Tag: 2022 Dallas Cowboys

Where are the Commanders in the NFC East right now?

A look at where the Commanders stand in the NFC East compared to their rivals.

Three weeks of playoffs have passed us, so where are the Washington Commanders thus far in this offseason?

The Commanders have publicly announced that they have interviewed Pat Shurmur, Ken Zampese, Charles London, Eric Studesville and Thomas Brown to fill the offensive coordinator position.

Eric Bieniemy is now said to be a target. Is Bienemy really that unhappy in Kansas City, that he would choose to leave Andy Reid for Ron Rivera? Would he actually rather work with Sam Howell than Patrick Mahomes?

Why on earth would Bieniemy consider a lateral move, working for a team that hasn’t had a winning record since the 2015 and 2016 seasons? Meanwhile, in those same eight NFL seasons, the Chiefs have won 11, 12, 10, 12, 12, 14, 12 and 14 games in regular seasons.

What are we missing here? What is not being said?

Are we simply to believe Bieniemy would make a lateral move to a young Sam Howell who has attempted a whopping 19 passes in his NFL career? He would actually make a lateral move away from Mahomes, who, since being the starter in Kansas City, has passed for 5,097, 4,031, 4,740, 4,839 and 5,250 yards.

Howell, with those 19 passing attempts, is the only quarterback on the roster for 2023. Consequently, the new offensive coordinator is by necessity going to be someone who has no guarantees about the ownership for the 2023 season, if Ron Rivera will be around for the 2024 season, or if he himself will be around past the 2023 season.

Meanwhile, in the NFC East, the Eagles have, in the last three seasons, drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round, traded Carson Wentz, moved on from a Super Bowl-winning coach, hired a first-time NFL head coach, and are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in only six seasons.

The New York Giants, in their previous five seasons, had lost 13, 11, 12, 10 and 13 regular season games. Enter Brian Daboll. Daboll, in his first season, managed to change the culture of the losing Giants and instantly improve them to move ahead of the Commanders and win a playoff game over the Vikings in Minnesota.

The Cowboys? Dallas won 8 and 6 games in the two seasons prior to head coach Mike McCarthy’s arrival. Since McCarthy took over the reins, Dallas has won 12 games in both 2021 and 2022, won a road playoff game, and gave the 49ers all they wanted in San Francisco in the divisional round. Meanwhile, the TV and Twitter pundits are repeatedly telling you what an idiot McCarthy is.

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This noteworthy statistic could explain Cowboys’ failings

The Cowboys rank high in nearly all major categories on both sides of the ball but @ReidDHanson thinks this noteworthy statistic sticks out as a weakness.

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To the average offensive player’s psyche, there’s nothing more backbreaking than going three-and-out in a series. Failing to convert a single first down is frustrating when searching for rhythm while sending the defense immediately back onto the field.

The Dallas Cowboys, generally regarded as one of the top defenses in the league, stand out in a number of ways. Despite ranking in the top-10 in nearly every major category, one statistic seems to spitefully betray them: a respectable three-and-out rate.

Arjun Menon, by way of nflreadr.com, recently ran the three-and-out rates on both sides of the ball across the entire NFL. The Cowboys’ defense is near the bottom of the league.

Dan Quinn’s unit has been shockingly good in 2022.

They are second in the NFL in sacks (49) and fourth in pressures (138), third in DVOA (-13/9%), tied for sixth in points allowed (269), seventh in yards allowed (4,545), and third in EPA/play against (-0.088).

All of this is great, yet they do a horrible job of immediately shutting down an opponent drive and getting the ball right back to their offense, only produce three-and-outs 28% of the time.

The other NFC East teams rank higher while San Francisco, New England and Denver — the only teams other than the Cowboys who rank in the top-4 in both DVOA and EPA — also rank top-4 in three-and-outs, making Dallas’ low level all the more puzzling.

The Cowboys defense, which is the only one ranked in the top-10 in Cover 1, Cover 2, and Cover 3 usage, appears to take more of a bend-but-don’t-break mentality. They produce at a success rate of 42%, sixth-best in the NFL.

Offensively, the Cowboys aren’t doing much better, ranking 20th at 33%.

