{"id":442875,"date":"2025-12-12T18:37:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T18:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/442875\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T18:37:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T18:37:18","slug":"dallas-cowboys-analytics-review-still-room-to-improve-down-the-stretch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/442875\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas Cowboys analytics review: Still room to improve down the stretch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Cowboys had a brief moment where they had tricked everyone into thinking they were becoming some unstoppable force. Reality crashed into them against the Lions on Thursday night, but it doesn\u2019t take away from the positives this team has actually exhibited as of late. Lets dive into the analytics as we prepare for one final playoff push.<\/p>\n

Cowboys Efficiency at a Glance<\/p>\nDVOADVOA RankDVOA Rank Previous RankWeighted DVOAWeighted DVOA Rank<\/tr>\n\nOffense<\/td>\n10.8%<\/td>\n9th<\/td>\n9th<\/td>\n10.3%<\/td>\n8th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDefense<\/td>\n17.5%<\/td>\n31st<\/td>\n31st<\/td>\n16.5%<\/td>\n30th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSpecial Teams<\/td>\n1.5%<\/td>\n13th<\/td>\n10th<\/td>\n1.2%<\/td>\n15th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nOverall<\/td>\n-5.2%<\/td>\n19th<\/td>\n19th<\/td>\n-4.2%<\/td>\n18th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The Cowboys are the 19th best team by DVOA, which feels about right. With 14 teams making the playoffs, that means they\u2019re just on the outside of that threshold. It\u2019s worth noting that three of their four remaining opponents all rank below them in DVOA, as do two of the teams ahead of them in the conference standings.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s highlight special teams real quick, because it\u2019s been bad. Not only is Dallas third in special teams penalties, but they\u2019re also 25th in hidden points, a DVOA metric that measures the advantage gained by the opponent\u2019s special teams unit. Things like average starting field position and penalties are big there, and it paints a picture of how bad Nick Sorensen\u2019s unit has been outside of his two star players.<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/a><\/p>\n

2025 NFL Team Tiers, Weeks 1-14, courtesy of rbsdm.com<\/p>\n

The Cowboys remain firmly in the bottom right of the team tiers chart, which just reinforces what we\u2019ve known about this team all year long: really good offense, really bad defense. Again, though, three of their four opponents are far behind them here; the one outlier, the Chargers, are nearly even with Dallas in total EPA, albeit with a better defense and worse offense.<\/p>\n

Cowboys Offensive Efficiency<\/p>\nGradeRank<\/tr>\n\nOffensive DVOA<\/td>\n10.8%<\/td>\n9th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPass DVOA<\/td>\n27.1%<\/td>\n9th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRun DVOA<\/td>\n-2.8%<\/td>\n15th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA\/Play<\/td>\n0.116<\/td>\n5th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA\/Dropback<\/td>\n0.192<\/td>\n6th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA\/Rush<\/td>\n-0.028<\/td>\n13th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The Cowboys didn\u2019t have their best offensive performance this past week, with turnovers looming large, but they remain inside the top 10 in most metrics. That\u2019s a testament to how efficient this unit has been all season long. One thing to note: the run game has fallen off a bit recently. Javonte Williams is still playing well, but he hasn\u2019t been the missed tackle machine he was earlier in the year.<\/p>\n

Dak Prescott\u2019s Efficiency<\/p>\nGradeRank<\/tr>\n\nQBR<\/td>\n73.4<\/td>\n1st<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA\/play<\/td>\n0.198<\/td>\n6th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCPOE<\/td>\n3.7<\/td>\n4th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA+CPOE Composite<\/td>\n0.144<\/td>\n6th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSuccess Rate<\/td>\n49.8%<\/td>\n8th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Dak Prescott threw two interceptions against the Lions, yes, but both were registered as drops. And 13 games in, only two quarterbacks have had more dropped passes this season, which makes Prescott\u2019s numbers here all the more impressive. He\u2019s having his best season yet, and just needs a defense that can yield fewer than 40 points in a game. Which, apparently, is too much to ask.<\/p>\n

Cowboys Offensive Line Efficiency<\/p>\nGradeRank<\/tr>\n\nPressure Rate<\/td>\n30.9%<\/td>\n10th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAdjusted Sack Rate<\/td>\n4.8%<\/td>\n4th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPass Block Win Rate<\/td>\n65%<\/td>\n12th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRun Block Win Rate<\/td>\n71%<\/td>\n17th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAdjusted Line Yards<\/td>\n4.81<\/td>\n4th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Prescott was sacked five times on Thursday, yet his adjusted sack rate only dropped from third to fourth. That highlights how good he\u2019s been at avoiding sacks all year, especially as Dallas has battled through a myriad of injuries along the offensive line.<\/p>\n

