Among The Weaklings

[Shake_Tiller]

Nobody should argue the Cowboys have played anything but a weak schedule, but they aren’t outliers among teams that haven’t lost this year. And this is probably a function of a season in which the NFL’s vaunted parity has taken a large hit – so far.

Seven teams are 3-0. The combined record of their opponents is a dismal 12-41. The combined opponent record of each 3-0 team is below .500. The Rams (4-5) and the Packers (3-5) fare the best by this measure. The Patriots’ opponents are 0-9. The Bills and 49ers opponents are both 1-8. The Cowboys opponents are 1-7 (pending the Commanders Monday night game). Chiefs opponents are 3-6.

The combined opponent record of the 2-0-1 Lions is 2-6-1.

Six NFL teams have lost every game they’ve played. Arizona is 0-2-1. Nearly half the league’s teams (15) either have yet to lose or have yet to win. It is unsurprising, then, that the teams that haven’t lost have played a slate of games against teams whose records are dismal.

To some extent, NFL teams appear to have embraced an NBA-style rebuilding strategy. If you are in the lower half of the league, better to collect draft picks and hit bottom than to fumble around for years in that lower strata. That’s not entirely true, of course, and the NFL is different (teams move from worst to first frequently without hitting bottom), but teams such as the Dolphins and Raiders have traded some of their best talent.

Beyond that, players have become more aggressive in forcing their way out of what they consider bad situations (and that usually means the team they want to leave isn’t very good).

Bottom line: If you point to the weakness of the Cowboys’ opposition, understand that they aren’t alone in having played such a schedule.

 

[pugilist]

Once again, absolute BS. Yes, Miami was an “easy” win. But not NYG and WASH

It’s like everyone went and forgot how hard divisional games are in the NFL.

 

[glimmerman]

Once again, absolute BS. Yes, Miami was an “easy” win. But not NYG and WASH

It’s like everyone went and forgot how hard divisional games are in the NFL.

And 2 of our 3 games were division games.

 

[viman96]

When people complain or try to justify the 3-0 start, I just think to myself, meh, that is a you problem. Dallas currently has a 2 games lead with 2 divisional wins. The Eagles schedule has been soft. Bet they wish they were in the same position as Dallas. Instead the fanbase is ready to tear the franchise apart. Take it how ever you want to take it. At the end of the year it all shakes out when teams are jockeying for playoff position.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Once again, absolute BS. Yes, Miami was an “easy” win. But not NYG and WASH

It’s like everyone went and forgot how hard divisional games are in the NFL.

I don't disagree at all. My point is that, given the way the NFL season has played out to date, nearly every winning team is likely to have played a schedule against opponents whose records are poor. And I don't think the Commanders or Giants are among the worst 3-5 teams in the league, as has been intimated here.

 

[GenoT]

Once again, absolute BS. Yes, Miami was an “easy” win. But not NYG and WASH

It’s like everyone went and forgot how hard divisional games are in the NFL.

Yeah...just ask the Pats how hard div games against weak teams are.

 

[shabazz]

Yeah...just ask the Pats how hard div games against weak teams are.

and our Quarterback is better than theirs.....

 

[CF74]

Maybe the Pats are so good because they play inferior teams the majority of the season, eh...

 

[VACowboy]

NE plays a weak schedule every year. There are no asterisks by any of their championships.

Win and nobody remembers who you played.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

I didn't expect this. I have said for years New England has benefited mightily from the weakness of its division opponents, but that doesn't appear to be entirely true.

The Patriots have won their division every year since 2009. From 2009-2018, the combined record of the other teams in their division was 209-271.

The combined record of the non-division winners from the NFC East during that same period was 208-271-1.

The Patriots won 10 or more each of those 10 seasons. Three AFC East Wild Card teams won 10 or more games during that same period.

The NFC East division winner one 10 or more games in eight of the 10 seasons. An NFC Wild Card team won 10 or more games 4 times.

The AFC East had 13 10-game winners the last decade. The NFC East had 14. But one might argue, had the Patriots not been so good, another AFC East team might have managed 10 wins, at some point.

Curiosity led me to look this up, and I didn't expect the result. But it does appear the perceived weakness of the AFC East is somewhat overblown merely because the Patriots have been so dominant.

 

[Risen Star]

The Cowboys have a soft early schedule and a much harder end. The Eagles have a hard first half and a pretty easy December. So the Cowboys pretty much have to get out to a lead these first two months to win this division. Unless the Eagles completely collapse. Which is possible.

 

[LandryFan]

I don't disagree at all. My point is that, given the way the NFL season has played out to date, nearly every winning team is likely to have played a schedule against opponents whose records are poor. And I don't think the Commanders or Giants are among the worst 3-5 teams in the league, as has been intimated here.

