Our defense in the 5 playoff losses in last decade

[Bobhaze]

After reading thoughts shared in this thread, I'll say I still think it's likely they add more players especially at DT.

It's not over yet.

You’re right, it’s not over yet. But it probably will be if we don’t add some more talent at DT. And I mean talent, not retreads.

 

[blueblood70]

Choc, I agree with you on one of those games.

But the one thing I disagree with you is the first niner playoff loss at home in the WC round. We lost 23-17. The biggest problem we had for three qtrs (besides having 14 penalties, 5 of which were the D lining up offsides) was we could not stop their run game. We gave up 169 yards rushing and all but about ten of those yards were in the first three qtrs.

I agree with you on the second SF loss (at SF) 19-12. Our defense played pretty well. Other than giving up too many 3rd down conversions. But holding your opponent to 19 should get you a win most of the time.

I believe that's 19 to 12 game and I can't remember because both are against San Francisco both were closed games until the end but I believe the 19 to 12 game was when Trayvon Diggs dropped an interception and didn't break up the pass to Kittles or is that all in the other game this is a problem the run game was still under three yards per carry I believe Pollard got hurt but it really didn't matter if we're doing this off memory it still goes to the whole team you have to make plays when you're supposed to you can't give up these drives and be proud of only giving up 19 points in a close game no then you should have had a goal to only give up 11 points you know that's what the Ravens defense gave up under 12 points for the entire season we've seen the Bears defense give up under 14 points for an entire season and somehow we're padding these guys on the back even though they dropped interceptions they gave up some key receptions that gave San Francisco the advantage it still had something to do with the defense..

I get the two games mixed up but they weren't great defense they played better we're padding a team on the back you're picking a side and really it's still a team issue it will always be a team issue you can't run the ball the offensive line is not blocking well you're being out physical across the board and everybody here always tries to take a side they either pro Prescott pro offense and blame the defense or they blame the defense I say it's all of it all four phases offense defense special teams coaching it was all bad

You already pointed it out when you give up consistent junk yards in the run you can't stop the run you're not good in the trenches it all starts there and it pretty much ended there whether it was penalties the run game it's been bad we keep rehashing this stuff over and over it's just team losses the team is losing just like with Romo you can go back and see it was Patrick Crayton or it was Demarco Murray's fumble or it was Dan Bailey's misses, wd40 kicking balls, refs, or it was the defense not stopping Aaron Rodgers all of it it's just the whole thing finds a way to snake bite us every single time we we are in that moment...

SAS As much as I hate the guy he's right if it can go wrong it will go wrong and it has at every level of our team capital T E A M..

.

 

[Gonzomandela01]

Of course is not all Dak's fault but lets not act like two picks per game and his all around bad (scared demenor) play in the clutch are nothing.

 

[KJJ]

It mat not have been entirely on the defense in the playoffs but it’s been mainly on the defense dating back to when Jake Plummer and the Cardinals came to Dallas and beat us in postseason when we still had the triplets. Our defense has been soft in the playoffs. Even an all time great QB will struggle when their defense is getting chewed up.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Choc, I agree with you on one of those games.

But the one thing I disagree with you is the first niner playoff loss at home in the WC round. We lost 23-17. The biggest problem we had for three qtrs (besides having 14 penalties, 5 of which were the D lining up offsides) was we could not stop their run game. We gave up 169 yards rushing and all but about ten of those yards were in the first three qtrs.

I agree with you on the second SF loss (at SF) 19-12. Our defense played pretty well. Other than giving up too many 3rd down conversions. But holding your opponent to 19 should get you a win most of the time.

Fair enough, but I don't think giving up 23 points is that bad. No rule saying your offense can't score 24 points in a playoff game.

I do agree about the run defense, but we know Quinn never stopped the run. And given how bad the defense was when he took over, I have a hard time blaming him too much considering how much he improved them from the year before.

 

[Chasing6]

I'm the biggest proponent of good defense you'll find. I hate how it's been a second-class citizen at least since Wade was here.

But the first two Niner games weren't bad by the defense, and the second game was actually good. That was all on the offense.

And I'm sorry -- yes, the defense was awful against Green Bay, but you can't ignore that Dak threw one INT inside his own 20 when it was 7-0 and then a backbreaking pick-6 when it was 20-0 and we were driving. You just can't.

We are now happy and content with weren't bad by the defense.

