Failures provide great learning opportunities for NFL teams. Whether that’s applied to the 10 losses the Dallas Cowboys endured during the regular season, or used as an educational tool while the playoffs continue without them, it’s a good way to squeeze value out of an otherwise disappointing situation.

The NFL’s divisional playoff round gave Dallas a view of what top teams looks like nowadays. For a franchise that’s been accused of being stuck in the past, that kind honest look could be useful as the Cowboys move forward into the offseason.

The Raven and Bills, Rams and Eagles, Commanders and Lions, and Chiefs and Texans all squared off over the weekend to show the world just how good the very best are. A constructive analysis would show the Cowboys how great teams are constructed and what conference championship-bound teams look like.

The Ravens and Bills matchup on Sunday is a beautiful illustration of what championship teams should look like. Both teams are coached by some of the best minds in the game. John Harbaugh has been at the helm in Baltimore since 2008. He’s consistently put the Ravens in contention year after year and is the second-longest tenured head coach for a reason. Sean McDermott has found similar success with the Bills in Buffalo. He’s been with his team the fourth longest in the NFL. McDermott’s top offensive mind, Joe Brady, is one of the hottest names on the head coaching candidate list for a reason. He’s innovative, accomplished, and adaptable.

Both teams are also loaded with talent. Not only are the offenses deep and multidimensional but their defenses rank in the top 12 in EPA/play allowed. It has created an environment that doesn’t require any one player to carry the team. Josh Allen won the day throwing for just 127 yards. It’s hard to imagine a game in which Dak Prescott could throw for 127 yards and win. That speaks to the roster around him and to balance of talent in Buffalo.

The Eagles beat the Rams with a quarterback throwing for just 128 yards. Like Allen and the Bills, Philadelphia’s All-Star team didn’t require their QB to do more. Similar to Allen, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts adds a running element that makes up for any deficiencies in passing. But even adding Hurts’ 70 yards on the ground, the winning QB still contributed less than 200 yards.

The Chiefs-vs-Texans was arguably the least balanced matchup of the weekend. Kansas City was clearly the better team on Saturday and it showed in the box score. All-Pro QB Patrick Mahomes threw for just 177 yards in his nine-point victory, and didn’t need hero ball to win because the team around him was good enough to do it as a unit.

The Commanders and Lions game was a certified shootout where both teams slung the ball around to the tune of 76 combined points. But just like all of the examples above, the QB with the most passing yards lost the game. Obviously, some of that is a natural byproduct of a trailing team needing to pass more to catch up, but with the exception of the Commanders, the teams that leaned on their QBs the most, lost, and the teams that asked their QBs to do the least, won.

Despite six of the eight divisional teams fielding QBs who are making top-of-the-market money, these franchises are constructed to win as a well-rounded team and does not rely on hero ball from their QB.

This isn’t a plea to build a team around a ground game. Nor is this a callback to “defense wins championships.” It’s about team building. Successful teams find good coaching staffs. They find high-end QBs and aren’t afraid to pay them. They draft well and they sign good players in free agency so they can make a deep and well-rounded roster. They don’t put the weight of the franchise on any one or two entities. They treat the team like a team. That’s something the Cowboys front office should take note of.

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