Is it better to make playoffs and lose 1st round or not make them at all?
Simple question asking for a friend
Dallas losing early in the playoffs the past few years has actually made their overall team weaker and has actually brought them back closer to the pack. Teams that don’t make the playoffs don’t get a chance to win the Super Bowl, but they get a higher draft pick than Dallas. While Dallas makes the playoffs and loses early gets a lower draft pick AND harder schedule the following year. Both scenarios actually are the best way to stay in perpetual mediocrity unless something drastic happens like a coaching change, lopsided trade, or the signing of a difference maker in free agency. None of those have led to a difference on many teams recently. Most teams bottom out to get better, Dallas is bottoming out by letting this Super Bowl window play out naturally. No big changes, so zero big progress year to year. The past 3 years at least 5 teams have caught up to or passed Dallas by drafting higher and playing better in the postseason. Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Detroit, and Miami have all drafted difference makers higher that have elevated them at least to Dallas’ level, while Dallas has stayed in the same place. Not good. Next year will be worse than this year. This was their year to at least play in the NFC championship game. A perfect setup. Dallas probably beats Tampa Bay on the road this year and Detroit versus getting slaughtered by Green Bay. Plus Dallas now has a first place schedule next year and will play all the division winners. Tough sledding.