Dallas Offense Must Improve For 2026

DallasEast · May 30, 2026

I have a feeling I probably read another member like @Bobhaze, @xwalker, etc., having already posted this or something similar, lol. However, I thought it was worth looking at how well last season's offense assisted its pathetic defense in terms of keeping drives alive and controlling time of possession.

For that reason, I compared whether Dallas' third-down conversion rate in each game was above or below its season average. The same was done for each of its opponents. Dallas' overall record for each situation is also noted.

[Fortune-telling answers for some possible follow-up questions: "-FD" columns are totals for third downs converted successfully by rush, pass, and penalty. No, I did not care about redzone conversions, touchdowns, etc. No, I did not care to do the same for all Dallas opponents' 2025 games for comparison. The answer is likely no for other questions too.]

Sources: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2025/#all_team_conversions, stathead.com

Both teams' offenses performed at or above their average third-down conversion rate (Dallas record 5-4)

Week	Dallas-3D%	Opp	Opp3D%	Result	Rsh-FD	Pass-FD	Pen-FD
1	63.6	@PHI	61.5	L 20-24	7	9	6
2	42.9	NYG	42.9	W 40-37 (OT)	8	18	6
5	46.2	@NYJ	43.8	W 37-22	9	12	1
6	41.7	@car	37.5	L 27-30	1	12	2
7	50.0	WAS	43.8	W 44-22	7	11	3
9	41.7	ARI	53.8	L 17-27	8	14	0
12	41.7	PHI	41.7	W 24-21	6	16	3
13	56.3	KAN	38.5	W 31-28	3	15	5
16	44.4	LAC	63.6	L 17-34	4	13	1

Both offenses performed below their season average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record 2-2)

Week	Dallas-3D%	Opp	Opp3D%	Result	Rsh-FD	Pass-FD	Pen-FD
11	40.0	@LVR	25.0	W 33-16	7	16	1
14	40.0	@DET	37.5	L 30-44	7	17	1
15	16.7	MIN	22.2	L 26-34	12	12	1
17	40.0	@WAS	16.7	W 30-23	10	13	5

Dallas offense performed below their season average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed above their season average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record 0-3-1)

Week	Dallas-3D%	Opp	Opp3D%	Result	Rsh-FD	Pass-FD	Pen-FD
3	27.3	@CHI	57.1	L 14-31	6	14	3
4	36.4	GNB	71.4	T 40-40 (OT)	8	17	1
8	36.4	@DEN	62.5	L 24-44	8	12	4
18	25.0	@NYG	57.1	L 17-34	9	8	1

Dallas offense performed above their average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed below their average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record n/a - never happened) < Methinks this is the worst indictment of the four situations and solely against the defense last season, in my opinion. No help at all, despite any particular game when the offense had been executing well.

Kwyn · May 30, 2026

Great post. Thanks for the topic

slick325 · May 30, 2026

Nice work @DallasEast ! Great post!

gimmesix · May 30, 2026

DallasEast said:
I have a feeling I probably read another member like @Bobhaze, @xwalker, etc., having already posted this or something similar, lol. However, I thought it was worth looking at how well last season's offense assisted its pathetic defense in terms of keeping drives alive and controlling time of possession.

For that reason, I compared whether Dallas' third-down conversion rate in each game was above or below its season average. The same was done for each of its opponents. Dallas' overall record for each situation is also noted.

[Fortune-telling answers for some possible follow-up questions: "-FD" columns are totals for third downs converted successfully by rush, pass, and penalty. No, I did not care about redzone conversions, touchdowns, etc. No, I did not care to do the same for all Dallas opponents' 2025 games for comparison. The answer is likely no for other questions too.]

Sources: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2025/#all_team_conversions, stathead.com

Both teams' offenses performed at or above their average third-down conversion rate (Dallas record 5-4)

Week Dallas-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh-FD Pass-FD Pen-FD
1
63.6
@PHI
61.5
L 20-24
7
9
6
2
42.9
NYG
42.9
W 40-37 (OT)
8
18
6
5
46.2
@NYJ
43.8
W 37-22
9
12
1
6
41.7
@car
37.5
L 27-30
1
12
2
7
50.0
WAS
43.8
W 44-22
7
11
3
9
41.7
ARI
53.8
L 17-27
8
14
0
12
41.7
PHI
41.7
W 24-21
6
16
3
13
56.3
KAN
38.5
W 31-28
3
15
5
16
44.4
LAC
63.6
L 17-34
4
13
1

Both offenses performed below their season average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record 2-2)

