The Dallas Cowboys were looking to end a forgettable season on a high note. Instead, problems that had persisted all year long showed their faces one final time in the 2024 season. Dallas held a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter but choked it away falling 23-19.
While plenty of blame rests on the shoulders of Mike McCarthy, whose future is still in question, some players do deserve to be called on the carpet for how this game ended. Dallas had plenty of chances to pull this win off due to the Commanders making mistakes early. However, the Cowboys could not take advantage. These three players contributed to the team giving up this game.
3 Cowboys to blame the most for the loss to the Commanders
3. S Donovan Wilson
Donovan Wilson has shown up to participate in the blame game plenty of times this season. While the safety became a fan favorite after the 2020 season, lately Wilson has looked lost in Mike Zimmer's defense. He came away with a sack early in the game, but his second one was wiped off the board.
With over three and half minutes left, the Cowboys' defense had a chance to potentially ice the game. They led 19-16 and had only given up one touchdown all game. As Washington began their final drive, Wilson got through to make a sack on Marcus Mariota but was called for a facemask penalty. While it was more of a helmet grab as opposed to the actual facemask, a penalty is a penalty. The mistake eventually led to the Commanders' game-winning touchdown.
A sack there would have been a real drive killer for the Commanders right there. Had Wilson's sack counted, they would have been backed up to their own 5-yard line facing a third and long. Based on how well Dallas' defense had played to that point and the pressure they were getting on the quarterback, their chances of winning would have gone up.
Wilson is a solid safety who has built a reputation as a hard hitter, but he deserves a good amount of blame for committing that penalty. The Cowboys have looked undisciplined all year with the penalties on all three sides of the ball. Wilson just happened to put the finishing touches on a poorly coached team for this season.
2. S Malik Hooker
Wilson's partner in the secondary played his own role in helping the Commanders pull off the win on their final possession. Malik Hooker quietly had another solid season since arriving to Dallas in 2021. He finished tied for first with three others on the team in interceptions with two. However, he might be best remembered this season for his biggest blunder on the team's final defensive possession of the year.
The Cowboys' defense forced Washington into a fourth and one situation with just over 30 seconds left. They also only had one timeout, meaning the odds were still in Dallas' favor. On the play Mariotta ran a read option and opted to keep the ball. The defense was totally faked out and he ran 33 yards on the play, putting his team into field goal range.
What stands out the most is the fact Hooker prematurely celebrated by putting his hand up thinking Mariota was brought down ending the game. If he had been paying attention, he would have seeing Mariota was coming right towards him. Mariota would have still likely picked up the first down, but if Hooker was more aware he would have been able to come up quicker and make the play to prevent that big of gain. Had he done that, Washington might have had to settle for a field goal to tie the game sending it to overtime.
It can be argued that Marist Liufau should deserve more blame for that play because he was closer and had the better chance of even preventing a first down. However, the premature celebration that Hooker did deserves the spotlight here. A veteran like him should be more aware than that and ready to make a play based on what happens at the second level. Hooker has not had a bad season by any means, but this play alone makes him one of the scapegoats for the loss.
1. QB Trey Lance
There is a lot to unpack with Trey Lance's first start as a Cowboy. After giving up a fourth round pick to the 49ers last year during the preseason to get him, Jerry Jones did not see any return in his investment until Sunday afternoon. It marked Lance's first start since 2021. He showed flashes of good things like he did in the preseason, but it was his redzone woes that ultimately cost Dallas this game.
Yes the Cowboys had the lead and a chance to win in the final minute, but this game arguably would have been decided earlier had Dallas scored more than just one touchdown on their six trips to the redzone. Instead, four Brandon Aubrey field goals were all they could muster the rest of the game. Had just one more of those possessions ended in a touchdown, Dallas might have won this game.
The wasted redzone trip that sticks out the most was at the end of the half. Dallas decided to go for it on fourth down with just a few seconds left leading 6-3. Lance did a good job of keeping the play alive as he scrambled around looking for a receiver. However, he threw the ball too short to Rico Dowdle who was wide open in the endzone. If Lance throws that ball more accurately, it is definitely a touchdown.
Dallas would have been up 13-3 going into halftime and gotten the ball to start the third quarter. They only managed another field goal on their first drive of the second half, but 16-3 would have been far better than 9-3. While some may argue McCarthy should have just opted to kick another field goal before halftime, the play almost gave Dallas a touchdown.
Lance not only missed on that thrown, but a few more in other redzone trips. He missed Brandin Cooks on a fade route and led Jake Ferguson just too far and out of bounds in the back of the endzone. Lance's stats were better than Jayden Daniels and Mariota combined, but it was the throws he missed that put most of the blame on him.
Sure it is easy to blame the quarterback, but that is the nature of the NFL. In Dallas it is even tougher to deal with that criticism and Trey Lance learned that on Sunday. He still has a lot of growing up to do in this league, but for the missed opportunities he had against Washington he deserves the most amount of blame for the season finale loss.