Dallas Cowboys fail challenge for all the familiar reasons

The Fourth Quarter, Summary

Starting the fourth quarter, Dallas trailed 28-21. On a drive that ran thirteen plays and took five minutes, the Cowboys were all too predictable. Five straight times, Dallas ran the ball on first down. Those five runs netted the Cowboys two yards and resulted in a field goal instead of a game-tying touchdown.

The Cowboys were able to get the ball again, down just four points this time. Once again, Prescott was surgical, driving the ball down the field and putting Dallas in position for the go-ahead score.

Facing 2nd down with just two yards necessary for a first down, the Dallas offense became suddenly predictable again. Two straight hand offs to running back Ezekiel Elliott lost Dallas three yards and forced a 4th and 5 situation. Inexplicably, the best play Dallas could find in a must-win situation was an out route to Elliott which predictably failed.

Still, the Cowboys were afforded one last shot. Minnesota was forced to punt from their own end zone. Receiver Tavon Austin was placed on the field to return the kick, however, he was given instruction by the coaching staff to simply field the kick and call for a fair catch.

Austin catches the punt on the Dallas 45-yard line with at least fifteen yards of room to run and possibly more considering the wall of blockers set up. The fair catch was made with seventeen seconds on the clock. Advancing the ball those fifteen yards may have taken three seconds at most. Instead, Dallas wasted their last gasp opportunity thanks to one last coaching blunder.

With this loss, the Dallas Cowboys are all but out of contention for a wild card spot in the NFC. Their only path to any playoff berth lies solely in winning the division. Future scheduling is not on their side either as the Eagles have a much easier schedule.

Whether or not the Cowboys play extra football beyond Week Seventeen likely will not matter. If that opportunity arises, Dallas will once again be placed in a situation where their coaching will need to shine. As we have painfully seen over the last decade, the chances are great that it will not and Dallas will end yet another season without a Super Bowl trophy.

Hopefully, that will be the final nail in Jason Garrett’s coaching coffin. An end to this dysfunction is truly the best thing Dallas Cowboys fans can hope occurs.