Why do we always elect to receive after winning coin toss?

[misterfatbear]

If you elect to receive then you obviously have never played madden

 

[bsbellomy]

Teams' won-loss records over the entire history of the NFL do not say that is true.
It's a philosophy, but not a fact.

For starters, you have no idea if you'll have the final drive in the half.
Also, if you accept the opening kickoff and drive it down the opponent's throat, THAT could change the dynamic of the game right off the bat.
Or maybe your opponent is the best in the league in opening games with scoring drives....who knows.

Hey, I like receiving first too, but it does not matter, on average.

Your arguments are weak at best. While you say it makes no difference in the long run, the still is zero sensible argument to receive over defer. When you are in a game where teams are evenly matched you need to take every edge you can get.

 

[Doomsday101]

I like to defer, I think there is more to gain by going defense 1st. regardless of how the 1st drive goes there is still ample time in the game. By getting the ball in the 2nd half you can extend a lead or cut into a lead. I do think how a 2nd half starts is a bigger determining factor

 

[BLEU3ASY]

They do both.. you must not watch those games.. lol

 

[TheDude]

People have their opinions on this but there have been a lot of studies and none prove that it matters.

Some coaches want to get their offense going right away, some prefer to wait and see.

I like the idea of deferring, but it does not matter. The same number of possessions. The same number of wins and losses.

It's like calling someone an idiot for liking green instead of blue.

it isnt a wide margin, but deferring is always more advantageous

 

[DFWJC]

Your arguments are weak at best. While you say it makes no difference in the long run, the still is zero sensible argument to receive over defer. When you are in a game where teams are evenly matched you need to take every edge you can get.

Whatever, like I said, I‘d probably defer.
but plenty good coaches have chosen to take the opening kickoff on occassion….certainly Jimmy Johnson and Belechick.
but yes, by far most defer

 

[DFWJC]

it isnt a wide margin, but deferring is always more advantageous

always means every game.
if you mean “on average” (so if you do it 100 times it helps, say 52 of them) then yes.

anyway and fwiw, Dallas does not always defer or accept

 

[DFWJC]

Besides the possible possession argument, there is another argument for defferring or accepting.

Good home field advantages help the home defense if the oppossing offense cant hear. Iknow..stating the obvious.
but generally in big games the crowd noise is louder on the first drive of the game vs the first drive after halftime.
but who knows how much….

 

[Coogiguy03]

Seriously.

The offense and especially Dak always start slow.

Mike McCarthy is such an idiot when it comes to this.

Just defer.

It's a race to see how fast we can have a 3 and out!!!

 

[Coogiguy03]

People have their opinions on this but there have been a lot of studies and none prove that it matters.

Some coaches want to get their offense going right away, some prefer to wait and see.

I like the idea of deferring, but it does not matter. The same number of possessions. The same number of wins and losses.

It's like calling someone an idiot for liking green instead of blue.

Going right to punt

 

[Aven8]

This actually might go back to a theory that Mike Leach had by talking the ball first you can run more plays and score first. He never deferred. It was always about how many plays you ran as well that could get up to 100 at times.

Having said that it doesn’t work for us as we seem to always punt on the opening drive.

 

[Pass2Run]

Seriously.

The offense and especially Dak always start slow.

Mike McCarthy is such an idiot when it comes to this.

Just defer.

I've been saying this for decades...

 

[CooterBrown]

I think the Cowboys like to receive the opening kickoff with the hope to get an early lead and attempt to dissuade teams from leaning totally on their run game. The goal is to protect crappy DL play against the run.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

People have their opinions on this but there have been a lot of studies and none prove that it matters.

Some coaches want to get their offense going right away, some prefer to wait and see.

I like the idea of deferring, but it does not matter. The same number of possessions. The same number of wins and losses.

It's like calling someone an idiot for liking green instead of blue.

Yeah it makes no statistical difference in # of possessions (a few dumb TV announcers think it does, but they're wrong)

BUT, if u have early game jitters, putting ur D out there to run around and hit people might be a good way for some teams to get their heads right