Comparison: against teams with winning records in 2009...

[ScipioCowboy]

I wasn't really making a point. I was looking for someone to make one for me. Adam did.

Actually, I think you did make a valid point. Obviously, Adam is correct in his assessment regarding the shortcomings of the stat in question.

However, you used the stat as a means of comparison between two teams, and you applied it evenly. In my opinion, based on your information, it's fair to say that the Chargers have performed better against the top teams on their schedule than the Cowboys have.

Let me reiterate: Adam is right. But your point is perfectly valid.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

and if we beat New York, they would be one game above .500 and losers of 6 of 7

not exactly beating a winning team

 

[CowboysFanStore]

Cowboys should be fine in this game. I think New York woke them up!!

 

[Bleu Star]

Let me reiterate: Adam is right. But your point is perfectly valid.

Roger that.

 

[Apollo Creed]

and if we beat New York, they would be one game above .500 and losers of 6 of 7

not exactly beating a winning team

Bingo.

Barely beat the Chiefs and Commanders too.

13-3, 8-4, FTW!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Bingo.

Barely beat the Chiefs and Commanders too.

13-3, 8-4, FTW!

I don't think we're on the same wave-length here

 

[Apollo Creed]

I don't think we're on the same wave-length here

We aren't.

I'm just being a *******.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

We aren't.

I'm just being a *******.

:laugh2:

 

[mldardy]

Comparison: against teams in the NFL in 2009:

8-4.

That's all I care about.

 

[Bleu Star]

Comparison: against teams in the NFL in 2009:

8-4.

That's all I care about.

Ok. Thanks for playing...

 

[Apollo Creed]

Comparison: against teams in the NFL in 2009:

8-4.

That's all I care about.

Roger that El Capitan Obvio.

We're 8-3 against teams on days when I get really hammered and abuse prescription drugs.

Rufus wasn't straight last Sunday, didn't affect the outcome.

 

[AdamJT13]

Okay so we're 1-4 against teams that don't **** ***.

And we're 7-0 against teams that do **** ***.

Spin that, spinmaster.

It's not about spin, it's about a flawed stat. I've said the exact same thing about that stat when it worked against our record and when it didn't affect our record.

But you're doing the same thing. We beat a team, so they must be terrible. We lost to another team, so they must not be terrible -- but if we had beaten them, they would be terrible. Brilliant theory, brilliantmaster.

 

[CF74]

It's not about spin, it's about a flawed stat. I've said the exact same thing about that stat when it worked against our record and when it didn't affect our record.

But you're doing the same thing. We beat a team, so they must be terrible. We lost to another team, so they must not be terrible -- but if we had beaten them, they would be terrible. Brilliant theory, brilliantmaster.

Ok, not that you'll actually do this but how 'bout a stat for the entire season of the last 3 years? Winning records vs losing records...

 

[Hoofbite]

Did you even read the rest of what I wrote?

Let's say we play a team that is 6-6. If we win the game, that team is 6-7, and it doesn't count as a win over a team with a "winning record." But if we lose, that team is 7-6, and it counts as a loss to a team with a "winning record." It's the SAME TEAM either way. But it only counts as a game against a "winning team" if you lose. That makes no sense.

Because we lost twice to the Giants, both games count in this flawed stat. If we had swept the Giants or split, NEITHER game would count.

If we had lost to the Falcons, that game would count (they'd be 7-5). But because we won, it doesn't count (they're only 6-6).

It's not a difficult concept. Unless you remove the games against the team in question, you're creating a flawed, self-fulfilling stat.

If you consider only teams that have a winning record against the rest of the league -- not including our games -- we're actually 2-2 against winning teams. We beat the Eagles (8-3) and Falcons (6-5) but lost to the Packers (8-4) and Broncos (7-4).

I don't think whether or not an opposite outcome would swing the numbers is a really good reason to simply shrug the stats off. I understand why someone would but I don't think it's looking at the entire picture. Sure, the win %s are impacted but here's how I'm looking at it.

If the opposite outcome would swing a team from winning % to losing % or vice versa, we're talking about a win vs a loss against an average team. It's the teams in the middle that have the possibility to flip like that. No matter how you wanna slice it, irrespective of outcome that team is average.

If you want to be a team toward the top at the end of the season, you really can't stumble more than you succeed when it comes to playing the average teams.

 

[CCBoy]

An insight that could be used is the fact that the wins against both Philadelphia and the Giants, floundering then, both teams had sizeable advantages in total yardage against the Chargers. This being before the routes of both team were closer to the pack hunt.

 

[BIGDen]

Aside from 3 of those 4 losses being on the road, which is always tougher, NOBODY has "whooped us" this year. We've lost, but all of the games could have gone either way. All of the games were tight. We blew leads against the Giants in both games and against Denver. That Green Bay game was bizarre. We score a defensive TD and it's called back because of a ticky tack call on a Mickens. Then we recover our fumble only to have it ripped out of our player's hands while he was down which led to their TD. That's a 14 point swing. 2 of the teams were desperate to save their seasons.
Nobody has kicked our butts. We often beat ourselves as much as anything if we lose.
There are no guarantees that we win, but there's a good chance it's at least a good game (and we have won most of our games at home).

 

[AKATheRake]

This year our Cowboys are a stellar 1-4 against teams with winning records. In stark contrast, the Chargers are 3-1 against the same variable. Can someone help me gain some confidence that we won't get whooped in our own house on Sunday?

2 of our 4 losses are to the same team who is also a division rival. SD is an AFC team who our HC knows extremely well personnel wise.

 

[Kevinicus]

So...if one team has a better record against good teams, and another one has a worse record, but they both have relatively similar over all records...Does that mean the team with the better "good team" record has a worse "bad team" record??

What does that tell you? IMO, not much.

 

[WarDaddy]

In my recollection, this team hasn't beaten a playoff team outside of the division since the Green Bay game in 2007.

This troubles me. When people like JJT write that this is a good/average team and not a great team it hurts to read it but the facts and record bear it out.

It disappoints me to come to this realization but the Cowboys just can't seem to beat the league's better teams.

I feel that we will lose 3 of the next 4. Last week showed me that. Now, the games will be close and there will be times where it looks like a win is in store but the end result will be a big, fat heart-breaking L.

I desperately want to be wrong.

 

[Bleu Star]

In my recollection, this team hasn't beaten a playoff team outside of the division since the Green Bay game in 2007.

This troubles me. When people like JJT write that this is a good/average team and not a great team it hurts to read it but the facts and record bear it out.

It disappoints me to come to this realization but the Cowboys just can't seem to beat the league's better teams.

I feel that we will lose 3 of the next 4. Last week showed me that. Now, the games will be close and there will be times where it looks like a win is in store but the end result will be a big, fat heart-breaking L.

I desperately want to be wrong.

Nice post. Me too man...