Our defense in the 5 playoff losses in last decade

[Bobhaze]

The biggest contributing factor to the defensive woes is being weak up the middle leading to not being able to control the running game which leads to giving up third down conversions.

Management has focused on the flash on the outside and paid lip service to the middle.

It's almost impossible for me believe that a management team with over 3 decades of experience at the pro level doesn't even begin to understand how this works so for me the question becomes, Does the FO care about this yet?

I have come to believe that Jerry still believes we won those 3 SBs in the 90s all because of the Triplets.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Troy, Emmitt and Michael. But without those trench players on both sides of the ball, we don’t win any of those SBs.

 

[fivetwos]

Offense is 11 players + Scheme+Playcalls+execution by 22 players on Offense , Offense is spelled OFFENSE not DAK Prescott...​

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You know what as much as some of that make sense,​

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you're leaving out things why do you use the word dak has some blame how about the offense has some to blame yes, the offense, the total offense that would be the offensive line, who in one game had 11 penalties, so our quarterback was supposed to function playing behind a chains all game? The one common thing on offense if you want to stay away from the defense, I get it the defense is responsible for most of the losses in the playoffs going back to the Romo days... However,​

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the one game 11 penalties on the offensive line, the most consistent thing is no run game under 3 YPC with no big runs, no significant key plays, is what they bring to the playoffs..​

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that would be on the offensive line, that will be on the runner ,that would be on the game plan, the execution, and then when there is any time to throw which every once in a while it did happen, there was a lack of separation, so let's bring in all of the offense when you're blaming the lack of scoring or the lack of 3rd down percentage put it on the offense not DAK alone....​

I mean,

I'm doing this from memory,

I don't need to go back and look and by the way one of those 49er games, I don't care if it was a six point low scoring game,

in the first half they gave up 10 yards per carry to Deebo Samuels and kept the ball away from our offense and didn't give us much chances and it must be the same game or one of the 49er games that Trayvon Diggs dropped an easy interception and then failed to make contact with Kittles on a pass that he was bobbling..

if you just were to make contact, he probably doesn't catch that ball that was a big and I mean a big play in that game. Those were key bad execution by a defender that is supposed to be one of our prime time players but once again he's on defense and he didn't make the place he should have he didn't make the plays he's paid to make...

We're going to do this whole yes the defense is to blame and yes Prescott is somewhat to blame no no no no no let let let's call it the offense and not name our offense, prescott, he's one of 11 players ,he's not the coaches he's not the referees he's not responsible for all those mistakes yeah he looked bad in some of those games but there was a reason he looked bad it's called the offensive line and the run game was nonexistent in many of those games so let's stop calling our offense prescott that's not how it's spelled...

That's just some of the ones from memory but if we want to go just to the Green Bay game that looked mostly defensive and I realized Prescott made some mistakes but go cherry picked the two interceptions let's break those down and you'll realize the interference on Brandon Cooks not once but twice cause the leverage that created the interception had nothing to do with Prescott and also Lamb who didn't finish running his crossing route or post or whatever was supposed to be Prescott released that ball thinking that's what was going to happen and Lamb went rogue he went off script he broke his plate upfield because I guess he felt like the play was broke down and supposedly that is all on the quarterback now the interceptions must be on the quarterback unless we actually go reasonably break them down..

So yeah everyone blaming Prescott always started the game real bad it must be him the interceptions are not always on the quarterback we learned that in 2022 so why don't we just keep the blame where it needs to be we lost as a team there are significant problems across the entire three phases and the coaching staff in every one of those games...

Simple….people expect him to be something he isn’t because he is the highest paid player ever. Unfortunately among those folks are those who run the team.

That’s the case because your boys….the billionaire businessman football gurus….mishandled the situation more than once and it cost them, but I wouldn’t call that the difference between this team being able to win or not.

Point taken. Prescott isn’t a guy that’s going to take over games himself, and he needs his teammates to play well around him…as is the case with almost every QB, if not all of them.

 

[Cowboyny]

Just these 3 stats are mind blowing!

Giving up 31 ppg, 157 yds rushing and allowing 52% 3rd down conversion rate! You can’t beat anybody with that kind of defense!

Playoff football has always been about winning the trenches and the turnover battle. Cowboys haven't had a strong defensive front since Wade Phillips teams.

 

[fivetwos]

The biggest contributing factor to the defensive woes is being weak up the middle leading to not being able to control the running game which leads to giving up third down conversions.

Management has focused on the flash on the outside and paid lip service to the middle.

It's almost impossible for me believe that a management team with over 3 decades of experience at the pro level doesn't even begin to understand how this works so for me the question becomes, Does the FO care about this yet?

At times I wonder if they actually watch their playoff losses.

If so that might be even more scary because in that case they obviously have little idea what they are looking at.

