Cowboys
Why the Cowboys' current losing streak is the worst one despite not being the longest
The Dallas Cowboys are on a five-game losing streak, their worst since 2015, but this one has a statistic that makes it much worse than the past streaks.
The Cowboys are at 3-7 heading into Week 12. Their starting quarterback Dak Prescott is out for the season. Their head coach Mike McCarthy is a lame duck. The sun in their stadium is blinding the players and metal is literally falling from the rafters. The season is over. The team is a mess.
And after their 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, the Cowboys are on a five-game losing streak.
The Cowboys' current losing streak is unique in a bad way
The odds are not in Dallas' favor to win next week when they face their division rivals Washington Commanders either. In the previous three seasons, the Cowboys finished with a 12-5 record and didn’t lose more than two consecutive games in any of them.
From 2000 to 2003, under head coach Dave Campo, the Cowboys went 5-11 for three consecutive seasons. In none of those three seasons did the Cowboys have five straight losses.
Over the last 40 years, the only losing streak longer than their current one happened in 2015, when the Cowboys went on a seven-game losing streak (the fourth-worst in franchise history) and ended that season at 4-12.
However, this losing streak is still somehow worse. During those seven losses in 2015, the Cowboys were outscored by 59 points. During their current five-game losing streak, they’ve been outscored by 102 points. They even set an NFL record by trailing by 20+ points in each of their last six home losses (dating back to their Wild Card loss last year).
Take a look at this chart showing their last seasons with five-game losing streaks...
| Streak | Season | Point Differential |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2024 | minus-102 |
| 5 | 1986 | minus-80 |
| 5 | 2010 | minus-72 |
| 5 | 1997 | minus-71 |
| 5 | 1965 | minus-43 |
The Cowboys are playing some of their worst football in decades and there are still seven games left to play. Even Mike McCarthy is experiencing his worst losing streak as a head coach since 2008 when he was with the Packers.
“I feel in times of adversity the confirmation comes into what you know from your past experiences,” McCarthy said. “But also just trust the people in the room, the people that are doing the work. I believe in this locker room.”
I hate to say it, but you might be the only one, Mike.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.