Is this the Worst Defense in Cowboys History?

[Carolina Cowboy]

At this point, who cares. Listening to the game on the way back to NC from Miami yesterday, after Sean went down, I knew every time the Saints had the ball they would score. This defense sucks, this team sucks and this franchise sucks. Listening to Jerry psuedo-bemoan the fact that Ryan was fired epitomizes our cancer. What the Cowboys are makes me sick.

 

[bysbox1]

If they were healthy? No.
As they are as of today? They have to be in consideration

This is the same healthy defense that gave up 478 yards to the Giants on week one and 433 yards to the Commanders on week 6, both home games. They gave up 393 yards to the Vikings. The Vikings actually had more yards than the Cowboys.

I reserve "worst defense" in history until we get to the end of the season, but right now it does not look good.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

I dont really want to hear points scored talk the day after Payton took pity on this pathetic franchise. They could have scored 70.

 

[Venger]

If you have to ask the question, you likely already know the answer...

 

[DallasJ7]

The Cowboys are currently on pace to give up 7,037 yards - 5 yards shy of the all-time record set by the 2012 Saints. They are also on pace to give up 5,008 passing yards, which would obliterate the all-time record set by the 2011 Packers.

In the words of Magic 8-Ball: "All signs point to yes".

 

[DFWJC]

This is the same healthy defense that gave up 478 yards to the Giants on week one and 433 yards to the Commanders on week 6, both home games. They gave up 393 yards to the Vikings. The Vikings actually had more yards than the Cowboys.

I reserve "worst defense" in history until we get to the end of the season, but right now it does not look good.

Fair enough.
I was also referring to Spencer and Crawford too, but really, every team has injuires.

 

[T-RO]

We are like ~20th in points given up. Were not even the worst Cowboys defense of the last 12 months.

Huh?

28th in points allowed
32nd in yardage (20 yards per game worse than the 31st ranked team)

Anyone want to bet we don't end up 32nd in both categories?

Until Ryan lost Lee we had a top ten defense last year. Now Kiffie gets to see how he can go without Sean. 1st game returns weren't so pretty. New Orleans had zero punts and zero turnovers.

 

[CaptainMorgan]

They may be the worst of all time but this season isn't a total loss we still have plenty of secret sauce.

 

[Matts4313]

Huh?

28th in points allowed
32nd in yardage (20 yards per game worse than the 31st ranked team)

Anyone want to bet we don't end up 32nd in both categories?

Until Ryan lost Lee we had a top ten defense last year. Now Kiffie gets to see how he can go without Sean. 1st game returns weren't so pretty. New Orleans had zero punts and zero turnovers.

Why would you use total points when some teams have had a bye week? We are 23rd in points/game. And we were ~15-17 before losing Hatcher and Lee last night. Take our defense and add the following Starters back too it: Healthy Ware, Lee, Hatcher, Wilcox and Claibone. Chances are we will finish up around ~20 this year.... Which would actually be an IMPROVEMENT over Ryan, with MORE injuries to the team.


Also - it should be noted that we have played the #1, #2, #3, #6, #7 and #9 offenses so far.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Also - it should be noted that we have played the #1, #2, #3, #6, #7 and #9 offenses so far.

Why ruin a perfectly good rant?

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

They may be the worst of all time but this season isn't a total loss we still have plenty of secret sauce.

hahaha we may have the worst defense but this is the best reply!

 

[17yearsandcounting]

Why ruin a perfectly good rant?

Like torching the Cowboys isnt part of the reason those offenses are ranked so high?

 

[30yrheel]

Yes, the records will be there for better or worse.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

It's the worst defense that I've seen in my 38 years as a fan.

 

[dragon_mikal]

By far the worst I've seen and on pace to be the worst anyone's seen. Don't miss a game, boys. You'll be telling your great grand kids about this.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I don't mean this to be a hyperbolic "let's all get angry on Monday" post, I mean this to be completely cold and honest. Is this legitimately the worst defense the Dallas Cowboys have ever fielded in their history? Certainly it has a lot of competition. The 2010 Dallas Cowboys defense is probobly the gold standard of bad defense. Last year's 2012 MASH unit defense also makes a strong argument. So how could this defense really be worse?

The 2013 Dallas Cowboys are the only defense in the history of the NFL to surrender four 400-yard passing performances in a season, and the season isn't even over! Two weeks ago they set the record for most yards given up by a defense at 623 against the Lions only to break their own record by allowing 625 to the Saints. They are the first defense in the NFL to give up 40 first-downs in a game.

Some might argue that those stats are just numbers and that the team isn't quitting like Mike Jenkins famously did against Green Bay in 2010. Well I'd like to bring in Exhibit A - Bruce Carter. Bruce Carter gave up last night every bit as much as Jenkins did. If you watch that 4th quarter Carter was jogging around trying to find every reason not to be involved in a tackle. When an offensive lineman got anywhere between him and a ball-carrier he just extended his arms and walked into him "well, guess you blocked me! oops! my bad!" It looked like a walk-through where the 2nd team defense lets the offensive linemen practice going where they are supposed to. It's bad enough when a cornerback doesn't want to tackle, but when your guy playing middle linebacker is thinking about how he doesn't want to be sore so he can enjoy the bye week instead of tackling, that is showing a lot of give-up from the team. Also, Jason Hatcher's statement yesterday that the reason he doesn't want to play is because he's about to be a free agent and doesn't want to put bad film out there says a lot about how these players have given up on this team.

So is this the worst defense in Cowboys history?

A. It is 5 QBs who have passed for over 400 yards (I am including Brees because he was 8 yards short when Payton called the dogs off and pulled him)......He would have easily got that if Payton didnt pity us so much.

B. Until last night, no team in the history of the game, since it was invented, had ever given up 40 first downs in a game.

This is not just franchise setting records, this is NFL All Time records being set.................................................we are on pace to be the worst defense in the history of the league.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I dont really want to hear points scored talk the day after Payton took pity on this pathetic franchise. They could have scored 70.

Yea, I think he actually felt sorry for us.

They could have set the NFL record for most points scored last night if they wanted to.

 

[Rockport]

By far the worst defense ever fielded by a Cowboy team.

 

[cowboyblue22]

this is not only worst defense in cowboys history and nfl history to and the offense is not far behind not sure this train wreck will ever be solved.

 

[RS12]

Is this the Worst Defense in Cowboys History?

You arent giving them enough credit. This is the worst defense in NFL history. No team, not the expansion Bucs or Saints gave up 40 first downs before last night. That is just the tip of the ice berg.