One of the most important goals for an NFL offense is to stay on schedule. Gaining yardage consistently keeps the offense in beneficial down-and-distance situations. Good down-and-distance situations help the offense to move the chains and keep drives alive, and also provide good opportunities for explosive plays because the defense has to defend both short and long passes. Of course, the best way to keep the chains moving is to convert so often on first and second down that you never even have to see third down.Which offenses are doing the best job of staying on schedule so far in 2016? To determine this, we averaged every teams rank in four different categories:Conversion rate on first down.Average yards to go on second down.Conversion rate on second down.Average yards to go on third down.Its no surprise which team comes out as the best offense in the league at staying on schedule. The Dallas Cowboys have the best offensive line and perhaps the best running back, which means regular, consistent yardage in any down-and-distance situation. However, some of the other teams that are good or bad at staying on schedule may surprise you. For example, although the New England Patriots have perhaps the leagues most powerful offense right now, they are only middle-of-the-pack at staying on schedule, even if we look only at games since Tom Brady returned from his suspension.Here are the five best and five worst offenses at staying on schedule, with the league-wide rankings at the bottom of the article:BEST1. Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys almost always gain yardage on first down -- a league-leading 78 percent of the time. That puts them in excellent position on second down, where they have the lowest average yards to go (7.1) and the highest rate of first-down conversions (41 percent). It helps that Ezekiel Elliott is so consistent, leading the NFL in Football Outsiders running back success rate metric.Of course, the Cowboys dont just make plays on first down; they make big plays too. Thirty-three percent of their first-down plays gain 8 or more yards, second behind Atlanta. Cheap Nike Zoom . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Nike Zoom China Wholesale .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. http://www.nikezoomoutlet.com/ . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Nike Zoom Clearance . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. Nike Zoom Online Shop .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Klay Thompson figured it would just be a matter of time until his outside shot started falling again. That time came in the first quarter.Thompson hit his first seven shots and scored 18 of his 20 points in the opening period, and the Golden State Warriors cruised past the undermanned Dallas Mavericks 116-95 on Wednesday night.I feel its coming every game, honestly, he said. I wont let missed shots dictate how hard I play. As long as I play hard, I know Ill be successful. Its that simple.Kevin Durant led Golden State with 28 points, Stephen Curry added 24 and Draymond Green had 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Warriors used their outside shooting to build a 19-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back.Harrison Barnes scored 25 points to lead Dallas in his first game against the Warriors since leaving as a free agent last summer. But he didnt get nearly enough help.The first half it was kind of like a deer in headlights, he said. It was kind of like the scouting report went out the window and we were just out there playing. Once guys settled in we did a much better job.Thompson had been in a bit of a shooting slump to start the season, making just 11 of 53 3-pointers in the first seven games. But he returned to form from the start in this one. He hit four of Golden States eight 3s in the opening quarter during a span of just more than 2 minutes.It was good to see him get the 3-point stroke going, coach Steve Kerr said. He started off on fire. It didnt carry over the rest of the game, but he had a tremendous first quarter. You can see it coming. Its absolutely coming with Klay.Durant got going after that and extended the lead to 67-34 in the final minute of the first half with his own shot from long range.The Mavericks managed to cut the deficit to 13 early in the fourth quarter but never really threatened Golden State the rest of the way.ddddddddddddTIP-INSMavericks: Starting guards J.J. Barea and Wesley Matthews and C Andrew Bogut got the night off on the back end of a back-to-back. ... Dallas has lost eight straight in Oakland.Warriors: Durant scored at least 20 points for the 72nd straight regular-season game, tying Michael Jordan for the fourth-longest streak ever. ... Curry left briefly in the third quarter after tweaking his right ankle. He got it taped and came back into the game.REUNIONThe game marked a return to Oakland for Barnes and Bogut, who left in the offseason after the Warriors signed Durant. They both got long ovations before the game and a video tribute in the first quarter for their roles in winning the NBA title in 2015 and a record 73 regular-season games last season.The fans here are phenomenal, Barnes said. They showed love ever since my rookie year up until my last year here, so it was very nice.BROTHERLY LOVEWith Barea sitting, Seth Curry got the start for Dallas and a matchup with big brother Steph. They guarded each other when both were in the game and Stephen hit a 30-footer over Seth in the second quarter. Seth had 10 points and nine assists.Its always a good time when were matched up against each other, he said.SPREAD THE WEALTHThompson, Durant, Curry and Green all hit four 3-pointers for the Warriors. The Elias Sports Bureau said its the first time a team had four players hit at least four 3s in one game.UP NEXTMavericks: Continue their road trip against the New York Knicks next Monday.Warriors: Travel to Denver on Thursday for their second back-to-back of the season. ' ' '