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

[SteveTheCowboy]

Please explain how you close the lead when you defense keeps giving up points after every drive?

You score and control the clock so the defense can rest.
See 2016.

 

[birdwells1]

Once that happened our offense just shrunk. All stats and numbers aside our offense fed off of our defense as far as energy and emotion. When our defense got scored on first our offense came out flat.

I still remember watching the first drive of the Buffalo game and their RB pushed our whole defensive line a couple yards for a 1st down. I said out loud, “we lost”. It was over, I knew this team didn’t have the stomach to bounce back. Same thing when Green Bay scored first.

If you go back and watch the swagger and body language of our offense when they score first or the defense gets a TO or score, it’s pretty staggering the confidence the offense plays with when it has momentum. It’s pretty scary watching our offense play from behind.

We need our defense to stop the run. That’s the key to our whole team IMHO.

This rights here!

 

[birdwells1]

You score and control the clock so the defense can rest.
See 2016.

Also 2014, the run game and run defense will tell the tale in 2025, if those aren't fixed then we will be out early again.

 

[Chuck 54]

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

Maybe someone else will jump in and see if that compares to the teams under Staubach and Aikman that actually won SBs and what happened in the playoffs. In the playoffs, defenses are usually better, teams more balanced. If Dallas scored first, I’m guessing teams like SF and Detroit would be much less likely to abandon the run.

Our Cowboys offense is more 1-dimensional than n the past. We can move the ball in the air, but our run game has no consistency and very little explosive threat. Our Cowboys defense has been 1-dimensional for a long time. We can defend the pass and rush the QB, but we are awful defending the run. Losing in the playoffs with an offense and defense that are 1-dimensional should not be surprising, not even with star players when most of those stars make their impacts mostly in the passing offense and defense only.

The Cowboys teams that have won SBs, lost SBs, or even played in the NFC championship have been more balanced with staunch defenses known for their DLs and offenses that had star RBs.

 

[Chasing6]

You score and control the clock so the defense can rest.
See 2016.

You mean to tell me they did not have time to rest after giving up a TD in 2 minutes and 45 seconds after halftime? Then followed up by a 1 minute and 36 touchdown?

Those long drives after the half really warn then out against GB.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

You mean to tell me they did not have time to rest after giving up a TD in 2 minutes and 45 seconds after halftime? Then followed up by a 1 minute and 36 touchdown?

Those long drives after the half really warn then out against GB.

Oh....the old but 2nd half! routine, eh?

 

[Chasing6]

Oh....the old but 2nd half! routine, eh?

Ok. So the opening drive by GB that was 75 yards and more than half the first quarter. Now that was warn them out. That makes sense.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Ok. So the opening drive by GB that was 75 yards and more than half the first quarter. Now that was warn them out. That makes sense.

Ok ok calm down.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

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.

Wait. What?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Wait. What?

What...what? What are you confused about?

 

[Bobhaze]

Under 16ppg allowed by their defense in the playoffs too. I don't think it's any coincidence that the best defense in each conference made it to the superbowl. Extremely difficult to win in this league without a strong defense.

^^^^^^ THIS RIGHT HERE. As you stated TP, the best defenses in each conference made it to the SB. I have argued all off-season, as great as Pat Mahomes is, the chiefs don’t win that SB without their defense.

In last year’s SB, the chiefs trailed 10-0 in 2nd qtr, scored 3 points in the first half, and their 5 possessions in the first half were punt, punt, punt, fumble, and FG. The chiefs defense kept them in that game long enough for the chiefs offense to wake up in the second half, where they scored 16 points in qtrs 3 and 4 and 6 in OT. While the chiefs D held the niners offense to 12 points in second half AND OT.

Defense still matters…a ton.

 

[Chasing6]

^^^^^^ THIS RIGHT HERE. As you stated TP, the best defenses in each conference made it to the SB. I have argued all off-season, as great as Pat Mahomes is, the chiefs don’t win that SB without their defense.

In last year’s SB, the chiefs trailed 10-0 in 2nd qtr, scored 3 points in the first half, and their 5 possessions in the first half were punt, punt, punt, fumble, and FG. The chiefs defense kept them in that game long enough for the chiefs offense to wake up in the second half, where they scored 16 points in qtrs 3 and 4 and 6 in OT. While the chiefs D held the niners offense to 12 points in second half AND OT.

Defense still matters…a ton.

Every loss KC had last year the D gave up 22 or more points.

 

[Whyjerry]

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

100 pct. Parsons can pin his ears back and attack. He looks great doing that. Parsons having to scrape, run defend, and grind is a very average player.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

And we were very lucky to win the lions game.

Many say we didn't. And I would have to agree it's not a clear-cut thing....

 

[Bobhaze]

Every loss KC had last year the D gave up 22 or more points.

The chiefs won two playoff games on the road last year…averaged giving up 17 points including giving up 10 on the road vs the ravens.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Majority of our losses are when we give up 28 points or more. When is the last time we lost a game giving up 17 points?

Interesting response considering how many points we shifted in the two SF play-off losses. How about finding some causal links, rather than the usual one-eyed Pro-Dak stat that deflects away from him? It's plainly obvious that Dak struggles when he has to move out of his comfort zone....so teams put everything into scoring early and good teams can force Dak out AS PER JIMMIE WARD's quotes.

“We went in there and did what we needed to do: Stop the run and force them to be one-dimensional. See if Prescott could win the game for them,” Jan 2022

"“Dak isn’t good against zone [coverage]....... we went out there, and from the very first snap, the energy was on 10,” Jan 2023.

 

[Chasing6]

Interesting response considering how many points we shifted in the two SF play-off losses. How about finding some causal links, rather than the usual one-eyed Pro-Dak stat that deflects away from him? It's plainly obvious that Dak struggles when he has to move out of his comfort zone....so teams put everything into scoring early and good teams can force Dak out AS PER JIMMIE WARD's quotes.

“We went in there and did what we needed to do: Stop the run and force them to be one-dimensional. See if Prescott could win the game for them,” Jan 2022

"“Dak isn’t good against zone [coverage]....... we went out there, and from the very first snap, the energy was on 10,” Jan 2023.

It has nothing to do with Dak. Any QB is going to struggle having to score 28+ points a game.

Go look at all of KC losses last year. All are when the D gave up 22 or more points. Did Dak play for KC or was it the great Mahomes?

 

[plasticman]

Very true. Even though they are professionals, I think scoring first also has an effect on morale and confidence.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

This is one facet that I'm hoping Zimmer can bring. Quinn's strategy was good when we had a lead, but then, most defences can be really good when you score first. What we need is to be able to evolve this defence to handle both playing with a lead and playing from behind.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the aggressive nature of DQ. However, I felt that his style during deficits wasn't great. I'm hoping for a more evolved defence that can handle playing from behind as well and playing in front. Id also like to see us play better in short yardage situations. In situations where we knew the pass was coming, we were one of the best in teams defending it. That's where most of our picks came from. However, the defence was overly reliant on turnovers. I want us to still get a lot of turnovers, but I also want us to be better able to make short yardage stops. Especially in the run.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I'm shocked that more teams don't stick to it!!!!

Well, we play the AFC North this year, so I think Zimmer's defence is going to get heavily tested in this department. He better have our run defence ready, or this could be a bad defence.