Super Wild Card Weekend Wrap-Up: Cowboys Collapse, Dolphins Disaster, Love & Stroud Takeover

As the dust settles on Super Wild Card Weekend, it's time to reflect on the performances that captivated fans and the narratives that emerged from the field. In this analysis, we dive into three stories – the Cowboys Collapse, Dolphins Disaster, and the surprising performances from Jordan Love and C.J Stroud – each representing a unique facet of success, struggle, and potential in the NFL landscape.

The Dallas Cowboys' continued struggles in the playoffs paint a picture of unfulfilled potential and raise questions about leadership and strategy. The Miami Dolphins, on the other hand, face the challenge of breaking a longstanding cycle of postseason disappointments, while their quarterback's future hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, emerging stars Jordan Love and C.J. Stroud have injected excitement and promise into their respective teams, showcasing the impact of strategic development and youthful talent. This article aims to dissect these varied scenarios, offering insights into what these developments mean for the teams involved and the broader context of the NFL.?

Cowboys Collapse

Before we begin debriefing the Cowboys 48-32 defeat let's look at the their past playoff results:

1996: (10-6) Lost Divisional

1998: (10-6) Lost Wild Card

1999: (8-8) Lost Wild Card

2003: (10-6) Lost Wild Card

2006: (9-7) Lost Wild Card

2007: (13-3) Lost Divisional

2009: (11-5) Lost Divisional?

2014: (12-4) Lost Divisional?

2016: (13-3) Lost Divisional

2018: (10-6) Lost Divisional?

2021 (12-5) Lost Wild Card

2022: (12-5) Lost Divisional

2023: (12-5) Lost Wild Card

Over 28 years, with 13 playoff appearances, the Cowboys have yet to reach a conference championship or claim a title.

The Dallas Cowboys' 2023 season can be viewed as a continuation of a 28-year trend marked by underachievement. In light of their performance, speculation was rife regarding Head Coach Mike McCarthy's future, especially with Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick being available. Contrary to expectations, McCarthy has been retained for another year, despite the team's failure to reach the NFC Championship game in the past three seasons. It truly is a fascinating to think that anyone in that lockeroom still believes that McCarthy is the solution. This decision raises questions about the leadership dynamics within the organization and McCarthy's role in the broader strategy envisioned by owner Jerry Jones.

There is reason to believe that Jerry Jones may be considering alternative strategies this offseason to surmount the team's challenges. A critical focus is on Quarterback Dak Prescott, especially given the financial implications of his contract, with a dead cap hit of approximately $60 million. While Prescott's regular-season performance has been commendable, his inability to replicate this success in the postseason has become a recurring issue. His high ranking in MVP ballots demonstrates his skill, yet his postseason shortcomings continue to overshadow these achievements. The possibility of trading Prescott or releasing him seems slim to none, but it does bring to the notion?to address the recurring January failures of this storied franchise.

Dolphins Disaster

The Dolphins traveled to Arrowhead to take on the Chiefs this past Saturday which exclusively premiered on NBC’s Peacock. In a game that was not expected to have any sort of scoring due to the cold conditions (4th coldest game in NFL history), the Kansas City Chiefs not only showed out, but completely dominated. The Dolphins did absolutely nothing to stop the Chiefs and were only able to score on a 50 yard play from Tyreek Hill. Despite the recent struggles of the Chiefs, specifically at home, they were able to rally around Patrick Mahomes and continue their dominance in the postseason.?

For Dolphins fans, enduring 24 seasons without a playoff win is a bitter pill to swallow. The team’s inability to play in cold conditions was clearly showcased in this game. Adding to this, Tua Tagovailoa is now 0-5 in sub-40 degree weather. Despite achieving the goal of playing a full season and debuting in the playoffs, the annual December collapse of the Miami Dolphins raises questions on whether Tua is the answer for Miami. Even with a 3 game lead in the AFC East with five weeks left, the Dolphins faltered, allowing the Buffalo Bills to seize the division yet again. However, Tagovailoa did have a very good season: 1st in passing yards, T5th in passing touchdowns, 5th in completion percentage, 10th in QBR, & 5th in RTG. While his performance in colder weather and the reliance on Tyreek Hill can be debated, Tagovailoa remains among the top half of starters in the NFL, warranting consideration and justification for an extension.

Love & Stroud Takeover

If there is anything to be excited about following Super Wild Card Weekend it’s that we got to witness the emergence of two young stars. Both Jordan Love & C.J. Stroud completely dominated their respective games this past weekend.?

Jordan Love, in a commanding display, led the Green Bay Packers to an impressive victory over the second-seeded Dallas Cowboys. His statistics were a testament to his skill and maturity: completing 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards, throwing for 3 touchdowns, and achieving a remarkable passer rating of 157.2. Love's performance is a clear indication of the Packers' adeptness in developing quarterback talent. The decision to have Love apprentice under Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers has paid dividends, allowing him to develop a deep understanding of the game before taking the helm. This strategy, which has repeatedly proven successful for Green Bay, could serve as a model for other NFL teams aiming to cultivate young quarterbacks.

Looking ahead, the Packers, led by their young roster, are advancing to the divisional round to face the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers, coming off a bye week, will be a tough opponent, but given Green Bay's recent form and Love's ascendancy, an upset could be on the cards.

On the other hand, C.J. Stroud, the Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner, mirrored Love's prowess in his own right. Stroud led the Houston Texans to a dominant win over the Cleveland Browns, completing 16 of 21 passes for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns, mirroring Love's stat line with a rating of 157.2. His performance was a critical factor in the Texans' dominance across all three phases of the game. Stroud, selected second overall in this year's draft, has been a revelation, demonstrating poise and skill beyond his years.

The Texans, under the guidance of Head Coach DeMeco Ryans, are a disciplined and well-coached unit. Their next challenge is a visit to Baltimore to face the Ravens, who are fresh off a bye and are front-runners for the Super Bowl, led by MVP candidate Lamar Jackson and an outstanding defense. Much like the Packers, the Texans, with Stroud at the helm, should not be underestimated. Their upcoming performance against one of the NFL’s best defenses will be a true test of their ability to play in big games and a further opportunity for Stroud to cement his status as one of the league's exciting new talents.