Our offense in the 5 playoff losses the past decade

[CowboyFrog]

Yeah I would agree with the 60/40 split there Bobhaze. A lot of things are true about Dak Prescott. He is not solely responsible for lack of playoff success but playing at his best either. .

since 2016 he has been jeckle and hide, hopefully this new staff can get him leveled and consistant. Obviously a good run game helps... then there is the Dline that gonna need to be MUCH better also.

 

[zrinkill]

Like I posted prior, our "high octane" offense scored 7 or less points in the first half of 4 of those 5 games and I'd be i interested to know the Red Zone percentage in those games.

Thank you

 

[zrinkill]

Zrin and Mike - it takes a lot of time to do this kind of research.

Here is the link I used for my work if you guys would like to do the research what you described. It includes every playoff game the Cowboys ever played, the box scores, stats, etc. It’s all there.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/playoffs.htm

I am sure it does ..... was not questioning your work.

I already knew the answer, that most of those points were in the late 3rd and 4th quarters after the headlights turned off ànd the deer can move again.

 

[DeaconMoss]

You're absolutely correct. Now if you can't support your quarterback in tough times, then make sure you don't support the offensive line when they can't open holes and/or being amongst the league leaders with holding penalties, hands to the face and false starts.

I guess we have to stop supporting receivers not named Lamb for failing to create separation and getting open.

Now let toss in stopping the support for the entire defensive for the inability to stop the run. Also, our secondary has gotten fried at key times too, so I guess their support will be stripped.

Micah is our best defensive player correct?? Uh ohhh.... he disappeared in those big games too. Where are all those Micah mid-season highlights when the playoffs started?? I guess we're snatching away his support as well.

I have absolutely no problem with you for your valid reasons to stop supporting Dak. But make sure you take away the support of those others who fell short in the same games. That's all im saying.

With that said, im ALWAYS going to support Cowboys players. Because they are Dallas Cowboys players. I've had support for this team before any of the current players were on the roster and I will still support this team when everyone on our current roster has been long gone in retirement.

There has to be good times to offset the tough times. Its way past time to move on in search of some good times.

 

[GINeric]

There has to be good times to offset the tough times. Its way past time to move on in search of some good times.

Our players haven't had all tough times. There are other teams and other players who had tough times, stuck it out and won big in some cases.

 

[GINeric]

Looking back on the last decade, one of the biggest problems with this team IMO is this collection of players was overrated. There were times in the last decade it was top 6-8. But the playoffs are the ultimate test of what your team truly is.

And the playoffs showed that our Cowboys have not been one of the best 4 teams. That’s even true over 30 years. We just haven’t been as good as many thought or even as our record showed.

One of the greatest coaches in NFL history said "you are as good as your record says you are".

This is the NFL. Every NFL coach, player and GM have always said it is hard to win games in this league. So I dont believe in "skewed" records according to what the professionals have previously said.

 

[Spottswoode]

I am sure it does ..... was not questioning your work.

I already knew the answer, that most of those points were in the late 3rd and 4th quarters after the headlights turned off ànd the deer can move again.

Not sure the lights were off in most of those games. If your argument is Dallas consistently played from behind, I agree. If the point is they were meaningless scores, not so sure.

2016 - Pack won on game ending FG
2018 - Rams up 8 @ 5:20 in 3rd through 7:16 in 4th; again @ 2:11 in 4th
2021 - SF up 6 with 8:00 left (no one scored again)
2022 - SF up 4 with 11:00 left; SF up 7 with 3:00 left & Dallas with ball
2023 - game over by halftime

In the 5 playoff games @Bobhaze listed, Dallas trailed in all but 1 going into the 4th (‘22 tied).

Points scored late 3rd & 4th
2016 - 17 (lights still on)
2018 - 14 (lights still on)
2021 - 10 (lights still on)
2022 - 3 (lights still on)
2023 - 21 (lights never turned on)

 

[CowboyFrog]

Not sure the lights were off in most of those games. If your argument is Dallas consistently played from behind, I agree. If the point is they were meaningless scores, not so sure.

