Enduring the burden of a bad defense

[percyhoward]

These are the seven teams with at least 8 playoff wins in the past decade, plus the Cowboys. Note that Dallas has a higher offensive passer rating than all but one team -- the only team that's played Dallas twice.

Also note that the Cowboys' defensive passer rating isn't in the same league as these other teams.

2006-16
Passer rating in playoffs
Packers 100.0
Cowboys 94.8
Giants 91.3
Seahawks 90.5
Patriots 87.2
Ravens 86.3
Steelers 82.1
Colts 80.9

2006-16
Opponent's passer rating in playoffs
Ravens 69.0
Giants 79.7
Patriots 80.4
Colts 84.0
Packers 85.6
Seahawks 86.5
Steelers 86.6
Cowboys 100.8

And of course, it isn't just the playoffs we're talking about.

All regular and postseason games since 2006
Cowboys' NFL rank
OFFENSE
comp % 2nd
yards 9th
TD 5th
pass rtg 5th

DEFENSE
comp % 23rd
yards 27th
TD 20th
pass rtg 27th

Averaging the Cowboys' NFL rank in three of the best defensive metrics -- points per drive, defensive passer rating, and drive success rate -- here's how we've ranked the last 7 regular seasons.

2016 20th
2015 19th
2014 18th
2013 29th
2012 27th
2011 22nd
2010 27th

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yep, we know the defense needs better personnel.

A couple "better" DE's, one "better" safety and a decent corner would go a long way to improving the overall performance.

 

[CATCH17]

I would take our defense over both of the remaining NFC teams defense.

 

[robjay04]

Yep, we know the defense needs better personnel.

A couple "better" DE's, one "better" safety and a decent corner would go a long way to improving the overall performance.

Assuming we have the same exact players next season...

I'm okay with the secondary assuming we add another player in the first 3 rounds. What we need is a DE or 3 that can get to the QB and another athletic LB with instincts.

Jaylon Smith, I pray this is you.

Oh and I hate you Rolando McClain.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Assuming we have the same exact players next season...

I'm okay with the secondary assuming we add another player in the first 3 rounds. What we need is a DE or 3 that can get to the QB and another athletic LB with instincts.

Jaylon Smith, I pray this is you.

Oh and I hate you Rolando McClain.

Realistic DE free-agent targets? I think both Allison from Car or Sheard from NE would be nice additions combined with an early round DE from the upcoming draft.

 

[Zordon]

I would take our defense over both of the remaining NFC teams defense.

Rodgers did the same thing to a really good defense last week.

Let's not make this rocket science. Proper gameday coaching and we win that game in a shootout.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I would take our defense over both of the remaining NFC teams defense.

 

[Doomsay]

Offense needed to be better in the first half, lets not forget that. Sure, we racked up a legitimate score in the end, but as bad as the defense was in the first half, the offense was equally inept.

 

[Idgit]

We knew this already, right?

 

[Doomsay]

These are the seven teams with at least 8 playoff wins in the past decade, plus the Cowboys. Note that Dallas has a higher offensive passer rating than all but one team -- the only team that's played Dallas twice.

Also note that the Cowboys' defensive passer rating isn't in the same league as these other teams.

2006-16
Passer rating in playoffs
Packers 100.0
Cowboys 94.8
Giants 91.3
Seahawks 90.5
Patriots 87.2
Ravens 86.3
Steelers 82.1
Colts 80.9

2006-16
Opponent's passer rating in playoffs
Ravens 69.0
Giants 79.7
Patriots 80.4
Colts 84.0
Packers 85.6
Seahawks 86.5
Steelers 86.6
Cowboys 100.8

And of course, it isn't just the playoffs we're talking about.

All regular and postseason games since 2006
Cowboys' NFL rank
OFFENSE
comp % 2nd
yards 9th
TD 5th
pass rtg 5th

DEFENSE
comp % 23rd
yards 27th
TD 20th
pass rtg 27th

Averaging the Cowboys' NFL rank in three of the best defensive metrics -- points per drive, defensive passer rating, and drive success rate -- here's how we've ranked the last 7 regular seasons.

2016 20th
2015 19th
2014 18th
2013 29th
2012 27th
2011 22nd
2010 27th

I wonder what the resource differentials were on these teams? We are certainly hugely overloaded on offense which has helped to mask our defensive weakness all season. The offense's anemic performance in the first half was antethetical to our game plan, especially against the worst defense left in the playoffs (injuries factored).

 

[vlad]

We knew this already, right?

Yeah, for years. That's so sad to see, we wasted a decade of having a top qb, hopefully we have another but don't waste his.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

This defense isnt bad and can become elite if Jaylon Smith gets back on the field and we find a dynamic RDE. Unfortunately weve saved our worst performances for the playoffs...

 

[J_Allen]

Rogers beat us again because we couldn't get any pressure on him. He did the same thing 2 years ago. Enough is enough. Fix the ******* defense.

 

[Doomsay]

The offense was equally to blame, they have 10x more talent and put us in a hole by not keeping up in the first half. That was the only way we were going to win.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Yeah, for years. That's so sad to see, we wasted a decade of having a top qb, hopefully we have another but don't waste his.

Exactly right. Nobody has won a SB with a bottom ten Def. Pass Rating and that's just about where we've been for ten years. I'm blown away how some people want the same people back next year. Draft and free agency are the only fixes at this point.

 

[percyhoward]

The offense was equally to blame, they have 10x more talent and put us in a hole by not keeping up in the first half. That was the only way we were going to win.

Yes, the offense has 10x more talent, and was the only way we were going to win.

 

[Doomsay]

Yes, the offense has 10x more talent, and was the only way we were going to win.

But they didn't do their job.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I blame Romo.

 

[percyhoward]

But they didn't do their job.

I wonder how much better than the defense we have the right to expect the offense to be.

 

[Doomsay]

I wonder how much better than the defense we have the right to expect the offense to be.

I don't know, perhaps the investment differential might be a starting point?