This defense

[percyhoward]

Points allowed (NFL rank)
2016 4th
2015 16th

Contrary to what you may believe, the difference in the above rankings has very little to do with the offense keeping the defense off the field. The offense hasn't been on the field much longer than it was in 2015 (it's a difference of about one more offensive play every five drives). But unlike last year, this year's offense scores points.

Offensive TOP per drive
2016 3:07 (2nd)
2015 3:00 (3rd)

Avg score margin (at start of defensive drive)
2016 5.88 points (3rd)
2015 -0.83 points (21st)

Although it's easier to play defense when you've got the lead, this defense is also one of the reasons we've had those leads. The two things the defense is good at this year that it didn't do nearly as well in 2015 is 1) not allow big scoring plays, and 2) force fumbles.

Touchdowns of 20+ yards allowed
2016 4 (2nd)
2015 11 (18th)

Forced / recovered fumbles
2016 19 (3rd) / 11 (6th)
2015 7 (30th) / 3 (30th)

Our defensive passer rating, drive success rate, interception rate, and punts forced per drive are all almost identical to 2015's, and our sack rate and red zone TD% are actually worse this year. But we've been so good at not allowing big plays that there's been basically no scoring threat from outside the red zone. Of the 106 opponents' possessions without a red zone play, only 4 have ended in a TD.

All that said, we've also faced the 17th-most difficult schedule of offenses this year, compared to the 6th-most difficult in 2015. In points allowed per drive, all these things (no big plays, forced fumbles, schedule) have helped push us up from 17th to 9th. This is a legitimate top 10 defense -- for the regular season. But in this regular season, the defense faced passers with ratings that ranked them like this going into each game:

Manning --
Cousins 27th
Hoyer --
Gabbert 30th
Dalton 13th
Rodgers 17th
Wentz 16th
Kessler 14th
Roethlisberger 17th
Flacco 29th
Cousins 10th
Bradford 10th
Manning 22nd
Winston 20th
Stafford 11th
Wentz 25th

It's entirely possible that we'd have to face three different passers all currently ranked in the top 5 in the playoffs.

 

[perrykemp]

Thanks for pulling this together.

One additional -- Cowboys have crept into the Top 10 for 'Points Allowed per Drive' (1.85) which ranks 9th.

I'm a fan of that stat over all other stats as indicator of how good/bad a defense is against other defenses in the league.

 

[percyhoward]

Thanks for pulling this together.

One additional -- Cowboys have crept into the Top 10 for 'Points Allowed per Drive' (1.85) which ranks 9th.

I'm a fan of that stat over all other stats as indicator of how good/bad a defense is against other defenses in the league.

Me too, and that's in the OP as well. But like I said, PPD doesn't account for quality of offenses faced.

 

[Doomsday101]

Defense is really been coming on strong as of late and I have watched as their sack totals have increased. Earlier in the year Cowboys were ranking in towards the bottom of the league now they have jumped up to 12th in the NFL with 34 sacks and have surpassed last years defense. Really proud of how this unit has been playing even being short handed

 

[Idgit]

I was completely fooled by what we had on defense and very critical of us for not adding talent on that side of the ball. I have no idea how they're doing it, but it's been the second most pleasant surprise of this surprising season. It's crazy, though, because I still don't trust the talent we have over there. It feels like it ought to be smoke and mirrors, but in recent weeks, it's becoming clear that it's not.

 

[bayeslife]

Very true about those passer ratings. However in our favor is those upper echelon passers aren't bringing a quality defense into the playoffs.

 

[percyhoward]

I was completely fooled by what we had on defense and very critical of us for not adding talent on that side of the ball. I have no idea how they're doing it, but it's been the second most pleasant surprise of this surprising season. It's crazy, though, because I still don't trust the talent we have over there. It feels like it ought to be smoke and mirrors, but in recent weeks, it's becoming clear that it's not.

19th: Avg rank in passer rating of QB this season going into their games against Dallas.

