Comparing the 2022 Cowboys with their 2021 counterparts
The Dallas Cowboys’ regular season ended with an embarrassing 26-6 loss to the Washington Commanders and now they head to Florida to face NFC South division winners Tampa Bay. Dallas’ 12-5 record was good enough to lock in the fifth seed in the playoffs and they will carry some momentum with them, winning six of their final eight games.
The 12-5 Cowboys won 51-27 against the Philadelphia Eagles to end their regular season and become the NFC East division champions. They won five of their last eight games, before facing the San Francisco 49ers at the wild-card round.
It’s not easy to win 12 games in consecutive seasons, and there are parallels between the two teams worth comparing.
Comparing offenses
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It is no surprise that the 2022 offense hasn’t performed at the same level. The offense didn’t match the 2021 team because of five losses to Dak Prescott as the starting quarterback, trades Amari Cooper and injuries on the offensive line. While that is all worth mentioning, the 2022 team is no slouch, finishing amongst the league’s upper echelon in multiple categories.
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The 2021 team averaged 3.7 points more per game. It’s worth noting that the 2022 team has scored over 32 PPG since Dak Prescott’s return in Week 7.
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The 2022 Cowboys’ offense scored 8.3% more points in the red zone than the previous season.
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The 2022 rushing attack had 179 yards more and nine more touchdowns.
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The passing attack in 2021 was much better with 1,227 yards more and 12 more touchdowns.
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The 2022 offensive line allowed for six fewer pressures and sacks.
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The Cowboys had four less fumbles but threw seven more interceptions.
2021: Seven advantages
2022: Seven advantages
Which offense was more successful? 2021.
The 2021 offense scored more points and made three fewer mistakes.
Comparing defenses
Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports
The 2021 Dallas Cowboys saw a revival with Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator, paired with outstanding performances by Jayron Kearse, Trevon Diggs, and Micah Parsons. The 2022 Cowboys continued their success and were able elevate their defense despite injuring two of their top cornerbacks.
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After finishing seventh in the previous year, the 2022 team finished fifth and was allowed one more point per game.
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The team’s performance in the red zone was a big contributing factor to their improvement in PPG. The 2022 team held their opponents to a touchdown in the red zone on 52% of their trips. This is an improvement of 7.6% over the previous year.
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The defense of 2021 allowed slightly less yards, while the defense of 2022 allowed four more touchdowns.
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Both defenses thrived off takeaways. After leading the league with 34 takeaways a year earlier, the 2022 team matched that feat with 33 takeaways.
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Interesting difference: The 2021 defense was subject to 28 more pressures, while the 2022 defense recorded 13 more sacks.
2021: 6 Advantages
2022: 8 Advantages
Which defense was the best? 2022.
The 2022 team allowed fewer yards and points, but performed better in the red zone. It also registered more sacks than the takeaway total.
Final Results
While they didn’t repeat as division champions and will play on the road, the 2022 Cowboys have an improved defense to pair with a top five offensive unit. The offense has thrived since Prescott’s return, scoring a staggering 32.45 PPG since Week 7 while converting on third down conversions on 52.3% of their attempts.
Although the 2022 regular season was not a success, the team still has plenty to be confident about when they visit Tampa Bay.