Another problem is when Jerry thinks that players aren’t capable of busting and/or mailing it in. Spend a first rounder and give out a big contract at DT and you’ve done your job there. Meanwhile we already know those two aren’t enough. Solomon Thomas doesn’t change that. The DT room has killed this team in recent years and it’s arguably worse and less deep this year. Pickens doesn’t fix that either.

 

[TheCritic]

These 5 losses weren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has played poorly at times, especially the last two playoff losses. But if we are being objective, he’s not been as bad as our defense.

Because if you avg giving up 30 points in a playoff game, avg giving up 157 yards rushing in the playoffs, and allow the opponents a 52% third down conversion rate, can’t sack the QB or get TOs, it’s pretty hard to win.

Does the FO understand this yet?

Very true. In fact, I blame Dan Quinn as much as anybody for the playoff failures during the McCarthy era. And maybe some of that blame can go to the FO for not getting bigger and more physical in the middle.

 

[fivetwos]

A wild card win every few years ought be enough, no?

Around that rim. Do nothing to be better, just brag about how they are close and what great jobs they are doing.

 

[Bobhaze]

At times I wonder if they actually watch their playoff losses.

If so that might be even more scary because in that case they obviously have little idea what they are looking at.

Another problem is when Jerry thinks that players aren’t capable of busting and/or mailing it in. Spend a first rounder and give out a big contract at DT and you’ve done your job there. Meanwhile we already know those two aren’t enough. Solomon Thomas doesn’t change that. The DT room has killed this team in recent years and it’s arguably worse and less deep this year. Pickens doesn’t fix that either.

I wish beat writers that cover the team would ask JJ and SJ about their defensive performance in the playoffs.

These playoff defensive problems are so glaring it’s hard to believe that this FO’s response this off-season was only to re-sign Odighizhua (a good thing) and add Solomon Thomas (meh), pray our bust first rounder Mazi has a miraculous turnaround, and that our two 7th round DTs are miracles.

They either don’t get it or don’t care.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Just these 3 stats are mind blowing!

Giving up 31 ppg, 157 yds rushing and allowing 52% 3rd down conversion rate! You can’t beat anybody with that kind of defense!

All of those are Dak's fault. I am sure

 

[5Stars]

They either don’t get it or don’t care.

Your answer.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I have come to believe that Jerry still believes we won those 3 SBs in the 90s all because of the Triplets.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Troy, Emmitt and Michael. But without those trench players on both sides of the ball, we don’t win any of those SBs.

One year we had #1 defense over all, against the Rush, against the pass.

 

[CoachD]

The 92 and 93 Cowboy's defense is why they won Super Bowls, they were incredible.

 

[john van brocklin]

In the last decade, the Cowboys have played in 7 playoff games, winning 2 and losing 5. The two wins in the last decade were a 2018 wild card win vs Seattle and a 2021 wild card win vs Tampa.

The five playoff losses in the last decade are what I want to focus on here because the similarities in what caused those losses are glaring. Those losses aren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has some blame for sure. But it’s not all on him either.

Here are the 5 playoff losses in the last decade:

• 2016 L 34-31 vs packers in divisional round at home.
• 2018 L 30-22 vs rams in divisional round on the road.
• 2021 L 23-17 vs niners in wild card round at home.
• 2022 L 19-12 vs niners in divisional round on the road.
• 2023 L 48-32 vs packers in wild card round at home.

I want to look at our common problems in these playoff losses and whether they have been addressed. Here are some stats that show patterns in the 5 playoff losses:

• Cowboys defense in the 5 playoff losses:
  • Avg giving up 31 points per game. (Take out the GB loss and still avg giving up 27 ppg)
  • Avg giving up 157 yards per game on the ground. (Take out the 273 in the 2018 rams L and we still avg giving up nearly 130 yds per game on the ground)
  • 3rd down conversions. In the 5 playoff losses of the last decade, our defense allowed 30 of 58 3rd downs to be converted. 52%!! Horrible.
  • Despite being one of the best sack teams in the league, the Cowboys only had 4 total sacks in all 5 playoff losses. Less than 1 per game.
  • Despite being one of the better defenses to create TOs, our D only had 3 TOs created in the 5 playoff losses.

These 5 losses weren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has played poorly at times, especially the last two playoff losses. But if we are being objective, he’s not been as bad as our defense.

Because if you avg giving up 30 points in a playoff game, avg giving up 157 yards rushing in the playoffs, and allow the opponents a 52% third down conversion rate, can’t sack the QB or get TOs, it’s pretty hard to win.

Does the FO understand this yet?

The sacks could be partially because Parsons is worn down by the end of the seasons?
Too small to play DE longterm.
I know he was not on the team for all the losses.

 

[leeblair]

In the last decade, the Cowboys have played in 7 playoff games, winning 2 and losing 5. The two wins in the last decade were a 2018 wild card win vs Seattle and a 2021 wild card win vs Tampa.

