Turnovers and miscues end the Dallas Cowboys season
Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks was a perfect microcosm of the Dallas Cowboy season, as turnovers and miscues plagued their offense.
This Christmas Eve could not have started out much better for the Dallas Cowboys. The Detroit Lions lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Atlanta Falcons fell to the New Orleans Saints. This set up a scenario where all Dallas had to rely on was winning their final two games, and an Atlanta Falcons loss next Sunday, and the Cowboys were in the playoffs.
All the Cowboys had to do was hold up their part of the bargain. Beat the Seattle Seahawks at home, with their star running back Ezekiel Elliott returning. But, turnovers, miscues, and sloppy offense ended the Cowboys season. It is the season of giving, and Dallas’ offense was in a very giving mood over the weekend.
It all started towards the end of the second half. Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant had been held without a catch at the 4:09 mark in the second quarter, and had been vocalizing his displeasure on the sideline.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finally got Bryant the ball on a short screen route, and Dez immediately fumbled the ball, giving the it back to Seattle in great field position.
The Seahawks were able to use this momentum to drive down the field and score, on a touchdown pass to tight end Jimmy Graham, making the score 7-6 Seattle.
The turnover bug bit the Cowboys again on their first drive of the second half. After a great hold by the defense on the first possession after halftime, a drive where Dallas’ defense really struggled this year, the offense once again gave momentum right back to Seattle.
Prescott, while under pressure, attempted to throw the ball away. But Dak threw it right to Seattle defensive back Justin Coleman, who returned it 31-yards for a pick six, giving the Seahawks a 14-9 lead.
The Cowboys were not done giving the ball away, as at the 3:32 mark in the third quarter, after a big play from Prescott to Bryant, the offense gave up the ball again. Prescott threw a pass behind his intended receiver, Dez, and it hit off his fingertips and landed in the arms of Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright.
This was Prescott’s 13th interception on the season, nine more than the four he had all of 2016. As if the turnovers were not enough, the Cowboys offense had some killer miscues and penalties that stalled solid drives. The most critical penalty came in the fourth quarter, with Dallas trailing 21-12.
The Cowboys were driving, and had the ball at the Seattle three-yard line with 7:15 left in the game, and in prime position to cut the Seattle lead to one with a score. On a second down play. Tight end Jason Witten was called for a hold, pushing Dallas pack ten yards. And directly after, Prescott was sacked by Seattle defensive end Frank Clark, totaling 21 yards lost on just two plays.
The Cowboys offense never looked in sync the whole game, and continued to throw the ball in the red zone instead of giving the ball to Elliott.
The offensive line had one of their worst game all season, and losing starting left tackle Tyron Smith after the first series of the game proved very costly. Prescott was sacked four times, and was under constant duress all day.
Overall, it was a pretty pathetic performance for the Cowboys offense, who wasted a great effort by the Dallas D. The defense kept the Cowboys in the game all afternoon, and the offense failed to take advantage of good field position.
Since the loss of Elliott, turnovers have been a big part of the Cowboys struggles. In the past six games of the season, Prescott been intercepted nine times. Until last Sunday, the Dallas offense had been able to remain afloat despite the turnover struggle. But it sealed the Cowboys fate in Week 16.
If the Cowboys are going to want to regain the success they had in 2016, they are going to have to figure out a way this offseason to cut down their turnovers and negative plays. Over the last six games of the season, Prescott really struggled, Tyron Smith battled many injuries, and Bryant continues to not produce or be able to separate down field.
The good offenses in the NFL all do one thing in common: protect the football. A team that constantly gives the ball to the other team, and gives away any momentum they have, will only be able to go so far.
With a quarterback who turns the ball over, receivers who fail to separate, and an aging offensive line; it’s clear the Cowboys are going to have some work to do this offseason to help their offense.
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Things were set up perfectly for the Dallas Cowboys coming into this game. But in the spirit of this holiday season, the Cowboys offense gave their season away.