Dallas Cowboys: Worst possible outcome of the season is this…

For a team like the Dallas Cowboys, the only thing worse than a losing season is managing a middle-of-the-road 8-8 record.

To the horror of many this season, the Cowboys enter the month of December with both a losing record and declining play from virtually everyone. As such, optimism is scarce commodity in Cowboys Nation these days, as many feel the reality of their worst nightmares coming to fruition.

But taking a step back, it’s easy to see things could be worse: the Dallas Cowboys could be marginally better. It’s counter-intuitive but I’ll explain…

There’s no worse record at the end of the season than an 8-8 record. Being .500 at season’s end is the NFL equivalent of kissing your sister. It may not be a losing record but it’s sure as hell not anything to be proud of. Furthermore, it fails to reward the franchise of a premium draft pick in the spring, like teams with losing records are given.

Even if things completely implode, a good offseason of development and organic improvement, mixed with a premium draft pick, could make all the difference for the Dallas Cowboys. Look no further than last year’s 7-9 Saints and Eagles.

This by no means implies the Cleveland Browns, perennial bottom-3 finishers, are on course for success.

Losing by itself only damages franchises.

But for a team like the Dallas Cowboys, who are only a couple key players away (and arguably a couple key coaches away), cratering in an already-failed season could give them all the firepower they need to be a contender again in 2018.

What a difference a win (loss) makes

When the season is lost, and all indications are the season IS LOST for the Cowboys, the difference of a loss or win can be quite significant come what draft time. Last season the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings were the only teams that finished 8-8. They were subsequently slotted for picks 14, 15, and 16.

Teams that finished marginally better at 9-7 (Titans, Buccaneers, Broncos, Lions), were slotted for picks 18 through 21. Teams that finished marginally worse at 7-9 (Bills, Eagles, Saints), held picks 10, 11, 12.

As you can see, the bridge between these teams is considerable and those teams that finished on the wrong side of .500, particularly the Eagles and Saints, are far from “doomed franchises”.  In fact, it appears the Eagles and Saints are the two best teams in the NFC this season.

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Big picture vs small picture

I’d never be tempted to cheer against my own team, nor would I ever encourage anyone else to do so. But much can be said for the benefits of continued losing in an already lost season. At 5-6 Dallas isn’t mathematically eliminated but for those of us residing on this side of reality, we know the season is over.

Losing records one year do nothing to inhibit winning seasons the next year.

The coaching staff will be playing to win as well (to be discussed further on Tuesday) meaning a full-fledged “tank job” is not going to happen. But if you’re going to miss the playoffs, you might as well miss big.

Even if things completely implode (as they appear to be doing right now), a good offseason of development and organic improvement mixed with a premium draft pick could make all the difference for the Dallas Cowboys.

Look no further than last year’s 7-9 Saints and Eagles.

Heck, if things go really bad and the Cowboys can only muster a 6-10 final record they only need to look at the Carolina Panthers. Last season, the Panthers finished 6-10 and got the No. 8 overall pick.  Now those Panthers are 7-3 and destined for the playoffs.

Teams inevitably bounce back and forth season to season and the Cowboys are no different (as illustrated by their 4-12 record in 2015, 13-3 record in 2016, and their current state). Even the LA Rams went from 4-12 last year to a 7-3 now.

Next: Is the NFL conspiring against the Cowboys?

It is my firm belief there is nothing worse than an 8-8 season in the NFL. If a team misses the playoffs they are best off if they miss by a wide margin. Losing records one year do nothing to inhibit winning seasons the next year. So while we will all cheer for the Cowboys to win-out this season, take solace in the fact the Cowboys will be better off if they lose.