Cowboys Top 10 All Time Offensive & Defensive Ranks

[Hostile]

Offense

1. 1966, 31.8 ppg
2. 1968, 30.8 ppg
3. 1983, 29.9 ppg
4. 1971, 28.9 ppg
T5. 2007, 28.4 ppg
T5. 1980, 28.4 ppg
T5. 1962, 28.4 ppg
8. 1973, 27.3 ppg
9. 1995, 27.2 ppg
10. 2006, 26.6 ppg


Defense

1. 1978, 13.0 ppg
2. 1968, 13.3 ppg
3. 1976, 13.9 ppg
4. 1993, 14.3 ppg
5. 1973, 14.5 ppg
6. 1977, 15.1 ppg
7. 1992, 15.2 ppg
8. 1994, 15.5 ppg
9. 1996, 15.6 ppg
10. 1970, 15.8 ppg

 

[theogt]

Are we going to have 20 pages of points per game vs. points per possession discussion again?

 

[Achozen]

Meh...

 

[percyhoward]

Are we going to have 20 pages of points per game vs. points per possession discussion again?

Will anyone ever again try to say that 18 points on 9 possessions translates into 24 points on 12?

In a game?

 

[percyhoward]

Offense

1. 1966, 31.8 ppg
2. 1968, 30.8 ppg
3. 1983, 29.9 ppg
4. 1971, 28.9 ppg
T5. 2007, 28.4 ppg
T5. 1980, 28.4 ppg
T5. 1962, 28.4 ppg
8. 1973, 27.3 ppg
9. 1995, 27.2 ppg
10. 2006, 26.6 ppg


Defense

1. 1978, 13.0 ppg
2. 1968, 13.3 ppg
3. 1976, 13.9 ppg
4. 1993, 14.3 ppg
5. 1973, 14.5 ppg
6. 1977, 15.1 ppg
7. 1992, 15.2 ppg
8. 1994, 15.5 ppg
9. 1996, 15.6 ppg
10. 1970, 15.8 ppg

Using raw numbers, there are some great teams that get left out.

The offenses in 1977-78 were as good as any in the league at that time, ranking either #1 or #2 in yards and points scored. They don't make this list because it was an era of low scoring. Conversely, the '83 offense comes out as the Cowboys' 3rd all-time best, but was only ranked #5 back in 1983.

And then there's the 2003 defense.

On second thought, that one's probably not a grave oversight.

 

[AdamJT13]

Will anyone ever again try to say that 18 points on 9 possessions translates into 24 points on 12?

In a game?

It does if the performance level is the same.

 

[burmafrd]

This just goes to show you how ranking Defenses on total yards does not really tell the tale. Of course we KNOW that since the 2003 D was supposedly #1 in the league and we ALL know that it was not even close.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

this D just might get into the mix Hos.

 

[goliadmike]

Thanks Hos. So, the 68 and 73 teams were our best overall. I would have thought the 77 offense would have been on the top ten list.

 

[THUMPER]

Thanks Hos. So, the 68 and 73 teams were our best overall. I would have thought the 77 offense would have been on the top ten list.

I always felt that our 1968 team was the best we ever had. Losing to the Browns the way we did just crushed me. I still believe that we would have beaten the Colts in the NFL Championship Game and then the Jets in the SB that year, we were that good.

We were 2-deep at almost every position and had a good mix of veterans and young players. Great speed, size, talent, and we were starting to really gel as a team. I used to kinda like the Browns until that playoff game, after that I hated them and have ever since.

This season could be the same if we choke in the playoffs again (God forbid!!!)

 

[Romo2Dez4six]

great info hos hopefully 2008 Offense and Defense will take the top

 

[joseephuss]

This just goes to show you how ranking Defenses on total yards does not really tell the tale. Of course we KNOW that since the 2003 D was supposedly #1 in the league and we ALL know that it was not even close.

