CFZ The challenge of consecutive playoff seasons in the NFL

[Bobhaze]

Every new NFL season means a few teams no one expected much from will make the playoffs after not making it the prior season or even many years. And there will also be a few teams everyone expected to make the playoffs that won’t.

And, the difficulty of making the playoffs in consecutive seasons has become more and more difficult. Last year, our Cowboys made the playoffs in back to back seasons for the first time in 15 years. That creates some “organizational momentum” which is rare in today’s NFL. (The Cowboys record for consecutive playoff seasons is 9- from 1975-83)

Here are some interesting facts about NFL playoff teams and how fluid things are year to year:

• Over the last 10 years, an average of 5.8 NFL teams per year make the playoffs that didn't qualify for the playoffs the prior season.
• Every year during that time, at least 4 teams made the jump from non-playoff team to playoff team. In years like 2017-18, it was as many as 8 teams.
• The expanded playoffs implemented 3 seasons ago haven't changed this trend much either. We have seen up to 7 teams make the playoffs after missing the season prior.
• In 2020, the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs but did in 2021 and ‘22. The rams won the SB in the 2021 season yet didn’t even make the playoffs last year.

It’s even more difficult to make the playoffs 3 years in a row as evidenced by this info showing current NFL teams playoff streaks:

• Kansas City- 8 consecutive seasons (since 2015)
• Buffalo- 4 consecutive seasons
• Dallas, SF, Filly and Cincy- 2 consecutive seasons each

The Cowboys have shown they can build some organizational momentum by making the playoffs the last 2 seasons. Can they make it 3 consecutive playoff seasons for the first time in almost 3 decades? Can the Cowboys join teams like KC and Buffalo and show they are built to compete for several consecutive seasons? We will learn the answer to that question in the next 6 months.

 

[DallasEast]

Can they make it 3 consecutive playoff seasons for the first time in almost 3 decades?

The team has the players and coaches to do it. Health, as always, will play a minor or major role. The unanswered question is how far can the team advance in the postseason?

 

[Bobhaze]

The team has the players and coaches to do it. Health, as always, will play a minor or major role. The unanswered question is how far can the team advance in the postseason?

I was surprised at how few teams even have consecutive playoff seasons. As of now only the chiefs, bills, Cowboys, egirls, bengals and niners have any consecutive playoff year streaks. Shows how competitive the league is year to year.

 

[CouchCoach]

I think the shape of the NFC favors them making it 3 in a row. Unless some teams like CAR, NO or LAR get hot. DET and SEA are already considered on the bubble. And that team that has surprised me more than any over the years, the NYG.

On paper, they're still the #3 team behind PHL and SF but that SF DL could be the nastiest thing in the league this season and PHL lost their best pass rusher to SF.

However, SF might have QB challenges but if McCaffery and Samuel stay healthy, he can drive the bus to the SB.

If you want a very interesting off season, have the Cowboys miss the playoffs. Questions at HC, OC and QB galore. We might spend so much time posting here, our families may have interventions.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

This is basically just a "does your organization have a QB?" metric, and there's been a bunch of shuffling recently.

I don't think there's any merit to 3 consecutive appearances instead of performance over 5-6 years, but the prolific QBs all go to the playoffs regularly.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The team has the players and coaches to do it. Health, as always, will play a minor or major role. The unanswered question is how far can the team advance in the postseason?

To me the question is.............can they beat the Niners?

 

[CowboyRoy]

This is basically just a "does your organization have a QB?" metric, and there's been a bunch of shuffling recently.

I don't think there's any merit to 3 consecutive appearances instead of performance over 5-6 years, but the prolific QBs all go to the playoffs regularly.

That is because you are QB challenged.

 

[CouchCoach]

If the Cowboys make it to the playoffs this season, they are out of excuses.

The better teams elevate their game in the playoffs, there is a heightened sense of urgency and when the play has to be made, they make it.

I know some will point out that TB game but they wouldn't have beaten any team in the playoffs, they acted like they didn't even want to be there and folded at the first sign of trouble.

So the Cowboys get a rematch with their conference nemesis and once again, look unprepared and unfocused. Hell, payback alone says they don't get manhandled but they did.

 

[CCBoy]

Parcells had his teams answer opening whistles and ready for any contingency...that formula is still very effective.

I think the one fact that this year should dominate games is the Cowboys' ability to affect point differentials in a game against any opponent...any.

 

[Flamma]

Every new NFL season means a few teams no one expected much from will make the playoffs after not making it the prior season or even many years. And there will also be a few teams everyone expected to make the playoffs that won’t.

And, the difficulty of making the playoffs in consecutive seasons has become more and more difficult. Last year, our Cowboys made the playoffs in back to back seasons for the first time in 15 years. That creates some “organizational momentum” which is rare in today’s NFL. (The Cowboys record for consecutive playoff seasons is 9- from 1975-83)

Here are some interesting facts about NFL playoff teams and how fluid things are year to year:

• Over the last 10 years, an average of 5.8 NFL teams per year make the playoffs that didn't qualify for the playoffs the prior season.
• Every year during that time, at least 4 teams made the jump from non-playoff team to playoff team. In years like 2017-18, it was as many as 8 teams.
• The expanded playoffs implemented 3 seasons ago haven't changed this trend much either. We have seen up to 7 teams make the playoffs after missing the season prior.
• In 2020, the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs but did in 2021 and ‘22. The rams won the SB in the 2021 season yet didn’t even make the playoffs last year.

