Do the Cowboys actually belong in the playoffs?

[Blitzen]

I was watching this week's games and several things stood out. The biggest being the lack of STUPID penalties, and stupid ones at the wrong time. Looking at last night's game you didn't see false starts, too many men on the field, illegal procedures etc etc?? If that were us, I could see us finishing our game with the high usual amount of penalties!! You can't win games like that. These teams showed me a lot and how they're well coached. Something isn't being hammered into these players in Dallas about how penalties affect the game!

I also watched these teams make plays when they need to on offense or defense. The play makers on offense, guys on the DL making plays, secondary playing good coverage at times. It wasn't all perfect, but when you look at us and compare these teams, we're ages away from where they are! We can say we have a Superbowl team, but when will these players act like it! Please give your thoughts

This core has been in the playoffs several times in the past decade. The best team that I recall was the 2016 team. Of the three 12-5 teams, I believe 2022 was the best-defense played extremely well those playoffs. Why is it so interesting to be a top 14 (likely to be 16 soon) team? Basically half the league now makes it in. The only true contenders are going to play this coming weekend. The goal of this front office is to be close or make it in those top 14 teams because that’s the big sell. Around the rim-in perpetuity.

 

[MyFairLady]

Pretty sure the last time I saw them actually make the playoffs was the Green Bay debacle so I would say the answer is a hard no.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

This team is light years from a serious playoff team.

 

[Bobhaze]

I was watching this week's games and several things stood out. The biggest being the lack of STUPID penalties, and stupid ones at the wrong time. Looking at last night's game you didn't see false starts, too many men on the field, illegal procedures etc etc?? If that were us, I could see us finishing our game with the high usual amount of penalties!! You can't win games like that. These teams showed me a lot and how they're well coached. Something isn't being hammered into these players in Dallas about how penalties affect the game!

I also watched these teams make plays when they need to on offense or defense. The play makers on offense, guys on the DL making plays, secondary playing good coverage at times. It wasn't all perfect, but when you look at us and compare these teams, we're ages away from where they are! We can say we have a Superbowl team, but when will these players act like it! Please give your thoughts

No.

IMO - We have to stop thinking “our offense was good enough but the defense wasn’t”….

Why? We don’t yet have a complimentary roster and coaching staff with an aligned philosophy. In short, this team is still searching for its vision.

This off-season is so critical. If the team can get realigned in its purpose it doesn’t take that long to improve in this league.

 

[Cmac]

Not with our Defense. This weekends games proved that the gap in talent between Dallas's Def and the playoff teams defenses is substantial and by saying substantial, I am being kind.

No one in the playoffs had a defense as generous as ours. More generous than the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and the Peace Corp. What are we talking about on this thread?

 

[shabazz]

If we can get our defence to at least average, yes with how good our offense is

Yup. 4 new above average players being added to this defense can get them top 16.......which at least gets them competitive.

Like I posted in another thread, the Bills were #4 in total offense and # 7 in total defense and they were still dispatched with because of mental and physical errors

 

[shabazz]

No one in the playoffs had a defense as generous as ours. More generous than the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and the Peace Corp. What are we talking about on this thread?

.....and UNICEF

 

[thunderpimp91]

No chance. Just look at the teams that played this past weekend. The QB play is mostly bad but teams are making runs though strong defenses. The Cowboys build rosters to sell tickets and be the lead subject on ESPN, not win meaningful games. Until they get serious about fielding a legitimate defense this team will not be playoff ready.

 

[Gangsta Spanksta]

Having a good regular season offense does not mean you will have a good playoff offense. People keep assuming it just caries over, when in the past it hasn't.

 

[IndieCowboy]

Everyone blames the defense when the true story is that this organization is rotted from the head all the way down that includes HC, DC, GM, everything.

Most of us older guys will never ever again see the Cowboys win anything in the postseason much less a Super Bowl.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Yup. 4 new above average players being added to this defense can get them top 16.......which at least gets them competitive.

Like I posted in another thread, the Bills were #4 in total offense and # 7 in total defense and they were still dispatched with because of mental and physical errors

Exactly, and especially if we can get the playoffs games at home, this team has a chance IF we can get the defence at least average (provided that our offense is still dynamic and that Aubrey gets back to being automatic)

 

[Bob-Lillys-War]

Not with Dak .

 

[kskboys]

I was watching this week's games and several things stood out. The biggest being the lack of STUPID penalties, and stupid ones at the wrong time. Looking at last night's game you didn't see false starts, too many men on the field, illegal procedures etc etc?? If that were us, I could see us finishing our game with the high usual amount of penalties!! You can't win games like that. These teams showed me a lot and how they're well coached. Something isn't being hammered into these players in Dallas about how penalties affect the game!

I also watched these teams make plays when they need to on offense or defense. The play makers on offense, guys on the DL making plays, secondary playing good coverage at times. It wasn't all perfect, but when you look at us and compare these teams, we're ages away from where they are! We can say we have a Superbowl team, but when will these players act like it! Please give your thoughts

No.

 

[McKDaddy]

I think it has a bit more. Plus, we had a lot more variation than the last several years on offense.

go back and watch the games where we were shut down. defenses sat on our tendencies and we couldn't \ didn't throw anything different at them.

 

[McKDaddy]

IMO - We have to stop thinking “our offense was good enough but the defense wasn’t”…

Bingo. All of it has to be better.

 

[Cmac]

.....and UNICEF

Yep.....thanks shabazz, and I should have mentioned...."more generous, combined". Should have mentioned the Jerry Lewis Telethons. A week out after examining the schedule, opponents were calling in for excessive yardage, TDs, rest week for the punter, and player of the week nominees. Our D was extremely generous and giving.

 

[Catpappy]

Crap Defense and Red Zone problems.

 

[Bob-Lillys-War]

Lawrence was right , this team is garbage .

 

[thunderpimp91]

Having a good regular season offense does not mean you will have a good playoff offense. People keep assuming it just caries over, when in the past it hasn't.

Its crazy to me that people can watch the last couple weeks of football and just assume the Cowboys offense could put up 30+ on the scoreboard. Its a different game once the playoffs start. Defenses mostly control the outcomes, red zone issues and penalties get magnified. A lot of the areas the Cowboys struggle in is where post season games are won and lost. This team isnt far off from playoff football. They do need some serious roster reconstruction to have playoff success.

 

[KingCorcoran]

I was watching this week's games and several things stood out. The biggest being the lack of STUPID penalties, and stupid ones at the wrong time. Looking at last night's game you didn't see false starts, too many men on the field, illegal procedures etc etc?? If that were us, I could see us finishing our game with the high usual amount of penalties!! You can't win games like that. These teams showed me a lot and how they're well coached. Something isn't being hammered into these players in Dallas about how penalties affect the game!

I also watched these teams make plays when they need to on offense or defense. The play makers on offense, guys on the DL making plays, secondary playing good coverage at times. It wasn't all perfect, but when you look at us and compare these teams, we're ages away from where they are! We can say we have a Superbowl team, but when will these players act like it! Please give your thoughts

No.