Twitter: Scoring first was the key in Cowboys wins last year

[Bobhaze]

As NFL writer Warren Sharp chronicled in his Twitter post, scoring first in the NFL matters a lot. In the last decade, NFL teams that score first win 64% of the time. Last year, that was even more true for the Cowboys.

In the 2023 season, it was very obvious that the Cowboys almost had to score first to win. The Cowboys were an amazing 10-0 last year when they scored first. Including the playoff loss to GB last January, the Cowboys were 2-6 when the opponent scored first.

Here are some reasons why scoring first mattered so much for Dallas in 2023:

• When the Cowboys were ahead, especially if they led by 10 or more, it allowed our defense‘s strengths to step forward which was rushing the passer. When we got behind, stopping the run became critical and that has been our Achilles heel on defense for years.
• Daron Bland’s 5 pick six TDs last year all happened when the Cowboys were ahead. Four of them happened when we were ahead by two or more scores.
• In the Cowboys six losses last season, teams were able to run the ball almost at will. Buffalo took the opening kickoff and rammed it down our throat on the ground as did the cards, niners and the packers in those losses. When you’re behind, if you can’t stop the run, it’s curtains.
• This defensive problem puts pressure on the Cowboys offense to always score first. Sometimes an NFL offense is going to start slow. Look at the chiefs offense in the SB. They scored 3 in the first half but their defense kept them in the game until the offense could get going.

So based on the above info, in 2024 will this team be able to win if they fall behind early? Will we once again have to score first to have a realistic shot to win?

 

[Chasing6]

As NFL writer Warren Sharp chronicled in his Twitter post, scoring first in the NFL matters a lot. In the last decade, NFL teams that score first win 64% of the time. Last year, that was even more true for the Cowboys.

In the 2023 season, it was very obvious that the Cowboys almost had to score first to win. The Cowboys were an amazing 10-0 last year when they scored first. Including the playoff loss to GB last January, the Cowboys were 2-6 when the opponent scored first.

Here are some reasons why scoring first mattered so much for Dallas in 2023:

• When the Cowboys were ahead, especially if they led by 10 or more, it allowed our defense‘s strengths to step forward which was rushing the passer. When we got behind, stopping the run became critical and that has been our Achilles heel on defense for years.
• Daron Bland’s 5 pick six TDs last year all happened when the Cowboys were ahead. Four of them happened when we were ahead by two or more scores.
• In the Cowboys six losses last season, teams were able to run the ball almost at will. Buffalo took the opening kickoff and rammed it down our throat on the ground as did the cards, niners and the packers in those losses. When you’re behind, if you can’t stop the run, it’s curtains.
• This defensive problem puts pressure on the Cowboys offense to always score first. Sometimes an NFL offense is going to start slow. Look at the chiefs offense in the SB. They scored 3 in the first half but their defense kept them in the game until the offense could get going.

So based on the above info, in 2024 will this team be able to win if they fall behind early? Will we once again have to score first to have a realistic shot to win?

Yes. We needed a lead for our defense, so they could play one dimensional.

 

[ChuckA1]

Definitely says something about the defense.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Definitely says something about the defense.

It doesnt say anything about offense?

I realize the d played better under that kind of scheme. But it seemed to me the offense rarely helped stop the bleeding.

And yes...i of course will read bobs op more carefully.

 

[Chasing6]

It doesnt say anything about offense?

I realize the d played better under that kind of scheme. But it seemed to me the offense rarely helped stop the bleeding.

And yes...i of course will read bobs op more carefully.

It clearly indicates without a lead our D can not get us back in the game.

 

[McKDaddy]

Can't run
Can't stop the run
QB not a difference maker

It all lines up with basic football knowledge.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Interesting. It’s been my only minor complaint about the defense….our offense isn’t gonna be on fire every game and the defense sometimes needs to bail us out especially against the better teams.

 

[Bobhaze]

Definitely says something about the defense.

Need to get better at stopping the run. Hmmm….we‘ve heard this before.

 

[ChuckA1]

It doesnt say anything about offense?

I realize the d played better under that kind of scheme. But it seemed to me the offense rarely helped stop the bleeding.

And yes...i of course will read bobs op more carefully.

Of course, that too.

 

[JW82]

Pretty sure dallas won 100% when scoring first and lost 100% when they didn't last year. The poster boys for front runners.

 

[jazzcat22]

So this brings up the question. Take the ball or defer. You defer, defense makes a stop. Then offense scores. Or take the ball first as fans freak out, and then score first.

Every game fans freaked out because we did not defer. Even if the opponent won the coin toss and deferred, so we go on offense first. They still freaked out.
They did defer at times though. Fans were calm.

So if we take the ball first to score first, will this change that mind set.

 

[Bobhaze]

Pretty sure dallas won 100% when scoring first and lost 100% when they didn't last year. The poster boys for front runners.

Well we were 10-0 last year when scoring first. 2-6 when the opponent scored first.

 

[Chasing6]

It doesnt say anything about offense?

I realize the d played better under that kind of scheme. But it seemed to me the offense rarely helped stop the bleeding.

And yes...i of course will read bobs op more carefully.

That kind of scheme? They never changed the scheme. If we were down 20 it was the same scheme. If we gave up 7 yards a carry, it was still the same scheme rush the passer.