Yes, Diggs refusing to hit Kittle was on the offense.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

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!

Yep. Game slows down….trenches matter.

 

[Chasing6]

I'm the biggest proponent of good defense you'll find. I hate how it's been a second-class citizen at least since Wade was here.

But the first two Niner games weren't bad by the defense, and the second game was actually good. That was all on the offense.

And I'm sorry -- yes, the defense was awful against Green Bay, but you can't ignore that Dak threw one INT inside his own 20 when it was 7-0 and then a backbreaking pick-6 when it was 20-0 and we were driving. You just can't.

Vegas does not even give odds on giving up 6 TD's in a row.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

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.

That’s why I laugh when people say we should’ve kept Quinn….

And what did the Commanders do?
200 plus rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns….

Something is wrong with Quinn’s defenses in the playoffs.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'm the biggest proponent of good defense you'll find. I hate how it's been a second-class citizen at least since Wade was here.

But the first two Niner games weren't bad by the defense, and the second game was actually good. That was all on the offense.

And I'm sorry -- yes, the defense was awful against Green Bay, but you can't ignore that Dak threw one INT inside his own 20 when it was 7-0 and then a backbreaking pick-6 when it was 20-0 and we were driving. You just can't.

Both things can be true. Dak started out awful. But the defense was bad. I still remember guys just running wide open. Back up tight ends…..I honestly never saw anything like it.

 

[Praxit]

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?

..yet, they'll still blame Dak.. ..

 

[Gonzomandela01]

Of course is not all Dak's fault but lets not act like two picks per game and his all around bad (scared demenor) play in the clutch are nothing.

Sorry, triggered response on my part OP actually is recognizing Dak's bad play in the POffs. I was aiming more at the Dak fan boys.

 

[jazzcat22]

I would hope you could fix it over 30 years.

Losing in the playoffs has been the issue for 30 years. Not the defense overall.
Some of those playoffs losses the offense didn’t help any.

 

[Hadenough]

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?

If your defense gives up an opening drive TD. The absolute worst thing that can happen is your offense goes 3 and out. Dak is every bit at fault as the defense. Not to mention I don't know too many that wouldn't quit when Dak gets that deer in the headlights look it's game over. And the players know it.

 

[75boyz]

But the defense really wasn't. They were facing real competition with no help from their offense when the game was on the line. The games got out of hand because the Cowboys offense shut down
I watched a non-existent Cowboys offense keep giving the ball to the opposing team.
When the defense has to carry the weight and they know their offense is not going to produce, they slowly give up.
And you can tell it has gotten worse as time progressed. The Cowboys players, despite what they say to the media, have lost faith in Dak Prescott.
Even in 2016 the Packers were way ahead because Dak choked early. The Packers relaxed and the Cowboys caught up. But it never was a real game after the first half.

Very valid points here as well.

 

[gimmesix]

5 sacks? Could that be, in part, because Parsons fades down the stretch? Plays too many snaps early on and wears down.

I want to see him more at LB this year. We have all kinds of edge players. Plus, we need help against the run.

He's also the one player on defense you have to neutralize. Playoff teams are better equipped to do that.

 

[rambo2]

You’re right, it’s not over yet. But it probably will be if we don’t add some more talent at DT. And I mean talent, not retreads.

Do you have any talent recommendations that you have targeted?

 

[Whyjerry]

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?

They don’t. Great post by the way. Dallas has been terrible up the middle for years. They get gashed in the running game and get burnt down the seam in the passing game. Best Dallas defense in recent memory was lead by the insane Purple Drank guy. Why? He was a furious inside backer. Made the whole thing more physical. Weak at S, MLB and DT. That has killed them.

 

[Bobhaze]

Sorry, triggered response on my part OP actually is recognizing Dak's bad play in the POffs. I was aiming more at the Dak fan boys.

Gonzo, multiple things can be true at the same time. The last two playoff games, Dak played poorly. He was awful vs the pack and below avg vs the niners the year before that.

In the 5 playoff losses Dak has played, he’s thrown 6 INTs. But 4 of the 6 were in the last two games. Not defending that.

But our playoff woes are not “either/or”. It’s not “all Dak” or “all defense”. Based on the facts I’ve gathered, I believe it’s more on the defense, but again, it’s way oversimplified to just say, “All we need is a better QB”.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Sorry Bob, but Dak has been just as bad if not worse than the defense. Especially in the last 3 losses