Making NFL history

[AdamJT13]

We are the 75th NFL team since 1940 to gain at least 2,000 yards in the first five games. Here's how the win-loss records of those 75 teams breaks down --

18 of them went 5-0
2 of them went 4-0-1
27 of them went 4-1
16 of them went 3-2 (giving 63 of the 75 teams a winning record)
2 of them went 2-2-1
9 of them went 2-3
1 of them went 1-4 <--- 2010 Dallas Cowboys

That's right, we're the first team to go 1-4 while gaining at least 2,000 yards in the first five games. Two teams had gone 1-4 while gaining at least 1,900 yards (one gained 1,900, and the other gained 1,912), but both of those teams had terrible defenses that had allowed more yards than their offenses gained. We've outgained our opponents by 118.6 yards per game (making us the first team to go 1-4 while outgaining the opponents by more than 100 yards per game).


Before this season, there had been 24 teams since 1940 that gained at least 2,000 yards AND allowed less than 1,500 yards in the first five games (we've allowed 1407). Of those 24 teams, 22 of them (92 percent!) were at least 4-1. The other two were 3-2, and BOTH OF THEM went on to win the NFL championship that year -- the 1951 Rams and the 1978 Cowboys.

Then came this season. Only two teams this season gained 2,000 yards and allowed less than 1,500 through the first five games, and BOTH OF THEM had a losing record -- something that had never happened once in NFL history. The Chargers were 2-3, and we're 1-4.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Well that sure is depressing!

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Stick the knife in a little deeper Adam.

 

[tupperware]

We are the 75th NFL team since 1940 to gain at least 2,000 yards in the first five games. Here's how the win-loss records of those 75 teams breaks down --

18 of them went 5-0
2 of them went 4-0-1
27 of them went 4-1
16 of them went 3-2 (giving 63 of the 75 teams a winning record)
2 of them went 2-2-1
9 of them went 2-3
1 of them went 1-4 <--- 2010 Dallas Cowboys

That's right, we're the first team to go 1-4 while gaining at least 2,000 yards in the first five games. Two teams had gone 1-4 while gaining at least 1,900 yards (one gained 1,900, and the other gained 1,912), but both of those teams had terrible defenses that had allowed more yards than their offenses gained. We've outgained our opponents by 118.6 yards per game (making us the first team to go 1-4 while outgaining the opponents by more than 100 yards per game).


Before this season, there had been 24 teams since 1940 that gained at least 2,000 yards AND allowed less than 1,500 yards in the first five games (we've allowed 1407). Of those 24 teams, 22 of them (92 percent!) were at least 4-1. The other two were 3-2, and BOTH OF THEM went on to win the NFL championship that year -- the 1951 Rams and the 1978 Cowboys.

Then came this season. Only two teams this season gained 2,000 yards and allowed less than 1,500 through the first five games, and BOTH OF THEM had a losing record -- something that had never happened once in NFL history. The Chargers were 2-3, and we're 1-4.

I saw this in another thread and this is an incredibly insightful statistic. How do you explain it away?

 

[AdamJT13]

Here's another one --

We're just the third team in NFL history to go the first five games with a completion percentage of at least 69 percent, to pass for more than 1,500 yards and to get sacked less than 10 times.

The 2000 Rams did it and went 5-0. The 2009 Colts did it and went 5-0. Then we did it and went 1-4.

 

[Randy White]

we find brains for this team full of scarecrows ?

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Here's another one --

Geez Adam, I wasn't being serious.

 

[PullMyFinger]

Heres two more records the Cowboys will break this year.

* Most Penalties, Season, 158

Kansas City Chiefs: 1998

* Most Yards Penalized, Season, 1,304

Kansas City Chiefs: 1998

 

[Chuck 54]

Great stats, Adam...now tell me how those teams compare with us regarding turnovers, especially interceptions. I love our franchise QB, but it's my opinion that he's killing us with turnovers in the worst parts of the field at the worst times. It is my belief that he's a franchise QB goingthrough a very rough spot that he needs to climb out of.

I'd love to see some turnover, int. stats with those other 2,000 yard teams so I'll know to get off my Turnover Tony soap box and jump on the blame Wade bandwagon.

 

[The Realist]

Jason Garrett must get paid by the yard.

The offense has gone straight down hill since Sparano last called plays.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Definitely not "impressive".

Does this get us into the Hall of Shame? I would think so.

 

[burmafrd]

Yeah Romo is throwing picks. Those criticising him convienently forget why this is happening: he feels he has to make plays to make up for all the crap the rest of the team is doing. So he presses and forces passes instead of throwing it away or taking the sack. One more thing that the Coaching Staff is screwing up on: he needs to be told to stop doing it. No matter what.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Here's another one --

We're just the third team in NFL history to go the first five games with a completion percentage of at least 69 percent, to pass for more than 1,500 yards and to get sacked less than 10 times.

