Cowboys’ Frustrating Decade Comes to an End

There are a few ways we might describe the decade of the 2000s for the Dallas Cowboys. Just a few stabs at it:

Doomed Era
Decade of Disgrace
Decade of Disappointment
Decade in Disarray
Decennium of Mediocrity

And so forth.

The decade itself mercifully comes to an end tonight, so hopefully we can turn the page on ten mostly forgettable years in this franchise’s history.

Time is running out on the decade of the 2000s, during which the Cowboys have had an overall record of 81-78.

Here’s a question, though: was the decade of the 2000s truly the worst in franchise history? The answer, ironically, might depend on how the Cowboys perform during the first month of the new decade.

The game between Cowboys and Eagles is, of course, part of the 2009 season. Thus, the result of that game along with the results of any playoff game should be counted as part of the decade of the 2000s rather than the decade of the 2010s. Here is why this has any significance:

Between the 2000 and 2009 seasons, the Cowboys have had an overall record of 81-78, giving the team a winning percentage of .5094. This is the second-worst winning percentage for a decade in team history behind the team’s 67-65-6 (.5076) record during the 1960s. A win against the Eagles gives the Cowboys a winning percentage of .5125. Should Dallas lose to Philadelphia next Sunday, though, the Cowboys’ record will drop the winning percentage to .5063, which would be the worst of any decade.

Also consider this: Dallas had only one playoff win during the 1960s and an overall record of 1-4 in the playoffs during that decade. The only worse decade was the current one, during which Dallas has gone 0-4. However, the Cowboys could at least tie the 1960s’ mark with one playoff win, and the team could even surpass the record from the 1960s with two wins.

Though the decade of the 2000s did not see a dreadful season such as the 0-11-1 season of the 1960 team or the 1-15 season in 1989, this decade marked the first time that the team has given up more points than it has scored.

Below is a list of the team’s record per decade, not including Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

Winning Percentage

1970s: .7292 (105-39)
1990s: .6313 (101-59)
1980s: .5197 (79-73)
2000s: .5094 (81-78)
1960s: .5076 (67-65-6)

Playoff Wins

1970s: 14
1990s: 12
1980s: 5
1960s: 1
2000s: 0

Point Differential

1970s: +1133
1990s: +799
1960s: +264
1980s: +153
2000s: -48

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Incidentally, the decade of the 2000s (in calendar terms) started and ended on good notes for the Cowboys.

Ten years ago at this time, the Cowboys thought they were out of the playoffs. Dallas stood at 7-8 and needed a bunch of help to make the playoffs. That help came in the form of a complex tiebreaking scenario, and all the Cowboys needed on January 2, 2000 was a win over the Giants to secure a playoff berth. Troy Aikman threw two touchdown passes, including a 90-yarder to Jason Tucker, to help the Cowboys to a 26-18 win.

The child in the picture was four days old and "watching" his first Cowboys game, a 26-18 win over the Giants on Jan. 2, 2000.

Ten seasons later, on December 27, 2009, the Cowboys needed a win over a division rival to make the playoffs. The team came through, giving us hope that the new decade will bring better times.

Same child, different height; same dad, even less hair; same number, different jersey; same team, simliar result.