It’s even more difficult to make the playoffs 3 years in a row as evidenced by this info showing current NFL teams playoff streaks:

• Kansas City- 8 consecutive seasons (since 2015)
• Buffalo- 4 consecutive seasons
• Dallas, SF, Filly and Cincy- 2 consecutive seasons each

The Cowboys have shown they can build some organizational momentum by making the playoffs the last 2 seasons. Can they make it 3 consecutive playoff seasons for the first time in almost 3 decades? Can the Cowboys join teams like KC and Buffalo and show they are built to compete for several consecutive seasons? We will learn the answer to that question in the next 6 months.

The statistic I like is, roughly half the super bowls feature a team that didn't make the playoffs the previous year. The Eagles would have been yet another team, but expanded playoffs eliminate them from this list.

 

[Bobhaze]

If the Cowboys make it to the playoffs this season, they are out of excuses.

The better teams elevate their game in the playoffs, there is a heightened sense of urgency and when the play has to be made, they make it.

I know some will point out that TB game but they wouldn't have beaten any team in the playoffs, they acted like they didn't even want to be there and folded at the first sign of trouble.

So the Cowboys get a rematch with their conference nemesis and once again, look unprepared and unfocused. Hell, payback alone says they don't get manhandled but they did.

Well said. The playoffs are all about being able to turn up the intensity while still being able to perform at a high level.

Making the playoffs is one thing. Being able to beat the toughest teams in the playoffs is the big thing that has escaped this organization for 3 decades.

On paper the 2023 Cowboys team should compete. But as we all know- the champ isn’t crowned until February. Respect is earned in the playoffs.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Bob, as usual some good points, not the least of which is the stat about the Rams.

How many years did we hear that Stafford was one of the best qbs in the league but "just needed a team around him" to succeed.

Well that was true in 2021, but what happened last year? Did Stafford all of a sudden forget how to play quarterback? If he was so good, why didn't he "elevate the team around him" last year.

Because there has never been a SB team that didn't have lots and lots of talent. The "if only we had an elite QB then we'd be winning SBs" refrain we hear so often about the Cowboys with Dak (and heard also with other teams' fans) is not always true. If Tom Brady was so great, how did they lose TWICE to Eli Manning, one time when he had FIFTY touchdowns in the regular season? IT HAPPENS. Landry lost to GB at home in the NFC championship game twice, lost to the Browns in the playoffs after beating them twice soundly in the regular season. IT HAPPENS.

Because having the "elite" qb is no guarantee of SB wins, or even appearances. And it doesn't matter if it's more likely to win SBs with the "elite" qb, the simple fact is that Dallas not winning SBs has more to do with coaching, health, luck and lack of defense than it does with Dak's shortcomings.

Even with his ints in the SF game, Dallas STILL lost by only 7 pts, same as in the 2022 game. It's not like Dallas got blown out either time.

Buffalo lost 4 SBs in a row, despite having a HOF qb in Kelly, HOF edge rusher in Bruce Smith, HOF coach in Marv Levy, HOF receiver in Reed, and HOF running back in Thurman Thomas.

I also wish Dak was a better qb, but even if he was, again no guarantee Dallas wins a SB with him at qb.

Let's focus on building the best team possible, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS THE QB...

 

[JoeKing]

Having a new play caller operating a revamped offense will be the biggest obstacle to the Cowboys making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. It could be dominant but I think it's more likely to stumble in its first year. Mike McCarthy will however have this offense running well by the end of the season.

 

[quickccc]

Every new NFL season means a few teams no one expected much from will make the playoffs after not making it the prior season or even many years. And there will also be a few teams everyone expected to make the playoffs that won’t.

And, the difficulty of making the playoffs in consecutive seasons has become more and more difficult. Last year, our Cowboys made the playoffs in back to back seasons for the first time in 15 years. That creates some “organizational momentum” which is rare in today’s NFL. (The Cowboys record for consecutive playoff seasons is 9- from 1975-83)

Here are some interesting facts about NFL playoff teams and how fluid things are year to year:

• Over the last 10 years, an average of 5.8 NFL teams per year make the playoffs that didn't qualify for the playoffs the prior season.
• Every year during that time, at least 4 teams made the jump from non-playoff team to playoff team. In years like 2017-18, it was as many as 8 teams.
• The expanded playoffs implemented 3 seasons ago haven't changed this trend much either. We have seen up to 7 teams make the playoffs after missing the season prior.
• In 2020, the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs but did in 2021 and ‘22. The rams won the SB in the 2021 season yet didn’t even make the playoffs last year.