The five playoff losses in the last decade are what I want to focus on here because the similarities in what caused those losses are glaring. Those losses aren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has some blame for sure. But it’s not all on him either.

Here are the 5 playoff losses in the last decade:

• 2016 L 34-31 vs packers in divisional round at home.
• 2018 L 30-22 vs rams in divisional round on the road.
• 2021 L 23-17 vs niners in wild card round at home.
• 2022 L 19-12 vs niners in divisional round on the road.
• 2023 L 48-32 vs packers in wild card round at home.

I want to look at our common problems in these playoff losses and whether they have been addressed. Here are some stats that show patterns in the 5 playoff losses:

• Cowboys defense in the 5 playoff losses:
  • Avg giving up 31 points per game. (Take out the GB loss and still avg giving up 27 ppg)
  • Avg giving up 157 yards per game on the ground. (Take out the 273 in the 2018 rams L and we still avg giving up nearly 130 yds per game on the ground)
  • 3rd down conversions. In the 5 playoff losses of the last decade, our defense allowed 30 of 58 3rd downs to be converted. 52%!! Horrible.
  • Despite being one of the best sack teams in the league, the Cowboys only had 4 total sacks in all 5 playoff losses. Less than 1 per game.
  • Despite being one of the better defenses to create TOs, our D only had 3 TOs created in the 5 playoff losses.

These 5 losses weren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has played poorly at times, especially the last two playoff losses. But if we are being objective, he’s not been as bad as our defense.

Because if you avg giving up 30 points in a playoff game, avg giving up 157 yards rushing in the playoffs, and allow the opponents a 52% third down conversion rate, can’t sack the QB or get TOs, it’s pretty hard to win.

Does the FO understand this yet?

Don't do that.
It's easy to blame the defense unless you actually watched and remember the games.
The defense gave up points because the Cowboys offense was non existent when the game was actually in contention.
Each time Dak Prescott choked early and left the Cowboys defense exposed and over worked.
The only reason the games were close at the end was because the opposing team took their foot off the gas once the game was decided and Dak racked up stats in a come from behind push against a prevent defense.
EVERY TIME, Dak Prescott choked. He committed turnovers.
Don't blindly post stats that make it seem different than what it was.

 

[gtb1943]

Its the low-info fans that blame Dak for everything..

leaving out the Dak bots that never blame him for everything.

 

[Rockport]

In the last decade, the Cowboys have played in 7 playoff games, winning 2 and losing 5. The two wins in the last decade were a 2018 wild card win vs Seattle and a 2021 wild card win vs Tampa.

The five playoff losses in the last decade are what I want to focus on here because the similarities in what caused those losses are glaring. Those losses aren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has some blame for sure. But it’s not all on him either.

Here are the 5 playoff losses in the last decade:

• 2016 L 34-31 vs packers in divisional round at home.
• 2018 L 30-22 vs rams in divisional round on the road.
• 2021 L 23-17 vs niners in wild card round at home.
• 2022 L 19-12 vs niners in divisional round on the road.
• 2023 L 48-32 vs packers in wild card round at home.

I want to look at our common problems in these playoff losses and whether they have been addressed. Here are some stats that show patterns in the 5 playoff losses:

• Cowboys defense in the 5 playoff losses:
  • Avg giving up 31 points per game. (Take out the GB loss and still avg giving up 27 ppg)
  • Avg giving up 157 yards per game on the ground. (Take out the 273 in the 2018 rams L and we still avg giving up nearly 130 yds per game on the ground)
  • 3rd down conversions. In the 5 playoff losses of the last decade, our defense allowed 30 of 58 3rd downs to be converted. 52%!! Horrible.
  • Despite being one of the best sack teams in the league, the Cowboys only had 4 total sacks in all 5 playoff losses. Less than 1 per game.
  • Despite being one of the better defenses to create TOs, our D only had 3 TOs created in the 5 playoff losses.

These 5 losses weren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has played poorly at times, especially the last two playoff losses. But if we are being objective, he’s not been as bad as our defense.

Because if you avg giving up 30 points in a playoff game, avg giving up 157 yards rushing in the playoffs, and allow the opponents a 52% third down conversion rate, can’t sack the QB or get TOs, it’s pretty hard to win.

Does the FO understand this yet?

Good info Bob. Some seem to forget how bad the defense has been in the playoff games and instead just blame in on 1 person. Lots of folks here who have no idea what football’s all about other than what the know from playing Madden and hear from Mike Fisher.

 

[gtb1943]

The inability to stop the run when it mattered has been the Achilles heel of this team for a very long time.

