Ranking the Cowboy Seasons

[Statman]

Okay, here are the Cowboy teams from 1970 to 2014 ranked according to the formula I used based on the criteria I mentioned, i.e., record, offensive and defensive ranked, points and yardage differentials and turnover ratio. Again, the record is weighed 30%, everything else is 10%. Playoff results are not a criteria, this is a regular season ranking only. Part of the purpose is to demonstrayte that the best team typically goes all the way less than half the time.

Rank Year NFL Rank Playoff Result
1 1971 9 Won SB
2 1977 13 Won SB
3 1978 18 Lost SB
4 1992 23 Won SB
5 1993 37 Won SB
6 1994 37 Lost Conf
7 1995 62 Won SB
8 1973 71 Lost Conf
9 2007 78 Lost Div
10 1970 122 Lost SB
11 2009 144 Lost Div
12 1980 164 Lost Conf
13 1981 164 Lost Conf
14 1982 164 Lost Conf
15 2014 167 Lost Div
16 1976 191 Lost Div
17 1983 203 Lost WC
18 1975 212 Lost SB
19 1979 213 Lost Div
20 1998 274 Lost WC
21 1972 280 Lost Conf
22 1974 320 N/A
23 2006 343 Lost WC
24 1999 346 Lost WC
25 2003 356 Lost WC
26 1996 389 Lost Div
27 1991 427 Lost Div
28 1984 440 N/A
29 1985 467 N/A
30 2011 469 N/A
31 2005 549 N/A
32 2008 622 N/A
33 1986 653 N/A
34 2012 696 N/A
35 1987 701 N/A
36 2010 723 N/A
37 2013 730 N/A
38 1997 757 N/A
39 1990 909 N/A
40 2004 968 N/A
41 2001 1067 N/A
42 2000 1108 N/A
43 2002 1124 N/A
44 1988 1157 N/A
45 1989 1302 N/A

Ironically, all three 80' to 82' teams scored exactly the same number of points and had the same exact ending. All three lost in the conference championship game. At least they were consistent.

Best Cowboy team not to go to the playoffs? The 1974 team in which they went 8-6 and everyone called it the end of an era. They considered that the following year would be a rebuilding season for the franchise and the possible demise of Tom Landry. The following year, of course, they went to the Super Bowl with a brand new nucleus of young players that would get to two more within the next three years.



Here is the top ten NFL seasons during that time.

Rank Year Tm Playoffs
1 1972 Dolphins Won SB
2 1987 49ers Lost Div
2 1996 Packers Won SB
2 1973 Rams Lost Div
5 2007 Patriots Lost SB
6 1989 49ers Won SB
6 1991 Redskins Won SB
8 1985 Bears Won SB
9 1971 Cowboys Won SB
10 1995 49ers Lost Conf

The bottom ten in the NFL:

Rank Year Tm W L T
1308 2008 Lions 0 16 0
1308 2009 Rams 1 15 0
1310 1976 Bucs 0 14 0
1310 1986 Bucs 2 14 0
1312 1973 Titans 1 13 0
1313 1982 Colts 0 8 1
1314 1999 Browns 2 14 0
1315 1970 Patriots 2 12 0
1316 1971 Bills 1 13 0
1317 1987 Falcons 3 12 0

 

[Statman]

Top ten NFL teams that lost in the divisional round and were ranked #1 that year:

2 1973 Rams lost to the Cowboys
2 1987 49ers
10 1995 49ers lost to the Cowboys
12 1975 Vikings lost to the Cowboys
14 2005 Colts
18 1979 Chargers
21 2006 Chargers
26 1988 Vikings
30 2012 Broncos

 

[Statman]

These are the only teams to rank #1 all three categories of defensive yards, pointsgiven, and turnover ratio. Three of the four won the Super Bowl:

8 1985 Bears
32 2013 Seahawks
67 2006 Ravens
99 2002 Buccaneers

Ten stingiest defenses (points scored on per game) in history since 1970:

Rank Year Tm
538 1977 Falcons
54 1975 Rams
65 1976 Steelers
258 1971 Vikings
102 1971 Colts
43 1970 Vikings
70 2000 Ravens
39 1977 Rams
178 1977 Broncos
71 1973 Dolphins


The stingiest team, the 1977 Falcons were only 7-7 that year. They held their opponents to 7 points or less in 7 games. They lost a game 3-0.

 

[Statman]

Playoff seasons as a percentage of all seasons from 1970 to present.

