Dallas Cowboys one step away from huge advantage

With two games left in the NFL regular season, the Dallas Cowboys are just one win away from earning a huge advantage in the playoffs.

After experiencing a rough couple of weeks on the road, it seems that there really is no place like home.

Even though the 26-20 victory Sunday night over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was not a dominant showing, it served a purpose. Not only did the offense got back on track but the defense also played another stellar game.

All of this has put the Dallas Cowboys just one win away from home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That advantage has incredible relevance both to the current season and historically.

While the 2016 Cowboys have the same record at home (6-1) as they do on the road, they outscore their opponents by more than a full point at AT&T Stadium.

Quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver Dez Bryant seem to prefer the Jones Mahal as well. Dak has more completions and yards at home as well as a better completion percentage. He also seems to trust his legs more in front of the home fans. Prescott rushes for almost 100 more yards with four more touchdowns at home versus the road.

As for Dez, at home in 2016, he has 27 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns. On the road, he has 22 catches for 331 yards and just two scores.

In case you’re wondering, neither Ezekiel Elliott, nor the defense show any changes in production at home or away. Elliott’s numbers are almost identical, regardless of the location. The same goes for the defense, although they do give up two points per game less on the road.

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Historically, home field advantage is a crucial piece to a Super Bowl puzzle.

Three of the Dallas Cowboys five Super Bowl wins (1977, ’93 & ’95) came in a season in which they were the number one seed.

It isn’t just the Cowboys who have been helped throughout the years with the road to the Super Bowl coming through their building.

The last three Super Bowl games have featured the number one seed from both conferences.

In fact, since 2000, the number one seed in the NFC has made the Super Bowl 50% of the time. The same holds true for the AFC as well. Both conferences have seen their number one seed make the Super Bowl eight times since the turn of the century.

Only four times since 2000 has neither number one seed gone on to play for the most prized possession in all of football. Simply put, earning that number one seed is a huge advantage over the competition.

It may be even more crucial to these Dallas Cowboys.

As you probably know, no rookie quarterback has ever led his team to a Super Bowl. One would have to believe that task would be easier for Prescott if he were to play both playoff games at home.

The extra week off that you get earning that number one seed would go a long way towards improving the team’s health as well. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and cornerback Morris Claiborne could certainly use an extra week to get healthy.

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Lastly, home field advantage means that the Dallas Cowboys would force a couple of home juggernauts out of their comfort zone. Four teams that are either in the playoffs or likely to be play better at home than on the road.

Seattle is 7-0 at home but just 2-4-1 on the road.
Detroit is 6-1 at home but 3-4 away from Ford Field.
The Giants are 7-1 at home, yet only 3-3 on the road.
Green Bay is 5-2 at home, but only 3-4 on the road.

Earning the number one seed sends any of those teams to Dallas which as you can see, is truly a huge advantage.

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