It’s even more difficult to make the playoffs 3 years in a row as evidenced by this info showing current NFL teams playoff streaks:

• Kansas City- 8 consecutive seasons (since 2015)
• Buffalo- 4 consecutive seasons
• Dallas, SF, Filly and Cincy- 2 consecutive seasons each

The Cowboys have shown they can build some organizational momentum by making the playoffs the last 2 seasons. Can they make it 3 consecutive playoff seasons for the first time in almost 3 decades? Can the Cowboys join teams like KC and Buffalo and show they are built to compete for several consecutive seasons? We will learn the answer to that question in the next 6 months.

- For some of the flaws coaching staff has ... credit them with scheming well with backup Cooper Rush while Dak was out ,,.. that was HUGE need to save our playoff hopes

- Dan Quinn and defense - when offense stalls, that's all the more Defense has to stand out.- even in playoffs. Defense can only handle so much. We adjusted and made improvements
to a poor run defense; being among tops in sacks and turnovers help boost our season.
Quinn has been vastly essential to our playoff hopes and success - a far cry from Mike Nolan disaster that MCCarthy brought in
- Thank upper management for bringing Quinn on, and forcing Nolan out.! ... yeh I said it !

- OL adjustments - Steele and Tyron went down to injuries, backups/coaching kept us alive and operating that kept us among top in offensive team stats.
- Bones remains among very best special teams coaches as well as his unit despite mysterious late season drop off by Brett Mauer.

- MCClay has been even more essential than even Quinn and MCCarthy - Parsons, Diggs, Pollard, Williams, Lamb, Wilson, Kearse, Steele, Tyler ..and even the Gilmore/Cooks trades.
oh the Jones have a key in cap manipulation to get the Cooks/Gilmore trades here with such astounding bargain prices but the way this team was built thru core of the NFL draft, .that's McClay all the way. he places the players here.. now it's up to coaches to place those players in best position to excel and succeed

 

[CCBoy]

- For some of the flaws coaching staff has ... credit them with scheming well with backup Cooper Rush while Dak was out ,,.. that was HUGE need to save our playoff hopes

- Dan Quinn and defense - when offense stalls, that's all the more Defense has to stand out.- even in playoffs. Defense can only handle so much. We adjusted and made improvements
to a poor run defense; being among tops in sacks and turnovers help boost our season.
Quinn has been vastly essential to our playoff hopes and success - a far cry from Mike Nolan disaster that MCCarthy brought in
- Thank upper management for bringing Quinn on, and forcing Nolan out.! ... yeh I said it !

- OL adjustments - Steele and Tyron went down to injuries, backups/coaching kept us alive and operating that kept us among top in offensive team stats.
- Bones remains among very best special teams coaches as well as his unit despite mysterious late season drop off by Brett Mauer.

- MCClay has been even more essential than even Quinn and MCCarthy - Parsons, Diggs, Pollard, Williams, Lamb, Wilson, Kearse, Steele, Tyler ..and even the Gilmore/Cooks trades.
oh the Jones have a key in cap manipulation to get the Cooks/Gilmore trades here with such astounding bargain prices but the way this team was built thru core of the NFL draft, .that's McClay all the way. he places the players here.. now it's up to coaches to place those players in best position to excel and succeed

Good shot there, Sir.

 

[CowboyFrog]

I was surprised at how few teams even have consecutive playoff seasons. As of now only the chiefs, bills, Cowboys, egirls, bengals and niners have any consecutive playoff year streaks. Shows how competitive the league is year to year.

they wanted Parady and made it happen... When looked at from a corporate level the NFL is the greatest sales organization ever created..lol

 

[CCBoy]

Well said. The playoffs are all about being able to turn up the intensity while still being able to perform at a high level.

Making the playoffs is one thing. Being able to beat the toughest teams in the playoffs is the big thing that has escaped this organization for 3 decades.

On paper the 2023 Cowboys team should compete. But as we all know- the champ isn’t crowned until February. Respect is earned in the playoffs.

I as a fan just refuse to sing: 'once, twice, three times a loser.'

 

[CCBoy]

they wanted Parady and made it happen... When looked at from a corporate level the NFL is the greatest sales organization ever created..lol

Don't let Saudi in...

 

[quickccc]

It seems clear that the Cowboys simply have to get and go thru the Niners to advance ti the NFC title game .... and they've failed at that the last 2 playoff appearances.
and it does not matter if it's in our home field ... or on the road.

And it seems that it's our offense that has failed us the most ... .yes in 21, we just could not stop the run as Deebo did a number on us
... but last year we held surprisingly well vs run and even handling Shanahan's mis-direction offense for first half of the game .
. before Defense eventually ran out of gas and finally started

Yes it was both Dak and Kellen that simply did not make the key in-game adjustments.

I'm heavily counting on MCCarthy- Schottenhemier to make those adjustments and new added strategies that will be the over huddle point that we did not do ..or have last year.
That includes adding and emphasizing the RBs into the pass game underneath that Kellen simply did not ... could not do

- And much more 12 and 13 personnel schematics ,..instead of his patented 11 personnel that he just had to have .. .


Why Cowboys are Better off without Kellen Moore (per DMV Fanatic)

 

[CowboyFrog]

Don't let Saudi in...

They dont need Saudi money... they would take Saudi money but would never give control to anyone..lol