CFZ The challenge of consecutive playoff seasons in the NFL

[CouchCoach]

Our DL moreso than the OL too. One thing I hated was how Wagner was anticipating every run play it seemed like.

I think you mean Fred Warner and he does that to a lot of run games. Wagner too. They both read exceptionally well and are great tacklers.

 

[Bobhaze]

You know what the DAL-SF games are to me? Mano y Mano more than just the lines squaring off.

Parsons mentioned that he should be on their best O player in that first playoff game.

I watched him in the replay and he was getting handled one on one, those SF players came with the take your man out mentality.

I think both teams are pretty evenly matched in talent, they are not in coaching.

It remains a great mystery to me why the Cowboys can win divisions, be the #1 seed in the conference-twice- and somehow can’t seem to even win in the divisional round where the good teams prove their worth.

This team has been soft mentally and physically far too many times in the playoffs. It seems to be getting better under Big Mac but until we get tougher in every way, it will be as it has been. I’m hopeful this team has gotten tougher with guys like Parsons and maybe Mazi Smith. We will see.

 

[CCBoy]

It remains a great mystery to me why the Cowboys can win divisions, be the #1 seed in the conference-twice- and somehow can’t seem to even win in the divisional round where the good teams prove their worth.

This team has been soft mentally and physically far too many times in the playoffs. It seems to be getting better under Big Mac but until we get tougher in every way, it will be as it has been. I’m hopeful this team has gotten tougher with guys like Parsons and maybe Mazi Smith. We will see.

That's why I OP'd Parsons, lead the way!

 

[CCBoy]

You know what the DAL-SF games are to me? Mano y Mano more than just the lines squaring off.

Parsons mentioned that he should be on their best O player in that first playoff game.

I watched him in the replay and he was getting handled one on one, those SF players came with the take your man out mentality.

I think both teams are pretty evenly matched in talent, they are not in coaching.

Team coaching and team play are an element of development. Once hardened in fire, it becomes very strong.

 

[Flamma]

It remains a great mystery to me why the Cowboys can win divisions, be the #1 seed in the conference-twice- and somehow can’t seem to even win in the divisional round where the good teams prove their worth.

This team has been soft mentally and physically far too many times in the playoffs. It seems to be getting better under Big Mac but until we get tougher in every way, it will be as it has been. I’m hopeful this team has gotten tougher with guys like Parsons and maybe Mazi Smith. We will see.

It's very disappointing. To lose at home in the Div. round. Looking back, and as the #1 seed, we basically got SB contenders straight away. Both in 2007 and in 2016. Compare that 2007 Giants team to the trash they put out there last year.

 

[CowboyRoy]

And that depends on how well other teams upgrade or downgrade their rosters .

That’s always a factor . Not just what we are doing but our closet competitors.

What they do doesnt affect if we are a contender or not. The legitimate window starts now in my opinion and we should have 2 or 3 years of the window if we continue to do it right. Last year could have been the beginning but our defense wasnt good enough and Oline and RB, WR situation wasnt there.

 

[CCBoy]

Just a reminder, except for the NFL attempting to cover it's own backside, the Dallas team to present could have instead been:

 

[LACowboysFan1]

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.

Well, we'll see.

But I think back to Dak's first year, a 13-3 record, Dak threw few interceptions, Zeke won the rushing title, and if not for a near-miraculous third down catch, Dallas wins the Packers game. Cowboys' offense up 31 pts and had the lead with very little time left, but the defense couldn't stop the Packers' last drive.

Why can't Dallas this year, IF Pollard returns to form, with a solid if not spectacular defense and McCarthy limiting Dak's "oops" moments from last year, get back to the same 2016 level and performance? Rodgers, along with Mahomes and Burrow, considered the 3 best qbs in the NFL, all in the AFC, and out of Dak's hair as far as getting to the SB?

I know, I know, it's not a highly realistic scenario, but we won't know until we play the season...

 

[LACowboysFan1]

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

As usual, and for all teams expected to be contenders for the playoffs/championships, is health. Have to wonder what Dallas might have done if Pollard hadn't gotten hurt. And how much Mazi helps the run defense also.

With a fully healthy Pollard, Mazi contributing measurably to the defense, no Rodgers and some luck, Cowboys should be better....