Week Dallas-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh-FD Pass-FD Pen-FD
11
40.0
@LVR
25.0
W 33-16
7
16
1
14
40.0
@DET
37.5
L 30-44
7
17
1
15
16.7
MIN
22.2
L 26-34
12
12
1
17
40.0
@WAS
16.7
W 30-23
10
13
5

Dallas offense performed below their season average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed above their season average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record 0-3-1)

Week Dallas-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh-FD Pass-FD Pen-FD
3
27.3
@CHI
57.1
L 14-31
6
14
3
4
36.4
GNB
71.4
T 40-40 (OT)
8
17
1
8
36.4
@DEN
62.5
L 24-44
8
12
4
18
25.0
@NYG
57.1
L 17-34
9
8
1

Dallas offense performed above their average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed below their average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record n/a - never happened) < Methinks this is the worst indictment of the four situations and solely against the defense last season, in my opinion. No help at all, despite any particular game when the offense had been executing well.

I think there are games where the offense will perform below its average both because of the defense it is facing (Denver, for instance, held a lot of teams lower than their average) and because teams don't play on the same level from week to week. If we could just limit ourselves to losses in those games, though, we would have been 11-5-1 last year. Defense has to reach the point where it can hold its ground if the offense is playing well enough.

dupree89 · May 30, 2026

dallas east has a wealth of knowledge :thumbup:

Coogiguy03 · May 30, 2026

Red zone scoring too! We honestly can't expect this offense overall to be as great as it was last year can we?

DallasEast · May 30, 2026

gimmesix said:
I think there are games where the offense will perform below its average both because of the defense it is facing (Denver, for instance, held a lot of teams lower than their average) and because teams don't play on the same level from week to week. If we could just limit ourselves to losses in those games, though, we would have been 11-5-1 last year. Defense has to reach the point where it can hold its ground if the offense is playing well enough.

Not gonna lie. I read your reply and got interested enough to stop from leaving on an errand and quickly put together the same post using Denver (even though I said I won't do the same for other teams earlier, lol).

Both teams' offenses performed at or above their average third-down conversion rate (Denver record 3-1)

Week	Denver-3D%	Opp	Opp3D%	Result	Rsh	Pass	Pen
2	44.4	@IND	46.2	L 28-29	7	11	5
11	46.7	KAN	38.5	W 22-19	5	11	0
13	46.7	@WAS	47.1	W 27-26 (OT)	6	17	0
20	50.0	BUF	66.7	W 33-30 (OT)	6	13	3

Both offenses performed below their season average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 8-1)

Week	Denver-3D%	Opp	Opp3D%	Result	Rsh	Pass	Pen
1	40.0	TEN	14.3	W 20-12	5	9	6
5	31.3	@PHI	18.2	W 21-17	8	12	3
6	33.3	@NYJ	13.3	W 13-11	3	9	0
7	30.8	NYG	40.0	W 33-32	8	15	2
9	40.0	@HOU	17.6	W 18-15	6	9	0
10	33.3	LVR	26.7	W 10-7	5	5	0
15	36.4	GNB	46.2	W 34-26	4	15	2
18	33.3	LAC	35.0	W 19-3	7	6	0
21	28.6	NWE	33.3	L 7-10	3	8	0

Denver's offense performed below their season average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed above their season average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 0-2)

Week	Denver-3D%	Opp	Opp3D%	Result	Rsh	Pass	Pen
3	15.4	@LAC	47.1	L 20-23	3	5	1
16	35.7	JAX	53.3	L 20-34	5	14	2

Denver's offense performed above their average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed below their average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 4-0)

Week	Denver-3D%	Opp	Opp3D%	Result	Rsh	Pass	Pen
4	57.1	CIN	18.2	W 28-3	11	17	1
8	62.5	DAL	36.4	W 44-24	8	15	2
14	58.3	@LVR	33.3	W 24-17	11	14	2
17	61.1	@KAN	36.4	W 20-13	9	12	1

Gotta run. I'll check back later.

Coogiguy03 · May 30, 2026

DallasEast said:
Not gonna lie. I read your reply and got interested enough to stop from leaving on an errand and quickly put together the same post using Denver (even though I said I won't do the same for other teams earlier, lol).

