The Cowboys, Overexposed? Maybe. Overrated? .... You Decide

[corta765]

A lot was made during the schedule release that Dallas is on primetime too much and more so they are not good enough to deserve the attention. There is no doubt that the team is overexposed which is intentional because of Jerry Jones. The dude may be annoying as hell, but he is brand wizard which I do respect him for. With that said I love seeing Dallas with egg on their face so I take a certain satisfaction in their primetime losses (Ayooo 2019 Bills baby!).This did get me thinking though how has Dallas done comparatively over the last decade and are they really overrated or just ringlessly successful. Welp I spent at least 11 minutes and got the following to discuss:

 

Over the past decade Dallas has...

-Won four division crowns

-Made the playoffs six of the ten years.

-Three of their playoff losses were in the divisional round including 2016 which Dallas was the 1 seed only to be upset by Rodgers and the Pack last second on a FG

-Overall record of 93-71 good enough for a 56% win rate

-.500 or better in seven of ten seasons

-In 2020 and 2024 Dak was hurt. In 2020 when Dak got hurt for the season their offense was averaging 26.9 ppg, last year Dak never was fully healthy

-They have had star players over that time including Dak, Zeke, Micah Parsons, Cede Lamb, Dez Bryant, Amari Cooper, DeMarcus Lawrence etc..

 

Of the 32 NFL teams only the following have won more division crowns:

KC, Buffalo, New England, Minnesota, & Houston

 

And the following teams have won four division crowns:

Baltimore, Green Bay, LA Rams, Philly, & Tampa

 

The following teams have six or more playoffs appearances:

KC, Buffalo, Baltimore, Green Bay, LA Rams, New England, Pittsburgh, Philly, & Seattle

(Dallas & Seattle are the only two teams of the ten with six playoffs appearances or more to not have made a title game in the last decade.)

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Looking all of this over Dallas has been a top 10 team in the league for the last decade, its the non-surprisingly playoffs where any real success has eluded them. Tampa has a SB and four division crowns, but was not a good franchise until Brady arrived in 2020. By comparison Dallas was a more consistent yearly winner both in record and division crowns. Seattle has been more of a wildcard team in this time as their last division crown was 2020 and before that 2016. Five of the Cowboys playoff losses were one score losses which they had their chances in and for one reason or another couldn't breakthrough. The 49ers have 5 primetime games this year and over the last decade have been a far lessor regular season team with only four playoff appearances in that time. But the 49ers have made two Super Bowls and three NFC title games during that stretch again absolving them of similar criticism. The coverage of the Cowboys given the brand and market certainly can feel overblown and probably is to some extent, but the brass numbers paint a pretty successful franchise that networks can count on for solid games year in year out which is part of why they are included so frequently. Truthfully if you think it is annoying now, had Dallas broken through during this time and made a SB it would probably be even worse (if that is even possible). At the same time Dallas run and inability to breakthrough does beg the question have they wasted a major window and if they fade will the coverage still be the same. Again for you all to decide haha

[MJS]

They used to be overrated. Every season they talked about how the Cowboys "underachieved". Well, if you consistently underachieve, it just means you aren't as good as people think. Their players were overrated as well.

 

Now, I think most people have caught on and don't see them as a top team or a potential superbowl contender.

[PonyBoy]

Since 1995, the Dallas Cowboys have compiled a regular season record of 263 wins and 221 losses, resulting in a winning percentage of approximately 54.4%.

 

That's basically 8.4 wins per year. About as mediocre as you can get. 

 

But the networks love their Cowboys, not gonna change now. 

[Doc Brown]

Zeke contract killed them (Cook buyer's beware).  Paying an above average QB elite money for the postion killed them.  Not paying Parson's top of the market extension last year was just plain stupid.

 

5-12 is my prediction.  They've been over-hyped since the turn of the century.

[Inigo Montoya]

I think there is a lot of hate watching that the NFL counts on for ratings.  A lot of people enjoy watching Jerrah and the Boys lose.

[Fr. Jerk]

The Bills stomping out those gombas on Thanksgiving was the best s*** ever, ya dig?

[Captain Hindsight]

Dallas is a good version of the Bills drought years. Never good enough to compete, never bad enough to bottom out. 

 

That said, they are predictable and boring as a franchise. QB contract coming up? Wait until the most drama has been extracted and give him a stupid contract. Zeke holding out? Make sure to draw it out and pay him anyway. 

 

You know Dallas is going to win 7-10 games. They will win a few big games and promptly suck in other games. The most mediocre franchise in the NFL

[corta765]

26 minutes ago, PonyBoy said:

Since 1995, the Dallas Cowboys have compiled a regular season record of 263 wins and 221 losses, resulting in a winning percentage of approximately 54.4%.

 

That's basically 8.4 wins per year. About as mediocre as you can get. 

 

But the networks love their Cowboys, not gonna change now. 

 

Sure but my point is over the last decade they are clearly a top 10 team they just haven't had any playoff success.

3 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said:

Dallas is a good version of the Bills drought years. Never good enough to compete, never bad enough to bottom out. 

 

That said, they are predictable and boring as a franchise. QB contract coming up? Wait until the most drama has been extracted and give him a stupid contract. Zeke holding out? Make sure to draw it out and pay him anyway. 