 

[eromeopolk]

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.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. I remember when playoffs were a given. It was can the Cowboys win a Super Bowl.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

It remains a great mystery to me why the Cowboys can win divisions, be the #1 seed in the conference-twice- and somehow can’t seem to even win in the divisional round where the good teams prove their worth.

This team has been soft mentally and physically far too many times in the playoffs. It seems to be getting better under Big Mac but until we get tougher in every way, it will be as it has been. I’m hopeful this team has gotten tougher with guys like Parsons and maybe Mazi Smith. We will see.

If I have any hope, it's that EVENTUALLY the Cowboys will learn how to win the tough games, when they HAVE to win, as in playoff games.

Most of us here know the early Cowboys got the moniker of "Next year's champions", and "can't win the big one", despite having tons of talented players, one of the best head coaches ever, assistant coaches who went on to become successful head coaches, and, just as importantly, an owner who kept his cotton-picking' hands off the running of the team. But losses on consecutive years to the Packers, one time being the home team, and letting the Colts hang around in a game that the Cowboys knocked out of the game their future HOF quarterback, shows it can take time to get to the top of the mountain.

But EVENTUALLY they "broke through" and got their SB win. Even after that, they were fortunate enough to win another SB despite some early miscues (fumbles on kickoffs, etc.) that could easily have put them far behind the Broncos and might have caused a loss. So luck came into play in those games. The SB XXX team was assisted by a couple of "???" throws by the Steelers qb that gave the Cowboys fantastic field position twice for needed touchdowns.

Mind you I said IF I have any hope, really at this point, as I've said before, I have none, it's "wait and see" with my Cowboys. Not counting on a repeat of history, especially with a meddling owner...

 

[JoeKing]

Well, we'll see.

But I think back to Dak's first year, a 13-3 record, Dak threw few interceptions, Zeke won the rushing title, and if not for a near-miraculous third down catch, Dallas wins the Packers game. Cowboys' offense up 31 pts and had the lead with very little time left, but the defense couldn't stop the Packers' last drive.

Why can't Dallas this year, IF Pollard returns to form, with a solid if not spectacular defense and McCarthy limiting Dak's "oops" moments from last year, get back to the same 2016 level and performance? Rodgers, along with Mahomes and Burrow, considered the 3 best qbs in the NFL, all in the AFC, and out of Dak's hair as far as getting to the SB?

I know, I know, it's not a highly realistic scenario, but we won't know until we play the season...

Dak's first year he had not become what he is now, a turnover machine. Dak is now set in his ways, he's not getting any better. BTW, that wasn't a near-miraculous catch by the Packers that beat us... it was a veteran future Hall of Fame QB doing what he does. Don't underappreciate that fact.

As for Dallas this year... We'll just have to see how McCarthy manages Dak.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Dak's first year he had not become what he is now, a turnover machine

No, he is not. Are you basing that statement on this past season? One season does not make a quarterback a 'turnover machine".

The 4 years prior to this past season Dak's int percentages were 1.5, 1.8, 1.8, and 1.7, and average of 1.7.

For reference, Josh Allen's int percentages for the last 2 years were 2.3 and 2.5, an average of 2.4 which is 41% higher than Dak's. But who is calling Allen a "turnover machine"?

Nobody.

IF Dak continues to pump out int percentages of anywhere near his 3.8 of this last season for the next couple of years, then yeah, he'll have become a "turnover machine"

But he's not at this point....

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It remains a great mystery to me why the Cowboys can win divisions, be the #1 seed in the conference-twice- and somehow can’t seem to even win in the divisional round where the good teams prove their worth.

This team has been soft mentally and physically far too many times in the playoffs. It seems to be getting better under Big Mac but until we get tougher in every way, it will be as it has been. I’m hopeful this team has gotten tougher with guys like Parsons and maybe Mazi Smith. We will see.

Answer seems obvious to me. SF has our number particularly on offense. I think we took steps to improve the run defense after getting absolutely run over in 2022 but I have watched Warner and that defense jumping gaps and routes with too much regularity to not think they had our offense figured out.

 

[JoeKing]

No, he is not. Are you basing that statement on this past season? One season does not make a quarterback a 'turnover machine".

