As the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs begin, the biggest story coming into the weekend is about the dominant rookie duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot. The rookie tandem has captured all eyes of the league this season, propelling the Dallas Cowboys to a 13-3 regular season record that earned them a first round bye in the playoffs. Dak and Zeke have been electric this season, with Dak making the right throws and making sure his turnovers are few and far between, and Zeke being a grown man with the football (while only being a rookie), leading the league in rushing and having many memorable hurdle flips in the process (those hurdles were quite beautiful).
But as we all know in the sport of football, the playoffs is a different season, with different kinds of pressure. We all want to see the rookie duo in action when the pressure of the playoffs is present, but how will they fair in the playoffs?
Not the regular season anymore
Even if Dak and Zeke had arguably two of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, the playoffs are different than your average regular season. Tension is high, teams get hot (like their opponent they play this weekend), and every move and decision you make is under a microscope. We saw Raiders rookie QB Connor Cook get thrashed by the Houston Texans last weekend in the wild card match-up. Cook was a third string quarterback who was thrown into the fire, as QBs Derek Carr and Matt McGloin were out due to injuries.
Dak has a season under his belt, and was eased into the QB role as he was brought in while former starter Tony Romo was out with a back injury. Elliot has no idea what a rookie wall is for a running back, as he has been consistent and reliable the whole season. It's hard to tell if the rookies have what it takes to lead the Dallas Cowboys to Houston for the Super Bowl.
It won't be easy to win
A rookie quarterback-running back tandem in the NFL playoffs didn't go over too well the first two times it happened. The first occurrence was in the 2012 season, as rookie tandems Andrew Luck and Vick Ballard with the Indianapolis Colts took on the Baltimore Ravens. That didn't turn out well, as they were dominated in a 24-9 defeat.
The second occurrence happened in that same year, as the tandem of Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris with the Washington Redskins played the Seattle Seahawks. They also took a beating, losing 24-14, and as their season ended, so did RGIII's career.
To add on, rookie QBs are 8-15 in playoff games, which is pretty discouraging. The Dallas Cowboys are also taking on a Green Bay Packers squad that has been on a literal tear since the last six weeks of the season that has carried over into the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers, their quarterback, has been unreal, throwing 22 TDs with 0 Ints since the beginning of their six game winning streak and their playoff win over the Giants. So, with history not in their favor, and taking on one of the hottest teams in the NFL, the rookie duo have their work cut out for them this Divisional Weekend, and we will see if the rookie sensations can produce in their first playoff game.