24th: Cowboys' season rank in defensive passer rating.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

I was completely fooled by what we had on defense and very critical of us for not adding talent on that side of the ball. I have no idea how they're doing it, but it's been the second most pleasant surprise of this surprising season. It's crazy, though, because I still don't trust the talent we have over there. It feels like it ought to be smoke and mirrors, but in recent weeks, it's becoming clear that it's not.

I assume Dak has been the most pleasant surprise. (That's certainly my view.) In terms of the magnitude (as opposed to pleasantness) of the surprise, I'd rank the defensive performance right there with Dak's, however. I wouldn't have predicted Dak would be this good. But I would have thought (particularly after the preseason) that he'd give a good accounting of himself with all the pieces around him on offense. Week to week, I keep expecting this defense to be a dumpster fire. There are spells during which they seem to vindicate my expectation (like the first 3 drives of Monday's game) but for the most part, they've continually "disappointed" that expectation.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Points allowed (NFL rank)
2016 4th
2015 16th

Contrary to what you may believe, the difference in the above rankings has very little to do with the offense keeping the defense off the field. The offense hasn't been on the field much longer than it was in 2015 (it's a difference of about one more offensive play every five drives). But unlike last year, this year's offense scores points.

Offensive TOP per drive
2016 3:07 (2nd)
2015 3:00 (3rd)

Avg score margin (at start of defensive drive)
2016 5.88 points (3rd)
2015 -0.83 points (21st)

Although it's easier to play defense when you've got the lead, this defense is also one of the reasons we've had those leads. The two things the defense is good at this year that it didn't do nearly as well in 2015 is 1) not allow big scoring plays, and 2) force fumbles.

Touchdowns of 20+ yards allowed
2016 4 (2nd)
2015 11 (18th)

Forced / recovered fumbles
2016 19 (3rd) / 11 (6th)
2015 7 (30th) / 3 (30th)

Our defensive passer rating, drive success rate, interception rate, and punts forced per drive are all almost identical to 2015's, and our sack rate and red zone TD% are actually worse this year. But we've been so good at not allowing big plays that there's been basically no scoring threat from outside the red zone. Of the 106 opponents' possessions without a red zone play, only 4 have ended in a TD.

All that said, we've also faced the 17th-most difficult schedule of offenses this year, compared to the 6th-most difficult in 2015. In points allowed per drive, all these things (no big plays, forced fumbles, schedule) have helped push us up from 17th to 9th. This is a legitimate top 10 defense -- for the regular season. But in this regular season, the defense faced passers with ratings that ranked them like this going into each game:

Manning --
Cousins 27th
Hoyer --
Gabbert 30th
Dalton 13th
Rodgers 17th
Wentz 16th
Kessler 14th
Roethlisberger 17th
Flacco 29th
Cousins 10th
Bradford 10th
Manning 22nd
Winston 20th
Stafford 11th
Wentz 25th

It's entirely possible that we'd have to face three different passers all currently ranked in the top 5 in the playoffs.

You've been told before, but it's worth repeating over and over: you're a real treasure around here.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You're 100% correct OP.

The whole "the defense is only good because of the offense" mantra is a lazy opinion of fans and some media people run with it. Its not based on fact at all. Even the eye watching test. Without even looking at stats you can watch and tell this defense is better in all facets of the game. They all fly around the football, the defensive line doesn't have a first teamer pass rusher but they all have high motors and give it what they have with a solid rotation of guys. Sean and the Lee backers making plays. The secondary, not the most interceptions but they are actually in good coverage this year. Its not a flawless defense but IMO, they are the real deal.

One thing about Maranelli is that he's never had a bad defense here regardless of the personnel. I had to laugh at the people this offseason that said we'd have the worst defense in the league and have to put up 30 points a game to win. Since when has Maranelli ever had a defense like that? His bend but don't break philosophy can be frustrating but its worked here and it works with this personnel.

 

[percyhoward]

Very true about those passer ratings. However in our favor is those upper echelon passers aren't bringing a quality defense into the playoffs.

Agree completely. The Patriots have the best defense of those three teams, and they haven't played anybody.

 

[TheHerd]

Thanks for this work.