2016 - Pack won on game ending FG
2018 - Rams up 8 @ 5:20 in 3rd through 7:16 in 4th; again @ 2:11 in 4th
2021 - SF up 6 with 8:00 left (no one scored again)
2022 - SF up 4 with 11:00 left; SF up 7 with 3:00 left & Dallas with ball
2023 - game over by halftime

In the 5 playoff games @Bobhaze listed, Dallas trailed in all but 1 going into the 4th (‘22 tied).

Points scored late 3rd & 4th
2016 - 17 (lights still on)
2018 - 14 (lights still on)
2021 - 10 (lights still on)
2022 - 3 (lights still on)
2023 - 21 (lights never turned on)

yeah the Last one was really the only one over early..and obviously both sides sucked...

 

[zrinkill]

Not sure the lights were off in most of those games. If your argument is Dallas consistently played from behind, I agree. If the point is they were meaningless scores, not so sure.

2016 - Pack won on game ending FG
2018 - Rams up 8 @ 5:20 in 3rd through 7:16 in 4th; again @ 2:11 in 4th
2021 - SF up 6 with 8:00 left (no one scored again)
2022 - SF up 4 with 11:00 left; SF up 7 with 3:00 left & Dallas with ball
2023 - game over by halftime

In the 5 playoff games @Bobhaze listed, Dallas trailed in all but 1 going into the 4th (‘22 tied).

Points scored late 3rd & 4th
2016 - 17 (lights still on)
2018 - 14 (lights still on)
2021 - 10 (lights still on)
2022 - 3 (lights still on)
2023 - 21 (lights never turned

Headlights were blinding the deer in the first half.

After we are way behind .... the deer can move again.

 

[Spottswoode]

Headlights were blinding the deer in the first half.

After we are way behind .... the deer can move again.

I thought your post was suggesting the lights were off late 3rd and 4th. Or said another way, the games were already decided and the deer had no fear. Was my reading wrong?

Bottom line is outside of 1 game, the remaining were winnable in the late 3rd & 4th. Maybe someone turned the lights off too early or the deer got too comfortable.

 

[Spottswoode]

Like I posted prior, our "high octane" offense scored 7 or less points in the first half of 4 of those 5 games and I'd be i interested to know the Red Zone percentage in those games.

Red Zone success

2016 - 5 trips (4 TD’s, 1 FG)
2018 - 3 trips (2 TD’s, 1 FG)
2021 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)
2022 - 3 trips (1 TD, 1 FG, 1 Pick)
2023 - 5 trips (4 TD’s, 1 FG)

 

[TexasBacon]

I thought your post was suggesting the lights were off late 3rd and 4th. Or said another way, the games were already decided and the deer had no fear. Was my reading wrong?

Bottom line is outside of 1 game, the remaining were winnable in the late 3rd & 4th. Maybe someone turned the lights off too early or the deer got too comfortable.

Good point. The case with Dak has always been the situational football issues. Stats tell one story, but it's the clutch moments where he falters that have made the team fail in the big moments and fanbase sour on him. The picks when they are down one possession and driving. The inability to make "that" play when it really matters. Like Bob said, I'm a Cowboys fan over everything. To me, that means being frustrated with Dak but rooting for him to turn it around, and for the team to finally find the right formula with the current personnel to propel them over the hump. Hopefully it can happen, but the odds are stacked against him.

 

[Spottswoode]

Good point. The case with Dak has always been the situational football issues. Stats tell one story, but it's the clutch moments where he falters that have made the team fail in the big moments and fanbase sour on him. The picks when they are down one possession and driving. The inability to make "that" play when it really matters. Like Bob said, I'm a Cowboys fan over everything. To me, that means being frustrated with Dak but rooting for him to turn it around, and for the team to finally find the right formula with the current personnel to propel them over the hump. Hopefully it can happen, but the odds are stacked against him.

I agree and share the same frustrations with Dak that others have. My opinion falls somewhere in the middle of the extremes but I don’t think I am as emotionally invested in Dak as most.

I was in no way implying the stats I shared somehow absolve Dak. I was simply disputing the contention that the late 3rd/4th quarter stats were achieved after the outcomes were decided.

You always run a risk sharing stats on this site because it may not fit the narrative of one of the extremes. Some are so dug in that data and stats are seen as threatening.

