Our defense in the 5 playoff losses in last decade

[Mr_437]

Defense wins championships, yet Offense has most of the resources. If you wonder why fans blame Dak is because he has a lot of help and doesn't carry the team. Some blame the Defense, but they haven't had the resources to carry the team.

DT/NT, MLB, and S is the key to a strong defense, yet look at the money these guys are being paid on the Cowboys this season. Cowboys probably would get shredded again vs the run if they were to make it to the Playoffs.

 

[ncelkins1]

You would think that a team would TIGHTEN up on a part of the season where it's 1 loss and your out, we actually LOSEN up!! We've got to fix this, hopefully CULTURE changes will help us get better in these games!

It’s been said many times the Cowboys run super simple schemes and don’t put any wrinkles in. These stats tell me our coaches are failing us with schemes and being ready.

 

[Coogiguy03]

It’s been said many times the Cowboys run super simple schemes and don’t put any wrinkles in. These stats tell me our coaches are failing us with schemes and being ready.

clearly they have one game plan, and have no thoughts of adjusting as the game goes on, it's a poor way to run a team!!

 

[Chasing6]

So you are saying the offense can’t score over 21 points a game.
Sounds like they are part of the problem.

Are you saying you have not watched the Cowboys play? Pretty sure we averaged more than that with Dak injured.

 

[GINeric]

Gin, without doing all the research, I do know in the Jan, 2022 (2021 season) 23-17 loss to the niners at home in the wild card round, we had 14 penalties that day, I seem to remember 5 of them were against the defense for lining up offsides, lol. I think Randy Gregory was the main culprit.

And that's my point. I dont care who the quarterback is. No quarterback can overcome winning a playoff game against a number one ranked 49ers defense in a playoff game.

Yet, Cowboys quarterbacks are expected to. Funny how that works.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

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?

Firm believer the offense helps or hurts the defense. If we break down the defense....we GOTTA report how the offense performed..

I would think normally...if the offense performs well...as it should...you usually win, or lose...by just a bit.

What was the point spread in these games?

Did dak (offense) help or hurt defense?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

So you are saying the offense can’t score over 21 points a game.
Sounds like they are part of the problem.

Yes. Exactly.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

And that's my point. I dont care who the quarterback is. No quarterback can overcome winning a playoff game against a number one ranked 49ers defense in a playoff game.

Yet, Cowboys quarterbacks are expected to. Funny how that works.

Yes...they are. At least come out 50-50

 

[GINeric]

Yes...they are. At least come out 50-50

I meant to say no quarterback can overcome 14 penalties against that number one 49ers defense in a playoff game.

 

[kskboys]

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?

Not only does he not understand it, he would have no clue the actions needed to fix it. Our biggest weakness, by far, is DT. There's not close 2nd. We absolutely will not have playoff success until we get topnotch DTs. DTs are what cause TOs in the playoffs, as well as limiting opposing QBs and making sacks available to your edge rushers. Everything on D starts w/ you DTs. It's almost impossible to make a super bowl if they are weak.

 

[gtb1943]

I meant to say no quarterback can overcome 14 penalties against that number one 49ers defense in a playoff game.

he still sucked
no matter how you try and claim he didn't

 

[kskboys]

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

And the low IQ fans who bring him up endlessly, especially in threads that are not about him.

 

[gtb1943]

Not only does he not understand it, he would have no clue the actions needed to fix it. Our biggest weakness, by far, is DT. There's not close 2nd. We absolutely will not have playoff success until we get topnotch DTs. DTs are what cause TOs in the playoffs, as well as limiting opposing QBs and making sacks available to your edge rushers. Everything on D starts w/ you DTs. It's almost impossible to make a super bowl if they are weak.

You know that; I know that; the janitor know that
But Jethro, a former college guard, for some reason refuses to see it

 

[kskboys]

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?

Well, Bob, thought you knew better. You mentioned Dak, completely derailed your own thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

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?

All I recall, me lovable oaf, are Dak not getting back to the snap on time and losing to the 49ers, then next time Zeke hiking the ball and Dak throwing a 25-yard pass to his receiver when we needed 60 yards.
Dak has ruined my joy of football.

 

[GINeric]

he still sucked
no matter how you try and claim he didn't

There's no debating that Dak underperformed in those playoff games, i definitely agree with you..... But so did the rest of the team and coaching staff.

In one of those games we had 14 penalties. Last time I've checked, none of them were committed by Dak.

And again.... no quarterback would be able to overcome 14 team penalties vs a number one defense in the playoffs.

If so please tell me the name or names of the quarterbacks who did and I wouldn't mind being corrected.

 

[gtb1943]

There's no debating that Dak underperformed in those playoff games, i definitely agree with you..... But so did the rest of the team and coaching staff.

In one of those games we had 14 penalties. Last time I've checked, none of them were committed by Dak.

And again.... no quarterback would be able to overcome 14 team penalties vs a number one defense in the playoffs.

If so please tell me the name or names of the quarterbacks who did and I wouldn't mind being corrected.

but you are trying to cover for Dak
you keep saying if if if if
Dak has his fair share of the teams failures and has come up small when it mattered the most
And once again in the end it all comes down to the fact that when this team gets punched in the jaw, it folds

 

[McCarthyMustGo]

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?

Better coaches outsmarting ours when it comes to game plan and strategy.

 

[GINeric]

but you are trying to cover for Dak
you keep saying if if if if
Dak has his fair share of the teams failures and has come up small when it mattered the most
And once again in the end it all comes down to the fact that when this team gets punched in the jaw, it folds

How am I covering for Dak if I admitted that he underperformed?? That doesn't make sense.

I'm just saying that he wasn't the only one and again.... no quarterback can overcome 14 penalties vs the number one defense in one of those playoff games.

Once again.... we both agree that Dak wilted in those games. I'm confused as to how that could be perceived as "covering for him".

 

[OGSixshooter]

Dak kept putting the D in horrible situations with short fields and repeated turnovers. And for most of those playoff games, he was a highly paid QB. Nah, I'm blaming Dak.