFF WINS

• 1970-82: 7 Road playoff wins (all under Tom Landry and 2 were NFC championship games!)
• 1991-95: 2 Road playoff wins (both under Jimmy Johnson; 1 was the 92 NFC championship game)
• 2022: 1 Road playoff win (under Mike McCarthy)

We all know all about the infamous 30 year drought without even one conference championship game appearance. Within this same era - in fact over the last 33 years, the Cowboys have won ONE road playoff game, the 2022 wild card win at Tampa to end Tom Brady’s career.

The reason this is so telling is unless you are the top seed in your conference (which we have only done 5 times in our entire history) you are going to have to win road playoff games!

The ability to win games on the road measures good teams. The ability to win playoff games on the road measures great teams.

I agree and disagree.

Winning on the road is generally a good thing, but if you are on the road in the playoffs, it usually means you weren't good enough to win the division or good enough to have home field advantage for part of playoffs. Winning 3 road games.against the Better teams in NFL is not easy..has it been done? Ofcourse. But preference is to have home field advantage as much as possible, ala Seattle, Philly or KC.

 

[Bobhaze]

I agree and disagree.

Winning on the road is generally a good thing, but if you are on the road in the playoffs, it usually means you weren't good enough to win the division or good enough to have home field advantage for part of playoffs. Winning 3 road games.against the Better teams in NFL is not easy..has it been done? Ofcourse. But preference is to have home field advantage as much as possible, ala Seattle, Philly or KC.

I understand your points here.

But when you realize the Cowboys have had home field advantage throughout the playoffs only 6 times in their history, you have to be able to win a road playoff game to win championships.

Of the 8 Cowboys teams that have made the SB, only 4 of those teams had home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Those teams were 1971, ‘77, ‘93 and ‘95 and they all won the SB. The ‘70, ‘75 , ‘78 and ‘92 teams all had to win road playoff games to get to the SB. The ‘92 team won SB 27.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I understand your points here.

But when you realize the Cowboys have had home field advantage throughout the playoffs only 6 times in their history, you have to be able to win a road playoff game to win championships.

Of the 8 Cowboys teams that have made the SB, only 4 of those teams had home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Those teams were 1971, ‘77, ‘93 and ‘95 and they all won the SB. The ‘70, ‘75 , ‘78 and ‘92 teams all had to win road playoff games to get to the SB. The ‘92 team won SB 27.

I dont disagree. You could be the 2nd or 3rd seed and you have to go on the road. And even in regular season winning on the road is key. You have to win t lest half of road games to have a chance at winning your division.

Being a wild card makes it.that much harder.

Let's say I rather play two home playoff games and one on the road, as opposed to three road games against playoff teams.