Both teams' offenses performed at or above their average third-down conversion rate (Denver record 3-1)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
2
44.4
@IND
46.2
L 28-29
7
11
5
11
46.7
KAN
38.5
W 22-19
5
11
0
13
46.7
@WAS
47.1
W 27-26 (OT)
6
17
0
20
50.0
BUF
66.7
W 33-30 (OT)
6
13
3

Both offenses performed below their season average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 8-1)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
1
40.0
TEN
14.3
W 20-12
5
9
6
5
31.3
@PHI
18.2
W 21-17
8
12
3
6
33.3
@NYJ
13.3
W 13-11
3
9
0
7
30.8
NYG
40.0
W 33-32
8
15
2
9
40.0
@HOU
17.6
W 18-15
6
9
0
10
33.3
LVR
26.7
W 10-7
5
5
0
15
36.4
GNB
46.2
W 34-26
4
15
2
18
33.3
LAC
35.0
W 19-3
7
6
0
21
28.6
NWE
33.3
L 7-10
3
8
0

Denver's offense performed below their season average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed above their season average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 0-2)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
3
15.4
@LAC
47.1
L 20-23
3
5
1
16
35.7
JAX
53.3
L 20-34
5
14
2

Denver's offense performed above their average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed below their average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 4-0)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
4
57.1
CIN
18.2
W 28-3
11
17
1
8
62.5
DAL
36.4
W 44-24
8
15
2
14
58.3
@LVR
33.3
W 24-17
11
14
2
17
61.1
@KAN
36.4
W 20-13
9
12
1

Gotta run. I'll check back later.

Remember the last time you ran, let's just say you used to go East, now you go South East!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes

Chasing6 · May 30, 2026

DallasEast said:
I have a feeling I probably read another member like @Bobhaze, @xwalker, etc., having already posted this or something similar, lol. However, I thought it was worth looking at how well last season's offense assisted its pathetic defense in terms of keeping drives alive and controlling time of possession.

For that reason, I compared whether Dallas' third-down conversion rate in each game was above or below its season average. The same was done for each of its opponents. Dallas' overall record for each situation is also noted.

[Fortune-telling answers for some possible follow-up questions: "-FD" columns are totals for third downs converted successfully by rush, pass, and penalty. No, I did not care about redzone conversions, touchdowns, etc. No, I did not care to do the same for all Dallas opponents' 2025 games for comparison. The answer is likely no for other questions too.]

Sources: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2025/#all_team_conversions, stathead.com

Both teams' offenses performed at or above their average third-down conversion rate (Dallas record 5-4)

Week Dallas-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh-FD Pass-FD Pen-FD
1
63.6
@PHI
61.5
L 20-24
7
9
6
2
42.9
NYG
42.9
W 40-37 (OT)
8
18
6
5
46.2
@NYJ
43.8
W 37-22
9
12
1
6
41.7
@car
37.5
L 27-30
1
12
2
7
50.0
WAS
43.8
W 44-22
7
11
3
9
41.7
ARI
53.8
L 17-27
8
14
0
12
41.7
PHI
41.7
W 24-21
6
16
3
13
56.3
KAN
38.5
W 31-28
3
15
5
16
44.4
LAC
63.6
L 17-34
4
13
1

Both offenses performed below their season average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record 2-2)

Week Dallas-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh-FD Pass-FD Pen-FD
11
40.0
@LVR
25.0
W 33-16
7
16
1
14
40.0
@DET
37.5
L 30-44
7
17
1
15
16.7
MIN
22.2
L 26-34
12
12
1
17
40.0
@WAS
16.7
W 30-23
10
13
5

Dallas offense performed below their season average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed above their season average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record 0-3-1)

Week Dallas-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh-FD Pass-FD Pen-FD
3
27.3
@CHI
57.1
L 14-31
6
14
3
4
36.4
GNB
71.4
T 40-40 (OT)
8
17
1
8
36.4
@DEN
62.5
L 24-44
8
12
4
18
25.0
@NYG
57.1
L 17-34
9
8
1

Dallas offense performed above their average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed below their average 3D conversion rate (Dallas record n/a - never happened) < Methinks this is the worst indictment of the four situations and solely against the defense last season, in my opinion. No help at all, despite any particular game when the offense had been executing well.

The last one should be compared to when Dallas was at or above compared to when our opponent was at or below average.

But it appears that scenario never happened.

Our Defense was 4 out 17 at holding their opponent to average or below.

Whirlwin · May 30, 2026

Stepping up, to the elegance, yes, nice post

Whirlwin · May 30, 2026

Chasing6 said:
The last one should be compared to when Dallas was at or above compared to when our opponent was at or below average.

But it appears that scenario never happened.

Our Defense was 4 out 17 at holding their opponent to average or below.

It’s like the offense was getting the ball back, more often, because the other team
was scoring so fast
I was trying to find time of possession for the offense compared to other opponents defenses

Whirlwin · May 30, 2026

Last season, the Dallas Cowboys offense averaged 30:43 of time of possession per game, which ranked 16th among all NFL offenses. Inversely, this means their defense was on the field for an average of 29:17 per game.To put these figures in perspective, the league's top time-of-possession offense was the Buffalo Bills at 33:18, while teams like the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 32:16.