Cowboys 60.0%
Steelers 60.0%
Vikings 55.6%
Ravens 52.6%
Colts 48.9%
Dolphins 48.9%
Broncos 46.7%
Eagles 44.4%
Patriots 44.4%
Packers 42.2%
Rams 42.2%
Raiders 40.0%
Redskins 37.8%
Seahawks 35.9%
Titans 35.6%
Giants 33.3%
Jaguars 30.0%
Panthers 30.0%
Chargers 28.9%
Chiefs 28.9%
Falcons 26.7%
Jets 26.7%
Browns 26.2%
Bucs 25.6%
Lions 24.4%
Saints 22.2%
Cardinals 15.6%
Texans 15.4%

 

[Dodger12]

Someone please take up a collection for Statman.........

 

[Statman]

So here is the key point:

The teams that win Super Bowls aren't the ones that target a specific year and decide to go all out capwise or decide to trade off their future picks for players that they can use for that specific year.

Even if your team is recognizably the best that season there is less than a 50% probability that they will win it all.

Why? Well, the short answer is that stuff happens.

The best way to win Super Bowls is to put your team in a position to where it is consistently competitive and then take advantage of the opportunities when they come. The best teams to accomplish this has been the Steelers, Patriots, and even the Giants.

The teams that had opportunities but consistently failed to cash in are the Bills, Vikings, Rams and especially the Eagles.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Sad when the 2007 Cowboys' season is in your franchise's top 10 list

 

[bbgun]

The teams that win Super Bowls aren't the ones that target a specific year and decide to go all out capwise or decide to trade off their future picks for players that they can use for that specific year.

The '94 Niners are a pretty prominent exception. If ever there was a "bought" championship, it was that one. Two straight NFCC losses to Dallas led to Deion Sanders, Gary Plummer Rickey Jackson, Norton Jr., Richard Dent, Tim Harris, Charles Mann, Bart Oates, etc. The Cowboys were very fortunate to sneak in one more championship before the cap and free agency did them in.

 

[Doomsday]

The '94 Niners are a pretty prominent exception. If ever there was a "bought" championship, it was that one. Two straight NFCC losses to Dallas led to Deion Sanders, Gary Plummer Rickey Jackson, Norton Jr., Richard Dent, Tim Harris, Charles Mann, Bart Oates, etc. The Cowboys were very fortunate to sneak in one more championship before the cap and free agency did them in.

Somehow though, the cap and free agency didn't do other teams in. It was LACK OF MANAGEMENT of that cap and free agency, that did Dallas in. Playing field was equal.

 

[Doomsday]

Someone please take up a collection for Statman.........

I am thinking about leaving the site to him, in my Will.

 

[DezIrvin]

The best teams to accomplish this has been the Steelers, Patriots, and even the Giants.

Why Would you leave us off that list when we are the only team to match the Steelers in terms of playoff frequency? I suspect the 49ers would be on there too but i dont see them on your list. Kind of a tautology though, because duh you improve your chances by at least being in the tournament as often as possible. I don't really see how that's any sort of point.

 

[Dodger12]

I am thinking about leaving the site to him, in my Will.

 

[Statman]

Why Would you leave us off that list when we are the only team to match the Steelers in terms of playoff frequency? I suspect the 49ers would be on there too but i dont see them on your list. Kind of a tautology though, because duh you improve your chances by at least being in the tournament as often as possible. I don't really see how that's any sort of point.

The Cowboys had many opportunities in which they were unable to take advantage of, most recently, 2007, 2009 and last season. Some of their best teams were in the early 80's. They went to three consecutive conference championship games and lost all three of them.

Yes, it does seem rather elementary to say that the probability of winning a championship increses the more you get into the playoffs. However, saying it and developing a philosophy and system that stresses this simple truth has been difficult for many franchises, the Cowboys have been one of those over the last couple decades until just recently.

If you are trading for players and giving up high picks then you are not adhering to this elementary principle. Jerry Jones had given up groups of high picks for players that can perform now....theoretically. Of course, what we witnessed was prime examples of how this can destroy your team's future.....including consistent playoff opportunities.

Another important process is determining the value of your players and paying the ones that get you there by performing up to the level of their contract. Again, Cowboy management has struggled with this concept, often paying for expectations beyond what a particular player has demonstrated. Marion Barber is a prime example. He had never been a lead back but the Cowboys paid him to be one and was shocked when he couldn't do it, despite never having done it before.

There is overpaying other team's veteran free agents despite never proving they could be successful in a new system. There is adding players with past problems that effected focus and created distraction.

I fear that Jerry Jones is watching the clock and figures his time is growing short. He could try top make a push for a championship on the next few years by mortgaging the future. Any trade for an elite player would signal this type of behavior. The trade would be sure to cost future premium picks.

That was the point I was trying to make.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

What if your franchise QB only has a few years left, though? Wouldn't it suck to not have the pieces to win it all while you had that one invaluable resource in place?

Don't get me wrong, I hate the "all-in" mentality, because there's so much that can go wrong to not win it all in any particular season. But I do think it's different when your QB is 35 vs when he's 29.