This was a very well thought-out, insightful, and well-written post. Thank you for that.
But we're going to have to agree to disagree.
I distinctly remember that game (I had just turned 13), and my uncle calling from Miami after Woodley got picked off, going bonkers about how the Skins were reading him and they need to go to Strock if they were going to win the game. Remember, Strock played pretty damned well in the playoffs in 81, so it's not like HE wasn't used to the big games. After that phone call? Woodley barely completed anything. He was awful.
He completed four passes the entire game. Four. You can argue with me all you want that the Skins were more physical, and you'd be right, but I don't think that game is 17-13 with Riggins running on that 4th and 1 play in the 4th quarter.
But we'll never know.
Fact is... the Killers B’s had them shut down until the 4th quarter...we had the lead... any semblance of an offense that produced anything and the Dolphins win... Strock should have been playing... Woodley was awful.