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Dallas Cowboys trends show playoff repeat unlikely

By Brad Austin

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 14: Jason Garrett head coach of the Dallas Cowboys talks with owner Jerry Jones prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 14: Jason Garrett head coach of the Dallas Cowboys talks with owner Jerry Jones prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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A defending division champion should be poised for continued success, but this achievement often backfires on the Dallas Cowboys.

After winning the NFC East and a wildcard game over the Seattle Seahawks, the Dallas Cowboys are seemingly a few talented pieces away from a deep playoff run in 2019.

If recent history is any indicator, this couldn’t be further from the truth for the snake bitten Cowboys. For various reasons, Dallas often declines just as fast as they rise.

Let’s dive right in and take a look at the long odds the Cowboys are facing when seeking a consecutive trip to the playoffs in 2019.

NFC EAST ‘NO REPEAT’ CLAUSE

There’s no rule stating the defending NFC East champion can’t win a consecutive title, but it sure seems like it. The last team to do so was the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.

Since 2004, NFC East Champions are 0-14 in bids to defend their crown the next season. The last time Dallas repeated as champion was way back in 1996 (fifth straight title). Since they’ve gone 0-5 when facing the opportunity to remain on top.

NO TITLE, FEW PLAYOFF TRIPS

The last time Dallas made the playoffs without winning their division was 2006, several seasons before Jason Garrett became head coach in 2010.

The Garrett led Cowboys have made the playoffs three times in his eight full seasons. Every single one came on the back of winning the division.

Since owner Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989, Dallas has made the playoffs 15 times. Only four of those happened without winning the division.

Or better put, Jones’ Cowboys only made the playoffs 4 of 19 (21%) seasons they failed to win the NFC East.

HEAD COACH HAS NEVER DONE IT

If the above trends weren’t daunting enough, it only gets worse when solely considering the eight full seasons under head coach Garrett.

In his three playoff seasons (2014, 2016, 2018), all three involved winning the division. In doing so those Dallas teams were a combined 35-13. In each following season (2015, 2017), the Cowboys missed the playoffs and had a combined record of 13-19.

Next. Ranking every top-10 pick in Dallas Cowboys’ history. dark

Jason Garrett won the division in three of eight seasons, which isn’t a bad ratio. Combine that with a few wild card appearances and it’d be impressive. The problem is he’s never clinched a wild card berth in all five seasons coming up short of the NFC East title.

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