They have the distinction of being tied with well-regarded offensive juggernauts Chicago, Arizona and the New York Jets.

Once again, the other top teams in DVOA and EPA are also amongst the best in three-and-out rate as well. And once again, all of the other teams the NFC East rate better than Dallas. In fact, Washington, New York, and Philadelphia’s offenses are all top-10 in lowest three-and-out rate.

The Cowboys, despite their efficiency and productivity metrics being high, are routinely sending a unit right back onto the field. This was crystalized in their come-from-ahead loss to Jacksonville.

In Week 15, Dallas had four second-half drives that were three plays or less. The only time the defense got off the field in under four plays was a three-play touchdown drive.

While three-and-outs aren’t a crippling statistic on it’s own, it does speak to the mentality and urgency of each unit as they enter the field. Cause for concern?

 

To save secondary, Cowboys should consider moving DaRon Bland outside

Bland has been a star covering the slot, but with bigger needs elsewhere our @ReidDHanson wonders if can he be the answer outside as well. A look back provides some clues.

DaRon Bland has been a ray of light in an otherwise dismal year of cornerback play for the Dallas Cowboys. The fifth-round rookie from Fresno State has arguably been one of the Cowboys’ most pleasant surprises from their most recent draft class. Bland has steadily moved up the depth chart since his selection in April. From the fringe of the roster to dime corner to nickel, Bland has risen to every challenge and quite possibly helped save the Cowboys season in the process.

With three interceptions and four pass deflections in the past three games, Bland has become the clear No. 2 cornerback in Dallas. While he’s largely played the nickel role for the Cowboys this season, he may be destined for an even bigger challenge down the final stretch; replacing the injured Anthony Brown on the boundary.

NFC East unimpressive in Week 15

It wasn’t the best week for the NFC East in Week 15.

All season the NFC East has shone brightly above the other seven divisions.

Until Week 15. Last Sunday, the Giants and Commanders played a hard-fought, competitive game. However each team further revealed they are limited offensively, they are going to battle for a playoff spot, but both teams look like they will be overmatched in a playoff game.

The Eagles won a battle defeating the Bears in Chicago, but might they have lost the war to come later in the playoffs with quarterback Jalen Hurts injuring his shoulder?

Dallas is fighting the Eagles for the NFC East title and managed to somehow lose to the Jaguars in overtime?

The Eagles now travel to face the Cowboys on Christmas Eve at AT&T stadium, and it looks like Hurts will not start for the Eagles Saturday. X-Rays were negative on the Hurts shoulder, but it cannot be overlooked; this is his throwing shoulder.

Suddenly, the Eagles may be led by Gardner Minshew in the next few weeks. How significant of a drop-off will occur in the Eagles’ offense? If the Eagles win one of their final three games, they will be the NFC overall top seed in the playoffs.

Dallas’ Micah Parsons last week was talking down Hurts, and the Dallas defense Sunday revealed they indeed were thinking about the Eagles and not entirely prepared for the Jaguars. Consequently, the Cowboys blew a 17-point lead, and Dak Prescott threw two huge picks, and the game was lost to the Jags.

Dallas has been the most impressive team in the NFL, crushing the Vikings in Minnesota. But the other side of the coin is just as true: Prescott since returning from his injury has the most interceptions in the NFL (10). Additionally, he has the most interceptions in the last four weeks (7).

Suddenly, has the NFC East fallen back to the rest of the pack?

NFC East makes another strong statement

It was another statement week from the NFC East.

Not only did the Commanders and Giants play such a tight game it ended in a 20-20 tie, but the Cowboys again provided the week’s most dominant performance, and the Eagles put a whoopin’ on the Titans.

After Week 13 games, the NFC East record is now 34-13-2. By contrast, the closest division to this success in 2022 has been the AFC East whose overall record is now 30-18.

Eagles 11-1

Cowboys 9-3

Giants 7-4-1

Commanders 7-5-1

The tie in New York meant that on the same day when Seattle won at Los Angeles, both the Commanders and Giants could have done much worse with a loss. The Giants could have fallen into a tie with the Seahawks at 7-5. The Commanders could have fallen to 7-6, a full game behind the Seahawks. So both the Commanders and Giants remained very much alive in pursuit of the playoffs.