Cowboys Defensive Efficiency<\/p>\nGradeRank<\/tr>\n\nDefensive DVOA<\/td>\n17.5%<\/td>\n31st<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPass Defense DVOA<\/td>\n27.8%<\/td>\n30th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRun Defense DVOA<\/td>\n3.3%<\/td>\n29th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPressure Rate<\/td>\n35.1%<\/td>\n14th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPass Rush Win Rate<\/td>\n39%<\/td>\n12th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRun Stop Win Rate<\/td>\n32%<\/td>\n6th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA\/Play<\/td>\n0.140<\/td>\n29th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA\/Dropback Allowed<\/td>\n0.198<\/td>\n30th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEPA\/Rush Allowed<\/td>\n0.035<\/td>\n29th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Yes, the Lions game will drop the Cowboys back towards the cellar on defense, but it doesn\u2019t erase the positive momentum they made before that. Since the trade deadline, Dallas is 20th in EPA\/play allowed and 16th in success rate allowed. Neither of those are going to get Matt Eberflus another head coaching gig, but it\u2019s good enough to win the majority of games played.<\/p>\n

And, what do you know, the Cowboys are 3-1 since the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Cowboys Pass Coverage<\/p>\nTargetsCompletionsCompletion RatePasser Rating AllowedADOT When TargetedAir Yards AllowedYards After Catch<\/tr>\n\nTrevon Diggs<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n73.3%<\/td>\n154.9<\/td>\n16.9<\/td>\n172<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDaRon Bland<\/td>\n72<\/td>\n49<\/td>\n68.1%<\/td>\n107.4<\/td>\n9.7<\/td>\n373<\/td>\n247<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nKaiir Elam<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n61.5%<\/td>\n112.6<\/td>\n12.2<\/td>\n223<\/td>\n91<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nShavon Revel<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n66.7%<\/td>\n117.7<\/td>\n72.0<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nReddy Steward<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n86.1%<\/td>\n97.8<\/td>\n3.2<\/td>\n54<\/td>\n215<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nTrikweze Bridges<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n65.2%<\/td>\n115.6<\/td>\n15.1<\/td>\n174<\/td>\n34<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCaelen Carson<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n63.6%<\/td>\n101.7<\/td>\n13.7<\/td>\n106<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMalik Hooker<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n90.0%<\/td>\n152.1<\/td>\n15.1<\/td>\n95<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDonovan Wilson<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n75.0%<\/td>\n108.2<\/td>\n10.7<\/td>\n154<\/td>\n73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJuanyeh Thomas<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n100.0%<\/td>\n143.8<\/td>\n2.3<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMarkquese Bell<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n81.3%<\/td>\n104.2<\/td>\n6.4<\/td>\n59<\/td>\n105<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDeMarvion Overshown<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n100.0%<\/td>\n121.9<\/td>\n1.2<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n101<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLogan Wilson<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n76.9%<\/td>\n122.3<\/td>\n5.3<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJack Sanborn<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n91.7%<\/td>\n107.3<\/td>\n7.2<\/td>\n61<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMarist Liufau<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n93.3%<\/td>\n137.2<\/td>\n4.2<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n128<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nKenneth Murray<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n34<\/td>\n77.3%<\/td>\n105.0<\/td>\n4.2<\/td>\n101<\/td>\n226<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nShemar James<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n92.9%<\/td>\n128.3<\/td>\n2.8<\/td>\n73<\/td>\n181<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDamone Clark<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n71.4%<\/td>\n84.2<\/td>\n4.7<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Trevon Diggs may be returning this week, though we\u2019ll have to wait until he actually takes the field to believe it. Even if Diggs does return, the numbers here suggest there isn\u2019t much hope in sight for the Cowboys pass defense. The defensive backs appear to not trust the scheme they\u2019re running, which is never a good sign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dallas Cowboys had a brief moment where they had tricked everyone into thinking they were becoming some…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":442876,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,1596,197761,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-442875","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-dallas","10":"tag-dallas-cowboys-analysis","11":"tag-texas","12":"tag-tx","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-united-states-of-america","15":"tag-unitedstates","16":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","17":"tag-us","18":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115708052119171717","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=442875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/442876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=442875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=442875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=442875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}