And one ignored most of the time by our *Brain Trust*

The offense has not performed as they should either. three of those games they scored 12, 17, 22
and in the last packers game totally failed to do squat when it mattered

This has been a team failure in for most of the playoff losses. Two of the losses, the niners losses, the Defense did its job but the offense failed.
in the others both failed to an extent
Coaching mistakes

But in the end the real reason we lost is that we are SOFT.
Soft teams get owned in the playoffs

and SOFT comes from the top

 

[Chasing6]

I've been saying this all off-season and all I got was "YoUrE A DaK fAn" when I'm clearly not. Smh

The bigger problem is this is a similar situation, ro when we had Romo. So where is the problem originating from. It is 100% the GM.

 

[gtb1943]

I wish beat writers that cover the team would ask JJ and SJ about their defensive performance in the playoffs.

These playoff defensive problems are so glaring it’s hard to believe that this FO’s response this off-season was only to re-sign Odighizhua (a good thing) and add Solomon Thomas (meh), pray our bust first rounder Mazi has a miraculous turnaround, and that our two 7th round DTs are miracles.

They either don’t get it or don’t care.

both

 

[big dog cowboy]

In the last decade, the Cowboys have played in 7 playoff games, winning 2 and losing 5. The two wins in the last decade were a 2018 wild card win vs Seattle and a 2021 wild card win vs Tampa.

The five playoff losses in the last decade are what I want to focus on here because the similarities in what caused those losses are glaring. Those losses aren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has some blame for sure. But it’s not all on him either.

Here are the 5 playoff losses in the last decade:

• 2016 L 34-31 vs packers in divisional round at home.
• 2018 L 30-22 vs rams in divisional round on the road.
• 2021 L 23-17 vs niners in wild card round at home.
• 2022 L 19-12 vs niners in divisional round on the road.
• 2023 L 48-32 vs packers in wild card round at home.

I want to look at our common problems in these playoff losses and whether they have been addressed. Here are some stats that show patterns in the 5 playoff losses:

• Cowboys defense in the 5 playoff losses:
  • Avg giving up 31 points per game. (Take out the GB loss and still avg giving up 27 ppg)
  • Avg giving up 157 yards per game on the ground. (Take out the 273 in the 2018 rams L and we still avg giving up nearly 130 yds per game on the ground)
  • 3rd down conversions. In the 5 playoff losses of the last decade, our defense allowed 30 of 58 3rd downs to be converted. 52%!! Horrible.
  • Despite being one of the best sack teams in the league, the Cowboys only had 4 total sacks in all 5 playoff losses. Less than 1 per game.
  • Despite being one of the better defenses to create TOs, our D only had 3 TOs created in the 5 playoff losses.

These 5 losses weren’t all on the defense. Yes, Dak has played poorly at times, especially the last two playoff losses. But if we are being objective, he’s not been as bad as our defense.

Because if you avg giving up 30 points in a playoff game, avg giving up 157 yards rushing in the playoffs, and allow the opponents a 52% third down conversion rate, can’t sack the QB or get TOs, it’s pretty hard to win.

Does the FO understand this yet?

GREAT work as always Bob! A lot to digest, but a couple of things I want to mention.

I do see 3 losses when the Cowboys scored 22, 17 and 12 points. Those games will almost always be losses, regular season or playoffs.

I was advocating for an all defensive draft for a reason. I thought there were huge gains to be made. Reading your post just reinforces my beliefs.

 

[Chasing6]

Yes almost all defensive and when you look at the offense you do realize in all our losses it's under 3 yards per carry and there are no impact plays from the run game at all and the offensive line for the most part played horrible they played on our side of most of those games of our side of the line of scrimmage it was a dirty pocket it's a dirty word using the word pocket the fact that they couldn't open up any holes and then one game they had eleven penalties I mean it's easy to see the trenches are the worst part of our teams and then our quarterback had struggles because of those problems..

Not winning games if you can't run the football and stop the run we all know it but there are bigger problems that mental mistakes and execution on all three phases and coaching that is why we need to stop the nonsense...

They are not giving our quarterbacks from the last two decades a chance to win these games when you can't run the football and you're losing time of possession by not being able to stop the run it's just needs to be blamed on the entire team..

It gets all we have to keep revisiting this but most of us even with our memory can tell you where the problems were and it wasn't at quarterback the quarterback yes he struggles but most quarterbacks are going to struggle when the defense knows they can use four players to stop the run on the way to the quarterback and then use a zone that's so dirty and hard to get players open then it pretty much shut your offense down and then your defense is just bad from the first snap to the last snap in most of those games even the ones they look good in they....e they gave up ten yards per carry to Samuals.. When you can eat up time of possession in a low scoring game and it looks low scoring so it must be great defense no it was solid defense at times but they were still getting ran over in those scoring drives that ate up so much clock it gave our offense less opportunities..

It's amazing how people can't see it, go back and look how Troy got his SB rings. We could run the ball and stop the run.