One must also take into account that the winners greatly contributed to the losers being losers. If NYG had beaten Dallas, they would be 2-1 and tied for the division lead (technically in the lead based on H-2-H win) right now. But they didn't.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

The Cowboys have a soft early schedule and a much harder end. The Eagles have a hard first half and a pretty easy December. So the Cowboys pretty much have to get out to a lead these first two months to win this division. Unless the Eagles completely collapse. Which is possible.

Agreed. One danger for the Eagles is the age of their roster. Older players are more likely to get injured and worn down as the season progresses. The Eagles entered the season with 7 of their starting 22 north of 30 years old. That is a lot of age. The Cowboys had just 3 such players, including the FB and SLB who are part-time players in today's game. Injuries are partly a function of luck, but that isn't entirely true. An older roster might struggle to take advantage of later-season opportunities.

And something has seemed off about the Eagles chemistry the past couple of years. Maybe that's just a product of the injury bug. But that seems to be a team that could come part at the seams.

 

[dallasfan4lizife]

The Cowboys have a soft early schedule and a much harder end. The Eagles have a hard first half and a pretty easy December. So the Cowboys pretty much have to get out to a lead these first two months to win this division. Unless the Eagles completely collapse. Which is possible.

They have 4 divisional games to finish the season. Not necessarily a cake walk...

 

[Risen Star]

They have 4 divisional games to finish the season. Not necessarily a cake walk...

Our division sucks, bro.

 

[Future]

Tangent, but there is plenty of parity in this league.

Some 80% of the league has absolutely no chance of competing for a title. Quibbling over average vs. terrible when everyone is bad is pretty meaningless.

 

[dallasfan4lizife]

Our division sucks, bro.

But you just said the Eagles would sweep up at the end of the year, so by default you're admitting the Cowboys and Eagles are quality teams. That's half the division. Daniel Jones will add some firepower to the Giants as well. Commanders will beat Chicago tonight. You speak with as if these are definite prophecies lol. I think our division is mediocre, so I can't say the Eagles will be much threat to our record come December.

 

[Established1971]

Nobody should argue the Cowboys have played anything but a weak schedule, but they aren’t outliers among teams that haven’t lost this year. And this is probably a function of a season in which the NFL’s vaunted parity has taken a large hit – so far.

Seven teams are 3-0. The combined record of their opponents is a dismal 12-41. The combined opponent record of each 3-0 team is below .500. The Rams (4-5) and the Packers (3-5) fare the best by this measure. The Patriots’ opponents are 0-9. The Bills and 49ers opponents are both 1-8. The Cowboys opponents are 1-7 (pending the Commanders Monday night game). Chiefs opponents are 3-6.

The combined opponent record of the 2-0-1 Lions is 2-6-1.

Six NFL teams have lost every game they’ve played. Arizona is 0-2-1. Nearly half the league’s teams (15) either have yet to lose or have yet to win. It is unsurprising, then, that the teams that haven’t lost have played a slate of games against teams whose records are dismal.

To some extent, NFL teams appear to have embraced an NBA-style rebuilding strategy. If you are in the lower half of the league, better to collect draft picks and hit bottom than to fumble around for years in that lower strata. That’s not entirely true, of course, and the NFL is different (teams move from worst to first frequently without hitting bottom), but teams such as the Dolphins and Raiders have traded some of their best talent.

Beyond that, players have become more aggressive in forcing their way out of what they consider bad situations (and that usually means the team they want to leave isn’t very good).

Bottom line: If you point to the weakness of the Cowboys’ opposition, understand that they aren’t alone in having played such a schedule.

true but most of the people who mention the easy schedule are simply saying that their excitement is tempered for the moment and once they see a good win against a "good" team they will feel a bit better about their hopes for the season

 

[CowboyRoy]

When people complain or try to justify the 3-0 start, I just think to myself, meh, that is a you problem. Dallas currently has a 2 games lead with 2 divisional wins. The Eagles schedule has been soft. Bet they wish they were in the same position as Dallas. Instead the fanbase is ready to tear the franchise apart. Take it how ever you want to take it. At the end of the year it all shakes out when teams are jockeying for playoff position.

Not sure why its so hard for people to deal with reality. I was a soft schedule, but we came out and dominated every opponent like we should. Regardless, plenty of things can be derived from the results.

My biggest concern was the Eagles and at 1-2 we already have a two game lead.

 

[ghst187]

Once again, absolute BS. Yes, Miami was an “easy” win. But not NYG and WASH

It’s like everyone went and forgot how hard divisional games are in the NFL.

The Pats and that division says hello