Dallas Defense
Points Allowed Per Drive
2014
60.5% when leading 1.86
23.3% when trailing 2.10
16.2% when tied 1.75
avg points on all drives 1.89
2015
42.2% when leading 1.94
29.9% when trailing 2.17
27.9% when tied 1.67
avg points on all drives 1.93
The first number indicates the percentage of total drives represented by that subset of drives. For example, in 2014, 60.5% of our opponents' possessions happened when the Cowboys were leading in the game. This year, we've only had the lead during 42.2% of our opponents' drives.
The number at the end of each line is the opponents' average points scored on that subset of drives. For example, in 2014, when we were leading in the game, we gave up 1.86 points per drive. This year when we've been leading we've allowed 1.94 points per drive. That's a difference of only about a point every 12 drives, or a point per game when we're leading.
The bottom line is the average points allowed on any drive, regardless of the score. We've allowed slightly more points per drive in 2015 (1.93) than in 2014 (1.89). We've given up slightly fewer points per game this year (20.1) than last year (20.6), because we've faced fewer drives due to our offense leading the NFL in time of average possession.
The one number that really surprised me was that we've been trailing in the game on less than 30% of our opponents' possessions this year. It seems like we were playing from behind more often than that, but it turns out we weren't. The average score margin at the beginning of an opponent's drive was actually a .01-point lead for Dallas (a tie game, in other words).
All of the above comes from information available at Pro Football Reference. These numbers only count scores by the opposing offense. No return touchdowns of any kind. (If you're wondering, I did not count the Saints' FG after the defense had forced a punt and the 12-man penalty on ST put them in FG range.) Most of the following is straight from Football Outsiders, who say we had the league's 16th-most difficult schedule of offenses to face this year, after facing the 2nd-easiest in 2014.
Opponents' Average Drive
starting field position
2014 26.8 yd line (13th)
2015 27.7 yd line (20th)
drive success rate
(percentage of down series that resulted in a 1st down)
2014 .702 (24th)
2015 .704 (20th)
yards
2014 32.5 (27th)
2015 32.5 (20th)
points per red zone possession
2014 4.90 (22nd)
2015 4.72 (8th)
punts
2014 .385 (25th)
2015 .442 (11th)
3-and-outs
2014 .207 (20th)
2015 .231 (13th)
turnovers
2014 .172 (1st)
2015 .064 (32nd)
If there were no such thing as turnovers, this year's defense would be better than last year's. For whatever that's worth.
points (drive did NOT end in a turnover)
2014 2.29
2015 2.12
If we don't get a takeaway against the Skins, the Cowboys' 11 takeaways would equal the fewest ever in a season, and also tie the record for most games in a season with no takeaways (9).
Like last year's defense, this year's gave up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. But the similarities end there. The 2014 defense was not good at all in the red zone, and depended on takeaways or keeping the opponent out of Dallas territory. The 2015 version has been more of a true bend-don't-break defense that starved for takeaways, and allowed the opponent into FG range more often, but then turned into one of the league's best in the red zone. This red zone success was aided by the fact that our opponents have been more conservative this year, running the ball on 55% of their plays as opposed to 42% last year in the red zone.