 

[Bobhaze]

So this brings up the question. Take the ball or defer. You defer, defense makes a stop. Then offense scores. Or take the ball first as fans freak out, and then score first.

Every game fans freaked out because we did not defer. Even if the opponent won the coin toss and deferred, so we go on offense first. They still freaked out.
They did defer at times though. Fans were calm.

So if we take the ball first to score first, will this change that mind set.

After looking at the team’s recent history, taking the ball first makes sense.

 

[Stash]

As NFL writer Warren Sharp chronicled in his Twitter post, scoring first in the NFL matters a lot. In the last decade, NFL teams that score first win 64% of the time. Last year, that was even more true for the Cowboys.

In the 2023 season, it was very obvious that the Cowboys almost had to score first to win. The Cowboys were an amazing 10-0 last year when they scored first. Including the playoff loss to GB last January, the Cowboys were 2-6 when the opponent scored first.

Here are some reasons why scoring first mattered so much for Dallas in 2023:

• When the Cowboys were ahead, especially if they led by 10 or more, it allowed our defense‘s strengths to step forward which was rushing the passer. When we got behind, stopping the run became critical and that has been our Achilles heel on defense for years.
• Daron Bland’s 5 pick six TDs last year all happened when the Cowboys were ahead. Four of them happened when we were ahead by two or more scores.
• In the Cowboys six losses last season, teams were able to run the ball almost at will. Buffalo took the opening kickoff and rammed it down our throat on the ground as did the cards, niners and the packers in those losses. When you’re behind, if you can’t stop the run, it’s curtains.
• This defensive problem puts pressure on the Cowboys offense to always score first. Sometimes an NFL offense is going to start slow. Look at the chiefs offense in the SB. They scored 3 in the first half but their defense kept them in the game until the offense could get going.

So based on the above info, in 2024 will this team be able to win if they fall behind early? Will we once again have to score first to have a realistic shot to win?

I think this shows the ‘smoke and mirrors’ that was the Dan Quinn defense. He sold out at all costs for pass rush, to the detriment of sound fundamentals and run defense.

It worked when they had a lead, but fell apart if and when they didn’t.

The hope is that Mike Zimmer can install a more disciplined defense. One that is good against both the pass and the run.

But it doesn’t help matters that he’s been given virtually no investment in helping his cause.

 

[Chasing6]

I think this shows the ‘smoke and mirrors’ that was the Dan Quinn defense. He sold out at all costs for pass rush, to the detriment of sound fundamentals and run defense.

It worked when they had a lead, but fell apart if and when they didn’t.

The hope is that Mike Zimmerman can install a more disciplined defense. One that is good against both the pass and the run.

But it doesn’t help matters that he’s been given virtually no investment in helping his cause.

Prior to Quinn it was a similar problem.

 

[birdwells1]

As NFL writer Warren Sharp chronicled in his Twitter post, scoring first in the NFL matters a lot. In the last decade, NFL teams that score first win 64% of the time. Last year, that was even more true for the Cowboys.

In the 2023 season, it was very obvious that the Cowboys almost had to score first to win. The Cowboys were an amazing 10-0 last year when they scored first. Including the playoff loss to GB last January, the Cowboys were 2-6 when the opponent scored first.

Here are some reasons why scoring first mattered so much for Dallas in 2023:

• When the Cowboys were ahead, especially if they led by 10 or more, it allowed our defense‘s strengths to step forward which was rushing the passer. When we got behind, stopping the run became critical and that has been our Achilles heel on defense for years.
• Daron Bland’s 5 pick six TDs last year all happened when the Cowboys were ahead. Four of them happened when we were ahead by two or more scores.
• In the Cowboys six losses last season, teams were able to run the ball almost at will. Buffalo took the opening kickoff and rammed it down our throat on the ground as did the cards, niners and the packers in those losses. When you’re behind, if you can’t stop the run, it’s curtains.
• This defensive problem puts pressure on the Cowboys offense to always score first. Sometimes an NFL offense is going to start slow. Look at the chiefs offense in the SB. They scored 3 in the first half but their defense kept them in the game until the offense could get going.

So based on the above info, in 2024 will this team be able to win if they fall behind early? Will we once again have to score first to have a realistic shot to win?

They say "it's a passing league" but running teams were the last 4 standing last year. In 13 playoff games the team that won the rushing battle was 10-3. If the Cowboys don't fix the run game and run defense then their season will end early again. So what does the front office do at the DT position? Nothing or less than nothing because they let Hankins go without replacing him with a veteran.

 

[Stash]

Prior to Quinn it was a similar problem.

Most definitely. But at least Quinn’s defense improved over Marinelli’s outdated mess in big play areas like sacks and turnovers. We won’t even get into the disaster that was Mike Nolan.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

So this brings up the question. Take the ball or defer. You defer, defense makes a stop. Then offense scores. Or take the ball first as fans freak out, and then score first.

Every game fans freaked out because we did not defer. Even if the opponent won the coin toss and deferred, so we go on offense first. They still freaked out.
They did defer at times though. Fans were calm.

So if we take the ball first to score first, will this change that mind set.

Yeah this was a big debate. These stats back up why they take the ball first.

 

[JoeKing]

Interesting topic, @Bobhaze. I'm curious how often the winner of the coin toss wins the game. As the league gets closer to its goal of parity, I would think that percentage would be approaching 50%.