Dallas Cowboys Week 11 Preview

Introduction

Well, Cowboys Nation, it’s been a rollercoaster of a season, and after a tough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10, we’re back to dissecting the stats and looking ahead to our next challenge. The Cowboys faced a daunting defeat, scoring a mere 6 points while allowing the Eagles to run away with 34. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and see how we fared in Week 11 and what we can expect as we gear up to face the Houston Texans.

Power Ranking

After the Eagles game, our power ranking took a nosedive to 30th in the league with a win rate against a median opponent of just 32%. Ouch! It’s safe to say we’re not where we want to be, and this ranking reflects the struggles we’ve had on both sides of the ball. With a power ranking this low, we’re not just in the bottom half of the league; we’re flirting with the basement. But fear not, Cowboys fans! There’s always room for improvement, and we’re determined to claw our way back up.

Overall Drive Efficiency

Our overall drive efficiency ranked 19th in Week 11, a slight improvement from Week 10. This means we’re showing some signs of life, but we still have a long way to go. The ability to sustain drives is crucial, and while we’re moving in the right direction, we need to find ways to convert more of those drives into points. It’s time to take a good hard look at our play-calling and execution to ensure we can turn those drives into touchdowns instead of just a few measly field goals.

Defensive Drive Efficiency

On the defensive side, we ranked 19th in defensive drive efficiency this week, which is a step back from our previous week’s performance of 17th. This inconsistency is concerning. We need to tighten up our coverage and tackle better to prevent opposing offenses from marching down the field. The Eagles made it look easy, and we can’t afford to let the Texans do the same. It’s time to put the “D” back in “defense” and make it a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

Offensive Drive Efficiency

Our offensive drive efficiency saw a bit of a bounce back, ranking 14th in Week 11. This is a positive sign, as it suggests we are starting to find some rhythm on offense. However, we still need to capitalize on our opportunities. Too many drives ended in turnovers or stalled out before we could put points on the board. We’ve got to harness that efficiency and turn it into scoring, especially as we prepare to face a Texans team that is looking to capitalize on any mistakes we make.

Defensive Turnover Efficiency

Speaking of turnovers, our defensive turnover efficiency is something we need to address. While we’re not ranked dead last, sitting at 19th in this category means we’re not generating the turnovers we need to swing momentum in our favor. The Eagles were able to capitalize on our mistakes, and we can’t let that happen again. We need to be more aggressive, create more pressure, and force the Texans into making mistakes. A few timely turnovers could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Offensive Turnover Efficiency

On the flip side, our offensive turnover efficiency is a glaring issue. With 5 turnovers against the Eagles, we dropped to 30th in the league. That’s a recipe for disaster! We’ve got to protect the football better and make smarter decisions with each possession. If we can clean up our act and limit turnovers, we’ll give ourselves a fighting chance against the Texans. After all, you can’t win if you keep giving the ball away like it’s Halloween candy!

Drive Time

Interestingly, our drive time ranked 7th in Week 11, which indicates we’re taking our time to move the ball down the field. While that can be a good thing in terms of maintaining possession, we need to balance it with urgency, especially when we find ourselves in scoring positions. It’s great to control the clock, but we also need to put points on the board. Let’s not turn into the tortoise in this race; we need to channel our inner hare and find that balance!

Preview For Next Week

Looking ahead to Week 11, we’re set to face the Houston Texans, who are favored by 7.5 points. The simulations from advancedfootballstats.com predict a common final score of Cowboys 17, Texans 24, with the Texans winning 68.95% of the time. It’s clear we’re the underdogs, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pull off an upset! We need to focus on our strengths, limit turnovers, and play with the kind of intensity that Cowboys fans expect. If we can harness our drive efficiency and tighten up on defense, we might just surprise everyone.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the stats may not be in our favor right now, there’s always hope for a turnaround. The Cowboys have the talent and determination to bounce back, and we’re ready to put in the work. Let’s rally together, Cowboys Nation, and show the world what we’re made of in Week 11!

Stay tuned to advancedfootballstats.com for more data-driven insights and analysis as we continue to follow the Dallas Cowboys' journey throughout the 2024 NFL season.