CFZ The challenge of consecutive playoff seasons in the NFL

[Bobhaze]

Don't let Saudi in...

This ain’t golf, lol.

 

[CowboyRoy]

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.

The better teams elevate their game in the playoffs. Like the better Niners team did with us? Like we did with the Bucs?

Until we have a better team than the Niners, losing to them is no upset.

 

[Bobhaze]

The better teams elevate their game in the playoffs. Like the better Niners team did with us? Like we did with the Bucs?

Until we have a better team than the Niners, losing to them is no upset.

The niners have basically out- physicaled us two years in a row in divisional playoff games. They dominated the los in the game against us 2 years ago at AT&T and last year in SF too. In order to win more playoff games, this team must match up better in the lines on both sides of the ball. The team that wins the trenches wins 99% of playoff games.

 

[Diehardblues]

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.

Im not sure if it only means the league is more competitive. I think there is also other factors in play here.

One is franchises aren’t able to keep their rosters together from season to season as the Cap tears them apart practically every season. Some teams more than others.

Second contributing factor is injuries. The Cap doesn’t allow much depth so any key or group of injuries can derail teams.

Couple in these critical factors that impact
rosters along with other franchises being able to bolster their teams in draft and FA or not being as impacted with Cap moves in a particular season.

This is how we see teams emerge quickly and or nosedive. Something in pre Cap era that rarely happened usually taking a few years for teams to crescendo into oblivion. It can practically happen overnight this era.

 

[Diehardblues]

The better teams elevate their game in the playoffs. Like the better Niners team did with us? Like we did with the Bucs?

Until we have a better team than the Niners, losing to them is no upset.

Yea, it continues to baffle me why more Cowboy fans don’t see that the best team won the last two years.

 

[Diehardblues]

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

Im not sure we can beat Egirls at Philly with Hurts in January either.

To me the key for the Cowboys this season if we truly have our expectations set on Championship game , is winning the division.

If we have to win 3 games on the road in the playoffs I wouldn’t expect favorable results.

This is why with new playoff format with 7 teams and only 1 bye, it’s time to seed the playoffs like they do in NBA. Bucs still in winning division but would have been 7th seed. We would have been 3rd seed.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Yea, it continues to baffle me why more Cowboy fans don’t see that the best team won the last two years.

OR that Dak and the offense had trouble against the #1 D in the NFL. AS if it was just some random team and defense we just showed up and were inconsistent with.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Im not sure we can beat Egirls at Philly with Hurts in January either.

To me the key for the Cowboys this season if we truly have our expectations set on Championship game , is winning the division.

If we have to win 3 games on the road in the playoffs I wouldn’t expect favorable results.

This is why with new playoff format with 7 teams and only 1 bye, it’s time to seed the playoffs like they do in NBA. Bucs still in winning division but would have been 7th seed. We would have been 3rd seed.

I agree. I am not sure either. I do think we had a better shot beating the Eagles than the Niners. But they did play very very well. Turned it up a notch in the playoffs.

 

[Hagman]

The niners have basically out- physicaled us two years in a row in divisional playoff games. They dominated the los in the game against us 2 years ago at AT&T and last year in SF too. In order to win more playoff games, this team must match up better in the lines on both sides of the ball. The team that wins the trenches wins 99% of playoff games.

And the Rams dominated us up front in the 2019 playoffs. Ran for 273 yards on us.
That's primarily why I still don't think we'll do much in the playoffs again this year. I'll have to see the improvement upfront before I'll believe it.

 

[noshame]

Fortunately, the strength of our defense should get us to the playoffs if we don't have a complete meltdown under uncle mike

 

[Bobhaze]

I agree. I am not sure either. I do think we had a better shot beating the Eagles than the Niners. But they did play very very well. Turned it up a notch in the playoffs.

I thought the same. Although both the niners and egirls have very physical OL and DL which has been problematic for us over the years. The more physical teams have usually whipped us in the playoffs.

 

[rambo2]

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.

They certainly are built to make the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. The current team is better than the past 2 teams.

 

[Flamma]

This is why with new playoff format with 7 teams and only 1 bye, it’s time to seed the playoffs like they do in NBA. Bucs still in winning division but would have been 7th seed. We would have been 3rd seed.

We would have been 4th seed instead of 5th. Giving us a home game against the Giants as opposed to a road game against the Bucs. Is that really a big deal?

 

[CowboyRoy]

I thought the same. Although both the niners and egirls have very physical OL and DL which has been problematic for us over the years. The more physical teams have usually whipped us in the playoffs.

Were close, but we are a year away in my opinion. We have upgraded the Dline now, but the Oline is not there. If we make it a priority next offseason possibly.

 

[CowboyRoy]

They certainly are built to make the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. The current team is better than the past 2 teams.

Yep, old news. Now its about winning it all. Time have changed. MM had upped the anti with REAL HC and a REAL DC.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Yea, it continues to baffle me why more Cowboy fans don’t see that the best team won the last two years.

The funny part is that the trolls that said we would lose against the Bucs act all mad that we lost to the Niners. Each and every one of them said we would lose both games.

 

[CowboyRoy]

They certainly are built to make the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. The current team is better than the past 2 teams.

Not the Oline. I agree on the rest.

 

[DandyDon52]

barring injuries the cowboys should make the playoffs again.
That doesnt mean much though due to state of the NFC right now.
The favorites to be in champ game right now are Phil, Dallas, and SF.........+ some other team or 2 that surprise us.
The real key is which of those teams get the #1 seed ??

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

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.

That really is the key. The team needs to keep building on success. The youth and the maintaining of the roster bode well in that regard.

 

[Bobhaze]

They certainly are built to make the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. The current team is better than the past 2 teams.

We don’t know yet if this team is better than last year’s team. And won’t for several months.