Closer than some are willing to give them credit. They ranked very high in a lot of categories that season. I never saw them as #1 because of specific weaknesses that needed to be addressed, but that was a good defense. It is too bad that they didn't improve those weak parts such as nose tackle, Ekuban and Mario Edwards. Instead the next season they picked up even worse players to take over those positions and then unfortunately lost Darren Woodson to injury.

 

[Hostile]

The interesting thing to me is that when I think of the 92 thru 96 teams who won three Super Bowls and were automatic contenders, I immediately think of the Triplets. Yet only one of those Offenses is in the top 10 in scoring while 4 of those 5 teams are in the top Defensive teams we've ever had.

Also 5 of our 8 Super Bowl teams are represented in the top 10 Defensive performances in our History, but only 2 of 8 are represented in the top 10 Offensive performances. Only the 1975 Super Bowl X team is not in either list.

 

[goliadmike]

The interesting thing to me is that when I think of the 92 thru 96 teams who won three Super Bowls and were automatic contenders, I immediately think of the Triplets. Yet only one of those Offenses is in the top 10 in scoring while 4 of those 5 teams are in the top Defensive teams we've ever had.

Also 5 of our 8 Super Bowl teams are represented in the top 10 Defensive performances in our History, but only 2 of 8 are represented in the top 10 Offensive performances. Only the 1975 Super Bowl X team is not in either list.

So Hos, what you're saying is defense wins championships. Where have I heard that before? Looking back the 92-96 offense it really was a grind it out wear you down offense.

I think for this year our defense has to improve or we'll get bumped early from the playoffs again. I wasn't that broken up over the loss in Seattle two years ago because I didn't expect them to play well you could see that defense didn't have faith in the system and was exposed (I think they quit on Parcells and Zimmer). Last year was disappointing and this year if they fail in the playoffs I'll be crushed. Other than injuries this team this year have no excuses to lose!

 

[Hostile]

So Hos, what you're saying is defense wins championships. Where have I heard that before? Looking back the 92-96 offense it really was a grind it out wear you down offense.

I think for this year our defense has to improve or we'll get bumped early from the playoffs again. I wasn't that broken up over the loss in Seattle two years ago because I didn't expect them to play well you could see that defense didn't have faith in the system and was exposed (I think they quit on Parcells and Zimmer). Last year was disappointing and this year if they fail in the playoffs I'll be crushed. Other than injuries this team this year have no excuses to lose!

There is no excuse for this Defense not to be great. I know where they are drafted should not matter but when there are that many 1st round picks on one side of the ball...it should matter.

Ellis, Spears, Ware, Spencer, Carpenter, Newman, Williams, Jenkins, and Jones are all 1st round picks.

 

[goliadmike]

Ellis, Spears, Ware, Spencer, Carpenter, Newman, Williams, Jenkins, and Jones are all 1st round picks.

Add in the fact that this is Wade's second year with this defense and he has had a chance to hire the coaches of his choice, the defense should be dominant. Our year hinges on this.

 

[lurkercowboy]

The 1996 defense has always been underrated in my opinion. Deion and Kevin Smith, (even post-injury) were an outstanding CB tandem. If Haley had remained healthy that year it would have been even better.

 

[percyhoward]

It does if the performance level is the same.

It would if performance level were the same.

Performance level usually isn't the same, as your research showed. So 18 points on 9 possessions usually doesn't translate into 24 points on 12.

 

[percyhoward]

I would have thought the 77 offense would have been on the top ten list.

It should be at or near the top. The lists use raw numbers, instead of league ranking for that year, so they don't take the nature of the different eras into account.

More examples of comparing cross-era:

Career Passer Rating
Mark Brunell 84.2
Roger Staubach 83.4

Yearly Presidential Salary
George Bush $400,000
George Washington $25,000.

 

[yeahyeah]

It should be at or near the top. The lists use raw numbers, instead of league ranking for that year, so they don't take the nature of the different eras into account.

More examples of comparing cross-era:

Career Passer Rating
Mark Brunell 84.2
Roger Staubach 83.4

Yearly Presidential Salary
George Bush $400,000
George Washington $25,000.

I think Washington made a little less than that 25K is more like Truman or Roosevelt.
But effective point