 

You know Dallas is going to win 7-10 games. They will win a few big games and promptly suck in other games. The most mediocre franchise in the NFL

 

Pre 2016 I would agree. But the last decade the numbers show they've been in the top 10 for wins, playoff appearances, and division crowns. Come playoff time they just can't do a thing. A team being in the top 1/3 of the NFL is not mediocre.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

12 minutes ago, corta765 said:

 

Sure but my point is over the last decade they are clearly a top 10 team they just haven't had any playoff success.

 

Pre 2016 I would agree. But the last decade the numbers show they've been in the top 10 for wins, playoff appearances, and division crowns. Come playoff time they just can't do a thing. A team being in the top 1/3 of the NFL is not mediocre.

Obviously a SB should always be the END GOAL, but it's still okay to be proud of your teams regular season success. Buffalo clinching their 5th straight division title was an important highlight for me. Also, beating the Ravens in the playoffs where I truthfully felt we had no chance was another great moment. My point is fielding a competitive team is better than being a perennial bottom feeder.

 

Everybody hates the Cowboys, but I would've killed to have their roster during our drought years. Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Zack Martin, CB's Bland/Diggs, and Tyron Smith are all cornerstones at important positions. I didn't include Dak because I think he is a product of the talent & system, but Jerry Jones is too in love w/ him. I don't think they will ever take that next step until they upgrade QB, but I think their goal is to win a ton of regular season games, fill seats while simultaneously hoping the planets align and they can get hot during the playoffs.

[Utah John]

The Cowboys seem to think that by drafting pretty good players and then paying them elite money, will entice the gods of football to transform those players into elite superstars.  It doesn't work.  Also the Cowboys seem to think the way to win is to have as many stars as possible, regardless of the holes that leaves in other areas of the roster.  Finally there doesn't seem to be any long-range planning, something Beane is very good at doing, so every year there's uncertainty and drama about who's gonna show up.  Don't get me wrong, I hate the Cowboys, and if they want to continue shooting themselves in the foot, that's fine with me.

[corta765]

8 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Obviously a SB should always be the END GOAL, but it's still okay to be proud of your teams regular season success. Buffalo clinching their 5th straight division title was an important highlight for me. Also, beating the Ravens in the playoffs where I truthfully felt we had no chance was another great moment. My point is fielding a competitive team is better than being a perennial bottom feeder.

 

Everybody hates the Cowboys, but I would've killed to have their roster during our drought years. Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Zack Martin, CB's Bland/Diggs, and Tyron Smith are all cornerstones at important positions. I didn't include Dak because I think he is a product of the talent & system, but Jerry Jones is too in love w/ him. I don't think they will ever take that next step until they upgrade QB, but I think their goal is to win a ton of regular season games, fill seats while simultaneously hoping the planets align and they can get hot during the playoffs.

 

Agreed.

 

Tampa Bay got a SB in this last decade so their fans are happier, but literally pre Brady they did not matter in the league universe whereas Dallas over the same time span was a pretty solid consistent team. They seem to be a team that drafts pretty well and at times adds talent although it is questionable some moves they make. It is the last part of the boring time of football so it was an interesting case study when you compare the teams around them in playoff appearances. Seattle is the closest comparable and I think Dallas has been a more competitive team over the last decade then Seattle.

[Mr. WEO]

irrelevant for 30 years

[Ya Digg?]

4 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

irrelevant for 30 years

While true, I would bet they are the top 3-5 teams in terms of tv ratings every single year 

[Paup 1995MVP]

4 hours ago, corta765 said:

 

Sure but my point is over the last decade they are clearly a top 10 team they just haven't had any playoff success.

 

Pre 2016 I would agree. But the last decade the numbers show they've been in the top 10 for wins, playoff appearances, and division crowns. Come playoff time they just can't do a thing. A team being in the top 1/3 of the NFL is not mediocre.

Cowboys got smoked at home last year week 2 by a bad Saints team.  
 

Two years ago in the playoffs they were destroyed by the Packers in Dallas.  
 

The Bills took them to the woodshed two years ago in Buffalo.  
 

They are not a ***** show.  But not a top 10 team.  And certainly not a top 10 organization.  They let Connor McGovern walk.  Not smart. 

[US Egg]

Cowboys are the most popular NFL franchise. Would think that pretty much explains all the press they get. 

[Don Otreply]

I would say over hyped by the league as a whole, understanding that the owners are the league, and Jurah has some sway amongst the families as it were, so we get to here/see more noise than is deserved.

Edited yesterday at 01:53 AM by Don Otreply

[corta765]

12 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

I would say over hyped by the league as a whole, understanding that the owners are the league, and Jurah has some sway amongst the families as it were, so we get to here/see more noise than is deserved.

 

Sure but how much less attention without Jurah would they get? 5 primetime games for a team that is consistently pretty strong in the regular season & a large national fanbase seems fair. Without Jurah the media would certainly be less and once he is gone it will be interesting as his son Stephen is far less vocal by comparison. Jurah is a Rex Ryan level attention getter without a doubt

[JerseyBills]

20 hours ago, Fr. Jerk said:

The Bills stomping out those gombas on Thanksgiving was the best s*** ever, ya dig?

One of my favorite wins in the Allen era, such a fun game 

[boater]

1 hour ago, JerseyBills said:

One of my favorite wins in the Allen era, such a fun game 

 

I remember Josh eating the turkey leg on national TV after the win. I imagine Jerry Jones head exploded when viewing that.

[RobbRiddick]

When they traded for Pickens someone on twitter posted the news with the caption: who can possibly stop the cowboys now?

 

the first reply was: Dak Prescott 

 

 

made me laugh