Is a top 5 offense enough to make the playoffs?

[DuDa]

I saw a thread the other day by StarOfGlory that motivated me to do a little research of my own and see how deep teams got that possessed a top 5 offense. I went back 10 years and added up all the top 5 offensive teams that made the playoffs. I very excited to find that 36 out of 50 (72%) of those teams made the playoffs.

Some of you might be wondering how many of those 36 teams had a bottom 5 defense like the Cowboys will likely have. I was a little surprised to find that only 7 of 50 teams that possessed a top 5 offense and a bottom defense made the playoffs. Of those 7 teams, exactly zero has won or even appeared in a Super Bowl.

This whole stat thing just took a wrong turn for our Cowboys.

But wait, we have DeMarco Murray and a new offensive coordinator that will run the ball more to keep our putrid defense off the field. Nice try; only 2 of those 7 teams sported a top 5 running game.

There are lots of predictions from so called experts that like to chime in with their little opinions but I tend to look at the facts. The Cowboys MIGHT have a top 5 offense and probably have a bottom 5 defense. The last 10 years of statistics tells us the Cowboys only have a 14% chance of making the playoffs and a 0% chance of winning a Super Bowl.

I will hope and pray that our Cowboys can defy the odds but it doesn’t look very good at this point in time.

 

[StevenOtero]

It's enough to make the Super Bowl and get blown out by a team with a defense.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Obviously not. Dallas didnt last year and they were third in scoring. Although I think that stat is a little misleading as to how good our offense was last year. Gotta have a defense unless you got manning or Brady.

 

[DuDa]

It's enough to make the Super Bowl and get blown out by a team with a defense.

Well I agree that Denver had a poor defense last year but they were actually ranked 19th. Not great but not bottom 5.

 

[DuDa]

Obviously not. Dallas didnt last year and they were third in scoring. Although I think that stat is a little misleading as to how good our offense was last year. Gotta have a defense unless you got manning or Brady.

Or at least middle of the pack. If the Cowboys could some how manage to scratch and claw their way to a middle of the pack defense then they really have a chance to at least make a playoff appearance.

 

[Lonestar94]

Is a top 5 offense enough to withstand possibly the worst defense of all time? Probably not.

2012 Saints anyone?

 

[TrailBlazer]

Or at least middle of the pack. If the Cowboys could some how manage to scratch and claw their way to a middle of the pack defense then they really have a chance to at least make a playoff appearance.

Absolutely.

But I don't see the talent. Takeaways by our defense must be our saving grace to have any chance to win anything.

Points scored off turnovers provided by the defense will be crucial.

 

[Tabascocat]

In 3...2....1....

 

[slick325]

I saw a thread the other day by StarOfGlory that motivated me to do a little research of my own and see how deep teams got that possessed a top 5 offense. I went back 10 years and added up all the top 5 offensive teams that made the playoffs. I very excited to find that 36 out of 50 (72%) of those teams made the playoffs.

Some of you might be wondering how many of those 36 teams had a bottom 5 defense like the Cowboys will likely have. I was a little surprised to find that only 7 of 50 teams that possessed a top 5 offense and a bottom defense made the playoffs. Of those 7 teams, exactly zero has won or even appeared in a Super Bowl.

This whole stat thing just took a wrong turn for our Cowboys.

But wait, we have DeMarco Murray and a new offensive coordinator that will run the ball more to keep our putrid defense off the field. Nice try; only 2 of those 7 teams sported a top 5 running game.

There are lots of predictions from so called experts that like to chime in with their little opinions but I tend to look at the facts. The Cowboys MIGHT have a top 5 offense and probably have a bottom 5 defense. The last 10 years of statistics tells us the Cowboys only have a 14% chance of making the playoffs and a 0% chance of winning a Super Bowl.

I will hope and pray that our Cowboys can defy the odds but it doesn’t look very good at this point in time.

Interesting stuff DuDa. Thanks for the info and good job on the research. Btw, I'm too lazy to fact check ya so....

 

[DuDa]

I'm waiting for the sunshine crew with rose colored glasses to present some facts saying otherwise. For reals, I'm sort of depressed now, I didn't realize how bad our chances were. Maybe we need Tebow magic or something.

 

[StevenOtero]

I'm waiting for the sunshine crew with rose colored glasses to present some facts saying otherwise. For reals, I'm sort of depressed now, I didn't realize how bad our chances were. Maybe we need Tebow magic or something.