Ok, yes, the Cowboys roughed up the Colts who entered the game 4-7-1. However, the Eagles really took care of business destroying a Titans team that came into the game 7-4. No one compares the Titans to teams like the Colts this season.

Dallas was in a tough, tightly contested game in the second half, leading only 21-19, when suddenly it was like they literally turned on the switch. “Ok, let’s get serious now.”  What followed were five yes, five fourth-quarter Cowboys touchdowns, resulting in a 54-19 massacre of the Colts.

Both the Eagles and Cowboys have shown they can defeat good teams; yet, in the last three weeks, the Cowboys have shown they can destroy NFL teams. One of those teams was the Vikings 40-3 in Minnesota. Keep in mind the Vikings are 10-2 this season. Did I forget to mention their two losses were convincing losses to the Eagles and the Cowboys?

Barring a major injury, don’t be surprised to find the Cowboys and Eagles continuing to play the best football throughout the end of this regular season.

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NFC East keeps rolling, goes 3-1 in Week 12

Yet another banner week for the NFC East.

The NFC East continues to outperform all expectations, again going 3-1 in Week 12.

The Giants were the only divisional team to lose, falling 28-20 to the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving.

The Eagles outscored the Packers 40-33 and the Commanders survived the Falcons 19-13.

  • Eagles 10-1
  • Cowboys 8-3
  • Giants 7-4
  • Commanders 7-5

If the season had ended after Week 12, it would mark the first time in NFL history that all four teams in a division qualified for the playoffs. But of course, it is also just as true that this is only the third season where seven teams from each conference will qualify and participate in the playoffs.

NFC East goes 3-1 in Week 11

It was yet another strong week for the NFC East.

The NFC East (29-12) continued its run of having the best record of the divisions in the NFL, winning three of four in Week 11.

The AFC East (26-14) also has each of its teams with a winning record. However, with the Eagles being two games better than the Dolphins and Bills, the NFC East still holds the edge.

Dallas was super impressive going to Minnesota and kicking the Vikings 40-3. It was hands down the most impressive victory by an NFL team thus far in 2022.

The Eagles scored late to escape Indianapolis with a 17-16 win, while Washington went to Houston and shut down the Texans 23-10.

However, the Giants were disappointing, losing at home to the Lions 31-18.

  • Eagles 9-1
  • Cowboys 7-3
  • Giants 7-3
  • Commanders 6-5

NFC East continues to have best record in NFL

It was another banner week for the NFC East, led by the Commanders’ upset over the Eagles.

The NFC East has each team at .500 or better. Incidentally, in the AFC East, each team has a winning record. However, seeing both Philadelphia and New York have better records than all AFC East teams, the NFC East still has the best overall record through Week 10.

Dallas led Green Bay at Lambeau 28-14 in the second half, but the Cowboys were outscored 17-0 down the stretch, falling to the Packers 31-28.

Washington went up to Philly and surprised the undefeated Eagles 32-21, while the Giants took over second place in the division with their 24-16 win over the Texans.

  • Eagles 8-1
  • Giants 7-2
  • Cowboys 6-3
  • Commanders 5-5

 

NFC East goes 3-1 in Week 8

It was another banner week for the NFC East.

The NFC East continues to shine, winning three of four games in NFL Week 8.

The Eagles remained undefeated rolling the Steelers, the Cowboys owned the Bears, the Commanders came from behind late in Indianapolis to win, and the Giants lost on the road to NFC West leader Seattle.

  • Eagles 7-0
  • Cowboys 6-2
  • Giants 6-2
  • Commanders 4-4

NFC East goes 3-0 in Week 7

Another stellar week for the NFC East. The best division in the NFL?

Is there any doubt the NFC East is the NFL’s best division seven weeks through this season?

The Commanders topped the Packers, the Giants won in Jacksonville, and the Cowboys easily defeated the Lions. Only the Eagles did not win, but that was because they were scheduled for their bye week.

  • Eagles 6-0
  • Giants 6-1
  • Cowboys 5-2
  • Commanders 3-4