Like I thought, average, but we had the ball more often on offense

CT Dal Fan · May 30, 2026

Excellent post.

The prevailing topic all offseason was about improving the defense, for good reason. The offense in 2025 was very good, but far from perfect. Some things need to improve (including red zone efficiency as well) for this team to get where they need to go.

Whirlwin · May 30, 2026

CT Dal Fan said:
Excellent post.

The prevailing topic all offseason was about improving the defense, for good reason. The offense in 2025 was very good, but far from perfect. Some things need to improve (including red zone efficiency as well) for this team to get where they need to go.

Too many drops by the tight end

sbark · May 30, 2026

Coogiguy03 said:
Red zone scoring too! We honestly can't expect this offense overall to be as great as it was last year can we?

From a basic search:
The Dallas Cowboys finished the 2025 NFL season with a red zone touchdown percentage of roughly 45.5%, which placed them among the bottom tier of the league.

Dallas has been middle of the pack in redzone efficiency for years....

75boyz · May 30, 2026

Second half scoring in general and red zone touchdown percentage.
If they suck at those 2 things again all these predictions of grandeur because of a supposed improved defense will be for naught.

Chasing6 · May 30, 2026

75boyz said:
Second half scoring in general and red zone touchdown percentage.
If they suck at those 2 things again all these predictions of grandeur because of a supposed improved defense will be for naught.

If you score 30 a game like last season and give up 13 like KC we will be just fine.

Whirlwin · May 30, 2026

sbark said:
From a basic search:
The Dallas Cowboys finished the 2025 NFL season with a red zone touchdown percentage of roughly 45.5%, which placed them among the bottom tier of the league.

Dallas has been middle of the pack in redzone efficiency for years....

Over the last five seasons (2021–2025), the Dallas Cowboys' Red Zone efficiency experienced significant fluctuations, peaking at an elite level early in the decade before becoming highly volatile.Their Red Zone touchdown (TD) percentages are as follows:2025: 65.2%
(11th in NFL)2024:
50.0% (27th in NFL)2023
: 56.3% (14th in NFL)2022:
71.4% (leading the NFL for stretches)2021: 63.6% (6th in NFL)

gimmesix · May 30, 2026

DallasEast said:
Not gonna lie. I read your reply and got interested enough to stop from leaving on an errand and quickly put together the same post using Denver (even though I said I won't do the same for other teams earlier, lol).

Both teams' offenses performed at or above their average third-down conversion rate (Denver record 3-1)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
2
44.4
@IND
46.2
L 28-29
7
11
5
11
46.7
KAN
38.5
W 22-19
5
11
0
13
46.7
@WAS
47.1
W 27-26 (OT)
6
17
0
20
50.0
BUF
66.7
W 33-30 (OT)
6
13
3

Both offenses performed below their season average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 8-1)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
1
40.0
TEN
14.3
W 20-12
5
9
6
5
31.3
@PHI
18.2
W 21-17
8
12
3
6
33.3
@NYJ
13.3
W 13-11
3
9
0
7
30.8
NYG
40.0
W 33-32
8
15
2
9
40.0
@HOU
17.6
W 18-15
6
9
0
10
33.3
LVR
26.7
W 10-7
5
5
0
15
36.4
GNB
46.2
W 34-26
4
15
2
18
33.3
LAC
35.0
W 19-3
7
6
0
21
28.6
NWE
33.3
L 7-10
3
8
0

Denver's offense performed below their season average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed above their season average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 0-2)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
3
15.4
@LAC
47.1
L 20-23
3
5
1
16
35.7
JAX
53.3
L 20-34
5
14
2

Denver's offense performed above their average 3D conversion rate & their opponent's offense performed below their average 3D conversion rate (Denver record 4-0)

Week Denver-3D% Opp Opp3D% Result Rsh Pass Pen
4
57.1
CIN
18.2
W 28-3
11
17
1
8
62.5
DAL
36.4
W 44-24
8
15
2
14
58.3
@LVR
33.3
W 24-17
11
14
2
17
61.1
@KAN
36.4
W 20-13
9
12
1

Gotta run. I'll check back later.

Interesting to see. The only time they weren't good is when they performed below and their opponent performed above ... but that only happened twice. Of course, Dallas was 0-3-1 in those situations, so generally it looks like you are going to lose when that happens.

Dallas had fewer games where it performed below its average (8 to 11 for Denver), but Denver was 8-3 in those games while Dallas was 2-5-1, which emphasizes the fact that we didn't have a defense to pick us up when the offense was down.

big dog cowboy · May 30, 2026

Coogiguy03 said:
Red zone scoring too!

Please watch the games.

Dallas Offense Must Improve For 2026

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