Turning Points and Ticking Clocks: Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys and Aaron Rodgers’ Jets at Crossroad | 4 Downs

Steelers and Chiefs Survive, Eagles' Masterclass Underscores Super Bowl Aspirations

Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers won a Super Bowl together with the Green Bay Packers back in 2011, but now 13 years later both are drags on the futures of their current franchises.

Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys and Rodgers’ New York Jets were outscored 65-12. Neither game was even that competitive.

Multiple sources around the league suggest that it’s time for the Cowboys to pull the plug on McCarthy, and others say that the Jets would be wise to start their quarterback search now.

Inside this column, Russell Wilson and the Steelers steal a victory from the jaws of defeat, Kansas City once again proves their inevitableness, Philadelphia’s defense is suddenly fueling legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and the Buffalo Bills’ championship depth shines through.

While several teams took major steps towards gaining legitimacy Sunday, it was the Jets and Cowboys’ issues that are now unavoidable.

The unfortunate reality for the Jets is that this team is no closer to relevancy or competing for anything meaningful with Aaron Rodgers than they were last year without him, as New York was outclassed in all phases in a 31-6 loss to the Cardinals.

At age 40, Rodgers is diminishing rapidly before our eyes.

The Jets continue to ask Rodgers to carry the offense, but Sunday’s 151-passing yard performance while producing just 17 first downs and converting only 6-of-13 third down opportunities is further evidence this is far too heavy a lift for a declining quarterback beyond the twilight of his career.

“It’s completely obvious by now that the Aaron Rodgers experiment failed and should be over on January 5,” a league source texted me Sunday evening. “If he plays anywhere next year, it needs to not be as a Jet. They have to turn the page for the sake of the franchise.”

Rodgers has now passed for just 2,258 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, as the Jets fell to 3-7 Sunday afternoon.

Black Monday has the potential to be a dark day in Florham Park, as multiple sources around the league suggest a house-cleaning could be coming from the front office downward.

Going all in on Rodgers went bust and this is a franchise that would be wise to tear the whole thing down and rebuild around the foundation of a talented youthful defense, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, a pair of explosive running backs next spring.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, McCarthy probably should have been fired two years ago.

But, as this Cowboys Nightmare Well Before Thanksgiving of a season continues to devolve in new ways each week, Jerry Jones would be wise to pull the plug on his lame duck coach and begin the process of identifying potential replacements.

Bill Belichick on Line 1? Ben Johnson on hold?

McCarthy, of course, won’t wind up getting fired because Jerry Jones says he carries regret from past in-season firings backfiring. But, the prudent move for the Cowboys, for Jones, and for McCarthy may be to put the head coach out of his misery sooner rather than later.

There is simply no upside to keeping McCarthy. Not for next season. Not for a possible Cooper Rush vs. Tommy DeVito Thanksgiving showdown. Not for one more week.

The Cowboys look less competitive and less prepared than the week before, and the losses are mounting even quicker than the injuries.

Sunday’s 34-6 shellacking at the hands of the Eagles exposed that the delta between the Cowboys and competing for the NFC East crown may be insurmountable.

The Jets and Cowboys are staring down pivotal turning points, tethered to fading stars and tired leadership that are dragging them further from contention.

With each mounting loss and widening crack, the urgency for sweeping changes grows impossible to ignore. If these franchises hope to reclaim relevance, the time to sever ties with the past and embrace a new direction is now.

Here are the biggest takeaways and awards from a thrilling Sunday across the NFL.

First Down: Steelers Rally Behind Mike Williams' Touchdown and Stifling Defense For Signature Comeback over Commanders

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

As far as debuts go, Mike Williams’ in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform couldn’t have gone much better.