 

[shabazz]

Red Zone success

2016 - 5 trips (4 TD’s, 1 FG)
2018 - 3 trips (2 TD’s, 1 FG)
2021 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)
2022 - 3 trips (1 TD, 1 FG, 1 Pick)
2023 - 5 trips (4 TD’s, 1 FG)

Thank you for that. I should have asked for 1st half red zone percentage in those games where they scored 7 or less points in the 1st half.

That's on me but again, nice job with that.

 

[goshann]

And that's the weirdest thing ever. Respectfully.... how does a fan cheer for a team but hate it's own players. This is the only fanbase I see doing that.

Aren't fans of a team supposed to support the players on their "favorite" team? I'm sorry, but that makes absolutely zero sense.

Because he is more of a fan of being right than he is the team

He isn’t really a cowboy fan

Any true fan will root for a player to do well even if they think the player isn’t good enough

Dak haters root against the qb and are silent when he does well

 

[Spottswoode]

Thank you for that. I should have asked for 1st half red zone percentage in those games where they scored 7 or less points in the 1st half.

That's on me but again, nice job with that.

You’re welcome…I’m just looking at the drive charts. It takes a few minutes to check.

2016 & 2018 were off for game totals. This is correct:

2016 - 4 trips (2 TD’s, 1 FG, 1 pick)
2018 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)…I added a Rams FG on accident
2021 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)
2022 - 3 trips (1TD, 1 FG, 1 pick)
2023 - 5 trips (4 TD’s, 1 FG)

1st half red zone
2016 - 1 trip (FG)
2018 - 1 trip (TD)
2021 - 1 trip (TD)
2022 - 2 trips (1 pick, 1 TD - missed XP)
2023 - 1 trip (TD)

You calculate the percentage depending on whether you want any scores or just TD’s. These are every trip into the red zone for the game & 1st half.

 

[Bobhaze]

You’re welcome…I’m just looking at the drive charts. It takes a few minutes to check.

2016 & 2018 were off for game totals. This is correct:

2016 - 4 trips (2 TD’s, 1 FG, 1 pick)
2018 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)…I added a Rams FG on accident
2021 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)
2022 - 3 trips (1TD, 1 FG, 1 pick)
2023 - 5 trips (4 TD’s, 1 FG)

1st half red zone
2016 - 1 trip (FG)
2018 - 1 trip (TD)
2021 - 1 trip (TD)
2022 - 2 trips (1 pick, 1 TD - missed XP)
2023 - 1 trip (TD)

You calculate the percentage depending on whether you want any scores or just TD’s. These are every trip into the red zone for the game & 1st half.

You are doing some outstanding work here @Spottswoode. Much appreciated.

 

[gtb1943]

You’re welcome…I’m just looking at the drive charts. It takes a few minutes to check.

2016 & 2018 were off for game totals. This is correct:

2016 - 4 trips (2 TD’s, 1 FG, 1 pick)
2018 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)…I added a Rams FG on accident
2021 - 2 trips (2 TD’s)
2022 - 3 trips (1TD, 1 FG, 1 pick)
2023 - 5 trips (4 TD’s, 1 FG)

1st half red zone
2016 - 1 trip (FG)
2018 - 1 trip (TD)
2021 - 1 trip (TD)
2022 - 2 trips (1 pick, 1 TD - missed XP)
2023 - 1 trip (TD)

You calculate the percentage depending on whether you want any scores or just TD’s. These are every trip into the red zone for the game & 1st half.

so in all but one game we did not get to the red zone more than once in the first half
Clearly offensive failure there

 

[GINeric]

Because he is more of a fan of being right than he is the team

He isn’t really a cowboy fan

Any true fan will root for a player to do well even if they think the player isn’t good enough

Dak haters root against the qb and are silent when he does well

EXACTLY!!!!! There are a group of people here that claim to be fans of the Dallas Cowboys but NEVER post after big wins or close wins and hide from this board ALLLLL week after a win.... but as soon as we lose, they come climbing out of their parent's basement to post immediately after a loss and post ALLLL week.

I dont even have to name them, just pay attention to the regulars that disappear after Cowboys wins.

 

[Spottswoode]

so in all but one game we did not get to the red zone more than once in the first half
Clearly offensive failure there

We have been pathetic in the first half.

Cowboys 1st half scores - 7, 6, 7, 7, 13
Opponent 1st half scores - 28, 9, 16, 20, 21