The 2000 Rams did it and went 5-0. The 2009 Colts did it and went 5-0. Then we did it and went 1-4.

Wow. That last fact really hurts.

 

[ZeroClub]

Here's another one --

We're just the third team in NFL history to go the first five games with a completion percentage of at least 69 percent, to pass for more than 1,500 yards and to get sacked less than 10 times.

The 2000 Rams did it and went 5-0. The 2009 Colts did it and went 5-0. Then we did it and went 1-4.

Question:

How's the passing efficiency of the Dallas offense?

Last season there were lengthy discussions that passing efficiency was the single most important metric for an offense (other than scoring).

 

[The Quest for Six]

you sound like Wade Phillips when reporters ask questions, give statistics!

 

[DWhite Fan]

Here's another one --

We're just the third team in NFL history to go the first five games with a completion percentage of at least 69 percent, to pass for more than 1,500 yards and to get sacked less than 10 times.

The 2000 Rams did it and went 5-0. The 2009 Colts did it and went 5-0. Then we did it and went 1-4.

Just proves how useless stats are:starspin

 

[Nightshade]

Yeah Romo is throwing picks. Those criticising him convienently forget why this is happening: he feels he has to make plays to make up for all the crap the rest of the team is doing. So he presses and forces passes instead of throwing it away or taking the sack. One more thing that the Coaching Staff is screwing up on: he needs to be told to stop doing it. No matter what.

WADE: Romo! Stop throwing picks! NOW!

ROMO: "uhh.. ok"

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Jason Garrett must get paid by the yard.

:laugh2:

Jerry forgot to put in the clause that docks pay for turnovers.

 

[AdamJT13]

Great stats, Adam...now tell me how those teams compare with us regarding turnovers, especially interceptions. I love our franchise QB, but it's my opinion that he's killing us with turnovers in the worst parts of the field at the worst times. It is my belief that he's a franchise QB goingthrough a very rough spot that he needs to climb out of.

I'd love to see some turnover, int. stats with those other 2,000 yard teams so I'll know to get off my Turnover Tony soap box and jump on the blame Wade bandwagon.

He's thrown seven interceptions this season. When we had more than 2,000 yards through five games in 2007, Romo had thrown eight interceptions -- and we were 5-0.


Of the 75 teams with 2,000 yards in the first five games, 18 of them threw more than our seven interceptions. Five of those threw more than 10, with the two highest being 17 and 15. Both of those teams were 4-1.

Here's a look at all 75 teams, ranked by the number of interceptions thrown, with their win-loss records and total yards gained --

