Does our 8-8 record help us with scheduling for 2020?

[Redball Express]

I keep trying to read the tea leaves this early in the process in of the McCatrthy Era.

Everybody is pointing at FA as the key to improvement..

some feel the draft is the key..

others think Supplimental Picks will top off the cake.

But I look at having gone 8-8 and what kind of schedule we come up with as being critical.

When we slumped in 2017 we got a softer schedule in 2018 and ran away with the NFC East and a playoff win against Seattle.

In 2013 we were grass-eating slugs and went to 12-4 in 2014 and the Packers kicked us in the gonads.

In 2015 we wandered the desert and got a great schedule from losing and got Dak and Zeke in the draft in 2016 and recaptured some polish.

Now 2019 has dealt a bust poker hand and pushed us down in the draft and should give us an easier schedule than 2018 did.

Does this make any sense or am I just making snow angels?



Your thoughts requested.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Only two games are determined by standings so while it makes a slight difference, it is not significant

 

[Bullflop]

Looks to me as though our schedule of this season is about the same difficulty as that of last year. I could be mistaken but I guess we'll see how it works out in due time. Despite that, here's hoping our coaching and whatever changes our talent takes might have us improving in 2020.
It's a tough call regarding the schedule but hopefully, the coaching and talent adjustments might eventually prove to stand us in good stead.

 

[jay94]

I believe someone said we have the 3rd easiest schedule, it sure did look soft. So yes.
The past 3 soft schedules we made the playoffs and will be 4th, the last 3 tough schedules we have missed.

 

[Tangle_Foot]

The 8 and 8 record helped because it pushed out Jason Garrett. This makes the job at hand much easier regardless of opponent.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

I believe someone said we have the 3rd easiest schedule, it sure did look soft. So yes.
The past 3 soft schedules we made the playoffs and will be 4th, the last 3 tough schedules we have missed.

Not buying that. The bengals is the easiest game, the rest not so much.

 

[Future]

Only two games are determined by standings so while it makes a slight difference, it is not significant

Considering that they missed the playoffs by 1 game, I'd say it's a huge win to dodge the Packers and Saints.

 

[SSoup]

I mean, we play 2nd place teams in two of the NFC divisions instead of 1st place teams. Vikings instead of Packers. Falcons instead of Saints (unless I'm mistaken about the tie-breaker between the 7-9 Falcons and 7-9 Bucs in the standings).

So it arguably makes our schedule easier than it would have been. In theory.

I do think the team bounces back after down years sometimes for psychological reasons. Largely because I think lots of our "down" times are self-inflicted because we stopped being hungry the minute we won a little bit and got full of ourselves.

Our team plays in a city and in an organization that is way too pleased with themselves. So when we start rolling and times are good, guys seem to think they've accomplished something because the culture around our team makes them think they're all gods the second they do anything. Put together a winning season and lots of our guys are smugly strutting around like they know it all, like, "Let me buy you a pack of gum, I'll show you how to chew it."

A lot of our guys basically give themselves a Super Bowl hangover without the bother of having to make it to the Super Bowl first. And then after getting embarrassed by reality for a year, some of the guys come back ready to get serious again -- for as long as it takes to start being praised so they can be full of themselves again.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Getting a new coaching staff means more than the schedule.

 

[Adreme]

I believe someone said we have the 3rd easiest schedule, it sure did look soft. So yes.
The past 3 soft schedules we made the playoffs and will be 4th, the last 3 tough schedules we have missed.

The thing about that schedule is it makes 2 assumptions that I would not take as fact:It assumes the Steelers will not bounce back when they are not starting their 3rd string QB and it assumes the NFC West will be bad.

 

[Redball Express]

I believe someone said we have the 3rd easiest schedule, it sure did look soft. So yes.
The past 3 soft schedules we made the playoffs and will be 4th, the last 3 tough schedules we have missed.

That was sort of what I thought.

Also Philly crashing in 2016 and 2018..allowed us to win those years.

In 2017 they won the NFC and a SB.

In 2019, beat us because we collapsed.

As much as many want to point to our winning the NFC East as the real Cowboys..

It's really been other teams gasping in the backstretch.

We have to stop believing our own propaganda.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

At the very least with our crappy division we should have 5 or 6 wins off the top.

 

[jay94]

Considering that they missed the playoffs by 1 game, I'd say it's a huge win to dodge the Packers and Saints.

Exactly one game means so much.

 

[jay94]

Not buying that. The bengals is the easiest game, the rest not so much.

No one ever does, but I point it out every time, and non believers every time. I guarantee we make the playoffs unless Dak gets hurt.

 

[starfan1]

Thought I read 3rd easiest schedule

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

No one ever does, but I point it out every time, and non believers every time. I guarantee we make the playoffs unless Dak gets hurt.

That's why they play the games.

 

[Established1971]

I keep trying to read the tea leaves this early in the process in of the McCatrthy Era.

Everybody is pointing at FA as the key to improvement..

some feel the draft is the key..

others think Supplimental Picks will top off the cake.

But I look at having gone 8-8 and what kind of schedule we come up with as being critical.

When we slumped in 2017 we got a softer schedule in 2018 and ran away with the NFC East and a playoff win against Seattle.

In 2013 we were grass-eating slugs and went to 12-4 in 2014 and the Packers kicked us in the gonads.

In 2015 we wandered the desert and got a great schedule from losing and got Dak and Zeke in the draft in 2016 and recaptured some polish.

Now 2019 has dealt a bust poker hand and pushed us down in the draft and should give us an easier schedule than 2018 did.

Does this make any sense or am I just making snow angels?



Your thoughts requested.

I'm gonna have to get used to the phrase "McCarthy era" as meaning something different than what Im used to.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Next year marks the new trend for Dallas 8-8-1

 

[Redball Express]

I'm gonna have to get used to the phrase "McCarthy era" as meaning something different than what Im used to.

You sir are a 'fossil'.

Be very careful.

If the Smithsonian reads this..

they will be knocking on your door with a tight white jacket.

Good day.

 

[Redball Express]

Thought I read 3rd easiest schedule

If that is true..

that's a big break for us.