Sit back and enjoy the season. No matter what happens Football is back.

Ain't a damn thing we can do about the team, they've gotta let their nuts drop and get it done. If not.....we've already seen that movie.

 

[DuDa]

Sit back and enjoy the season. No matter what happens Football is back.

Ain't a damn thing we can do about the team, they've gotta let their nuts drop and get it done. If not.....we've already seen that movie.

Yea I hear ya. I will still watch, root, and wear all my lucky Cowboys gear but I sure am tired of the same old story.

 

[The Natural]

This team needs to do whatever it takes to play better than .500 football outside of the division to have any chance at the playoffs. It's ridiculous that a team who went 5-1 in the division watched the playoffs from home.

 

[StevenOtero]

Yea I hear ya. I will still watch, root, and wear all my lucky Cowboys gear but I sure am tired of the same old story.

We all are man. Even the head in sand fans are running out of excuses.

The way I see it: The offense is on the verge of being completely rebuilt. OL is almost done, WR's are stacked, RB's are a dime a dozen, and whoever our future QB is will have a good OL.

Defense is at least two years away from being good.

Anything we win with Romo is a bonus at this point.

 

[slick325]

Honestly, I'm of the "we'll see" crew. Football changes from year to year. No clue who will be good or bad from year to year for the most part. Never envisioned the 6-10 49ers of 2010 going 13-3 in 2011. Or the 7-9 Seahawks of 2011 going 11-5 in 2012. Or the 5-11 Skins of 2011 going 10-6 in 2012. The Colts went 2-14 in 2011 to 11-5 in 2012. The Chiefs were 2-14 in 2012 and 11-5 in 2013. The Eagles went from 4-12 in 2012 to 10-6 in 2013.The Panthers went from 7-9 in 2012 to 12-4 in 2013.

It's a year to year league for nearly everyone but the Pats thanks to their division. We'll see what the season holds soon enough for our Dallas Cowboys and if recent history has shown anything, it's that the 'Boys will likely be in the playoff race late in the season but again......we'll see.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Even Jerry knows this isn't a good team. I think he was sober when he was talking about that uphill battle thing.

Good way to start the season with SF & see what they do have. Or don't.

 

[TwoDeep3]

While I believe the Cowboys have some really talented people at the skill positions, I also think having to win shoot-outs each week will prove to be near impossible. Small mistakes become much larger when your team doesn't have a defense to stop the other guys. So critical turnovers and short fields will do this team in.

So my belief is this. I am skeptical this team will have a top 5 offense. Maybe top ten. But with any real defense, and this defe3nse will be as poor as last years, the Dallas offense will have so much pressure to succeed it will be one sevrice fault and out in most games. Hence my 5-11 prediction.

This game is built on balance. This defense has been built in a throw it at the wall and see what5 sticks mentality.

 

[Craig]

Maybe in the NFC East.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

While I believe the Cowboys have some really talented people at the skill positions, I also think having to win shoot-outs each week will prove to be near impossible. Small mistakes become much larger when your team doesn't have a defense to stop the other guys. So critical turnovers and short fields will do this team in.

So my belief is this. I am skeptical this team will have a top 5 offense. Maybe top ten. But with any real defense, and this defe3nse will be as poor as last years, the Dallas offense will have so much pressure to succeed it will be one sevrice fault and out in most games. Hence my 5-11 prediction.

This game is built on balance. This defense has been built in a throw it at the wall and see what5 sticks mentality.

Yea you're right. Shoot outs are tough to win.

I suspect most teams will want to run the ball down their throats & keep our o off the field. Although on second thought we have a suspect secondary.

 

[tyke1doe]

The offense was good enough last year to make playoffs with an extremely bad defense. So it's possible with a defense that's a little better. These are the variables though:

1. Will Romo's back hold up?
2. Will the offensive line get better?
3. Will the Cowboys run the ball?
4. Do we have the running personnel to support a run-oriented offense?
5. Will DeMarco Murray carry the load and will he get injured if he has to?
6. How good will other teams' offenses be? How improved will the teams we're playing be?

These are the critical questions that will determine if this offense can get to the playoff.

I say the offense won't be enough to get us into the playoffs. I just don't trust this current regime, my signature that needs updating, notwithstanding.