The 4 years prior to this past season Dak's int percentages were 1.5, 1.8, 1.8, and 1.7, and average of 1.7.

For reference, Josh Allen's int percentages for the last 2 years were 2.3 and 2.5, an average of 2.4 which is 41% higher than Dak's. But who is calling Allen a "turnover machine"?

Nobody.

IF Dak continues to pump out int percentages of anywhere near his 3.8 of this last season for the next couple of years, then yeah, he'll have become a "turnover machine"

But he's not at this point....

You people that worship at the Alter of Dak ignore his disastrous impact in critical games by relying on stats that don't tell the whole story. He does not take care of the ball and you know it. Stop trying to cover for him. You're not fooling anyone.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

You people that worship at the Alter of Dak ignore his disastrous impact in critical games by relying on stats that don't tell the whole story. He does not take care of the ball and you know it. Stop trying to cover for him. You're not fooling anyone.

I have previously stated many times that Dak has issues and needs improvement. And I don't worship any player, that's just another example of hyperbole that Dak's detractors such as you use. And Dak doesn't need me or anybody to cover for him, what he is is plain to see, but it is open to interpretation.

But turnovers are a stat, if anyone is calling Dak a "turnover machine", first of all he needs to define that, and secondly he needs to back it up with data, not just "he's this or that or the other".

If he doesn't take care of the ball, he'll have lots of turnovers every year, not just one.

Which he hasn't....

 

[Sage3030]

Yes, no HC has ever won a SB with 2 teams .


There is 6 HC’s who have led 2 teams to a SB appearance though.

Don Shula, who went to six Super Bowls with Baltimore and Miami; Bill Parcells, who went to three with the Giantsand New England; Dan Reeves, who went to four with Denver and Atlanta; Vermeil, who went once each with Philadelphia and St. Louis; Mike Holmgren, who went to three with Green Bay and Seattle; and John Fox, who went once each with Carolina and Denver.

Where’s Andy Reid? Went with Philly with McNabb at the helm, and now KC.

 

[Diehardblues]

Where’s Andy Reid? Went with Philly with McNabb at the helm, and now KC.

Yes, someone has already added this correction. The link I copied was before . Thanks

 

[JoeKing]

I have previously stated many times that Dak has issues and needs improvement. And I don't worship any player, that's just another example of hyperbole that Dak's detractors such as you use. And Dak doesn't need me or anybody to cover for him, what he is is plain to see, but it is open to interpretation.

But turnovers are a stat, if anyone is calling Dak a "turnover machine", first of all he needs to define that, and secondly he needs to back it up with data, not just "he's this or that or the other".

If he doesn't take care of the ball, he'll have lots of turnovers every year, not just one.

Which he hasn't....

...except that one year was last season. That is what he is!

 

[blueblood70]

No, he is not. Are you basing that statement on this past season? One season does not make a quarterback a 'turnover machine".

The 4 years prior to this past season Dak's int percentages were 1.5, 1.8, 1.8, and 1.7, and average of 1.7.

For reference, Josh Allen's int percentages for the last 2 years were 2.3 and 2.5, an average of 2.4 which is 41% higher than Dak's. But who is calling Allen a "turnover machine"?

Nobody.

IF Dak continues to pump out int percentages of anywhere near his 3.8 of this last season for the next couple of years, then yeah, he'll have become a "turnover machine"

But he's not at this point....

100% or the fact that Matthew Stafford had 20 turnovers and they still won a Super Bowl and yes with him throwing two interceptions in the Super bowl.. And they act like our other quarterbacks didn't throw interceptions I mean this gets old how many times I gotta post this for these guys to see the fact that Roger and Troy threw more interceptions if you look at their touchdown interception ratios both in the regular season and the playoffs then Tony Romo or Prescott they simply had better teams and like you said it took a while to breakthrough...

roger

td 153-109 ints Playoffs 24td 19INTs(umm none of those critical LMAO) UMM OK



Troy-

165-141 playoffs 23tds-17 INts(right none critical huh?) no way jimmy would have put up with that



Dwhite

155-132 playoffs 15-17 WOW no way TL puts up with mistakes at critical time LOL



Romo

248-117 playoffs 8 tds 2 INts show me the critical INts hmm his td-int ratio is much better



Dak

166-65 playoffs 11-5ints