Looks like we'll likely face QB ranked #5, #1, #2 in our three playoff games.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I was completely fooled by what we had on defense and very critical of us for not adding talent on that side of the ball. I have no idea how they're doing it, but it's been the second most pleasant surprise of this surprising season. It's crazy, though, because I still don't trust the talent we have over there. It feels like it ought to be smoke and mirrors, but in recent weeks, it's becoming clear that it's not.

I think what's happened is that for a lot of these guys its year 2 or 3 in this league. Its taken a few of these guys some time to develop.

I've never been a big fan of Jeff Heath or JJ Wilcox. I saw potential with Wilcox but didn't think he'd ever fulfill it. These guys have become dependable rotational guys. This whole defense has.

Now one pleasant surprise is how Collins and Brown have played. It looks like the sky is the limit for these guys. They get lost in the praise of Dak and Zeke but those two are also playing football like vets. And I can only imagine what they look like a year or two from now.


I think when we all started to become upset with a lot of these guys like the Wilcox's of the world, the Barry Church's, the Mo Claiborne's, the Hitchens....they were far younger in their careers. But its starting to click for a lot of these guys.

And then you had the inconsistent play of the Mayowa's and Irving's and now they are starting to finally click.

I think its taken time for these guys to understand what Maranelli wants and its been a fine coaching effort by him. Giants spent 200 million to make their jump in defense....Cowboys spent their money on Mayowa and Cedric Thornton.

 

[CATCH17]

The defense has evolved all year.

I made a thread 3 weeks ago saying I trust this defense. I still do.

The defense over the past month has gone from being a defense that isn't going to be the reason as to why we lose to being a possible reason why we win because of the sacks and turnovers they are creating.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

19th: Avg rank in passer rating of QB this season going into their games against Dallas.

24th: Cowboys' season rank in defensive passer rating.

Takes a bit of the sheen off the D's performance, given the significant correlation between passer rating and offensive success, no?

 

[CATCH17]

I was completely fooled by what we had on defense and very critical of us for not adding talent on that side of the ball. I have no idea how they're doing it, but it's been the second most pleasant surprise of this surprising season. It's crazy, though, because I still don't trust the talent we have over there. It feels like it ought to be smoke and mirrors, but in recent weeks, it's becoming clear that it's not.

Well the talent is in the secondary.. At worst it was a solid unit to start the year. Then we got lucky with Brown. Props to the new DB coach for this because every player is having a solid at worst year.


Where things are improving is guys like Collins, Mayowa, and Irving are stepping up beyond belief. This is where we needed some real fortune to happen and it looks like we have caught a break there and found some real talents.


Most of all you gotta give MArinelli credit for getting them to play with discipline and high effort.

 

[Doomsday101]

19th: Avg rank in passer rating of QB this season going into their games against Dallas.

24th: Cowboys' season rank in defensive passer rating.

I would say the misconception of those numbers is it looks at the season as a whole including early in the season when the unit was not playing as well as they have of late. As Dez said last week it was the NY game where he saw this defense come alive. In the last 3 games Dallas defense has accounted for 11 sacks 4 ints and 3 fumbles. Last 3 QB have QB ratings of 78.4, 85.1 and 63.7 vs the Cowboys defense. Cowboys will not overcome slow start on defense but then they don't have to all they need to do is continue to play to the level they are playing at now

 

[percyhoward]

Takes a bit of the sheen off the D's performance, given the significant correlation between passer rating and offensive success, no?

It's a cold slap in the face.

 

[alicetooljam]

Ive been happy with the defense especially the last few weeks. Appreciate the look, but this makes me curious how this defense stacks up vs 2014 which seems like a more fair comparison against another recent Dallas "playoff caliber team".

 

[bayeslife]

The defense has evolved all year.

I made a thread 3 weeks ago saying I trust this defense. I still do.

The defense over the past month has gone from being a defense that isn't going to be the reason as to why we lose to being a possible reason why we win because of the sacks and turnovers they are creating.

This is the anti 2007 team. They may be heading into their peak going into the playoffs as opposed to going into December.