[B]INT			W-L%  	Total yards[/B]
17	HOU  (1962)	4-1	0.800	2,072
15	DEN  (1962)	4-1	0.800	2,009
14	RAM  (1951)	3-2	0.600	2,323
12	CHI  (1983)	2-3	0.400	2,005
11	RAM  (1950)	3-2	0.600	2,056
9	SFO  (1961)	4-1	0.800	2,025
9	GNB  (1989)	3-2	0.600	2,203
9	IND  (2001)	2-3	0.400	2,089
9	SDG  (1983)	2-3	0.400	2,205
9	SDG  (1985)	2-3	0.400	2,002
8	CRD  (1948)	4-1	0.800	2,016
8	RAM  (1954)	2-2-1	0.500	2,293
8	DAL  (1978)	3-2	0.600	2,001
8	OAK  (1970)	2-2-1	0.500	2,010
8	NOR  (1979)	2-3	0.400	2,095
8	DAL  (2007)	5-0	1.000	2,148
8	BUF  (1989)	3-2	0.600	2,024
7	CLE  (1958)	5-0	1.000	2,023
7	STL  (1963)	4-1	0.800	2,092
7	STL  (2000)	5-0	1.000	2,527
7	NYG  (2006)	3-2	0.600	2,009
7	SDG  (1981)	4-1	0.800	2,020
7	IND  (2000)	3-2	0.600	2,054
[B]7	DAL  (2010)	1-4	0.200	2,000[/B]
7	NWE  (1994)	3-2	0.600	2,099
6	GNB  (1983)	3-2	0.600	2,049
6	KAN  (2002)	3-2	0.600	2,109
6	BUF  (1992)	4-1	0.800	2,121
6	SFO  (1988)	4-1	0.800	2,064
6	SDG  (1984)	3-2	0.600	2,136
6	NOR  (2008)	2-3	0.400	2,032
6	MIA  (1985)	4-1	0.800	2,054
5	NYG  (1967)	3-2	0.600	2,038
5	NYJ  (1982)	4-1	0.800	2,005
5	WAS  (1989)	3-2	0.600	2,138
5	DAL  (2008)	4-1	0.800	2,037
5	BUF  (1991)	5-0	1.000	2,266
5	MIA  (1994)	4-1	0.800	2,095
5	SFO  (1990)	5-0	1.000	2,044
5	OAK  (2002)	4-1	0.800	2,213
5	BUF  (2002)	2-3	0.400	2,032
4	CHI  (1941)	5-0	1.000	2,097
4	CHI  (1956)	4-1	0.800	2,064
4	BAL  (1958)	5-0	1.000	2,048
4	RAM  (1953)	4-1	0.800	2,049
4	DAL  (1966)	4-0-1	0.900	2,173
4	SFO  (1983)	4-1	0.800	2,120
4	PHO  (1988)	3-2	0.600	2,058
4	PIT  (1981)	3-2	0.600	2,178
4	NYG  (2008)	4-1	0.800	2,097
4	DAL  (2009)	3-2	0.600	2,102
4	STL  (1984)	2-3	0.400	2,082
4	IND  (2009)	5-0	1.000	2,024
4	SDG  (2010)	2-3	0.400	2,309
4	DEN  (2008)	4-1	0.800	2,075
4	SFO  (1995)	4-1	0.800	2,015
3	SFO  (1948)	5-0	1.000	2,207
3	DET  (1980)	4-1	0.800	2,053
3	CIN  (1988)	5-0	1.000	2,029
3	SFO  (1992)	4-1	0.800	2,062
3	MIA  (1984)	5-0	1.000	2,059
3	MIN  (2004)	4-1	0.800	2,383
3	GNB  (2002)	4-1	0.800	2,038
3	SFO  (1998)	4-1	0.800	2,435
2	DAL  (1969)	5-0	1.000	2,026
2	DAL  (1976)	5-0	1.000	2,067
2	DAL  (1968)	5-0	1.000	2,017
2	SFO  (1954)	4-0-1	0.900	2,015
2	DAL  (1995)	4-1	0.800	2,002
2	NYG  (2009)	5-0	1.000	2,087
2	NWE  (2007)	5-0	1.000	2,139
2	NOR  (2009)	5-0	1.000	2,150
2	WAS  (1999)	4-1	0.800	2,060
2	IND  (2007)	5-0	1.000	2,014
1	PHI  (2006)	4-1	0.800	2,089

Only seven of those teams had a net turnover margin worse than our minus-5. One of those teams was 4-1, four of them were 3-2, and two of them were 2-3.

So, our interception total is a little high, but it's not very high, and it's something that can't be overcome. Our lack of forcing turnovers is much worse, and the net difference is very poor. But again, it's not something that the majority of those teams didn't overcome to win more than half of the time.

I think the key, though, is what you said about turnovers in the worst parts of the field at the worst times. Five of the seven interceptions that Romo has thrown have given the ball to the opponent inside our 30-yard line, resulting in two touchdowns, two field goals and a game-ending kneel-down. Another one gave the opponent the ball at our 47 and led to a field goal, and the seventh came in the opponent's end zone and kept us from scoring.

On a related note, our defense has allowed only 60 points when the opponent has started in their own territory. They've scored 37 points -- four touchdowns and three field goals -- when starting inside our territory. Our opponent has started with the ball on our half of the field 11 times.

By contrast, we've had only two possessions that started inside our opponent's territory -- one at the 48 yesterday, and one at the Commanders' 34 in the opener. We scored touchdowns on both of those. Our other 81 offensive points have come when we started on our half of the field, with 55 of those coming when we started inside our 30.

The timing of our turnovers, our lack of turnovers forced and our complete ineptitude on special teams is killing us in terms of field position, and it's costing us games.

 

[punchnjudy]

Yeah Romo is throwing picks. Those criticising him convienently forget why this is happening: he feels he has to make plays to make up for all the crap the rest of the team is doing. So he presses and forces passes instead of throwing it away or taking the sack. One more thing that the Coaching Staff is screwing up on: he needs to be told to stop doing it. No matter what.

Seems like I've seen this episode before...

Seriously, this whole season seems like an extension of '08, just with less injuries. It's like 2009 never happened. Remember all the comments from around the league that year about Dallas being mentally weak? Then during the second half of last year we heard that this was a new team, that they wouldn't lose focus or beat themselves like Dallas teams of the recent past.

Instead of building off that, many players have reverted back to what they were. Once again players are making stupid plays, Romo is pressing and throwing picks, and we're all saying they need to stop it...

Oh well, at least this episode will end with the incompetent (and he is incompetent) head coach getting canned.