Dak Prescott’s foot led directly to Cowboys’ house of cards collapsing vs Eagles

Dallas Cowboys v Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys v Philadelphia Eagles / Mitchell Leff/GettyImages
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The Dallas Cowboys had a chance to walk-off the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. In a battle that proved to be a game of literal inches, Dak Prescott's completion to CeeDee Lamb on 3rd and 26 on the final play came up five yards short of the end zone and the Cowboys lost 28-25.

Losses don't get more heartbreaking than that. The saddest part? This game could have been tied and going to overtime had Prescott not stepped out of bounds on his two-point conversion attempt after his touchdown strike to Jalen Tolbert brought Dallas within five points.

It was initially ruled a clean scramble by Prescott, but replay showed the QB's foot was out of bounds before he extended for the pylon.

Had Prescott kept his foot in bounds, the Cowboys could have called on Brandon Aubrey to kick a game-tying field goal on the final possession. This freeze frame of Prescott's foot punctuates just how close Dallas was to sending this one to overtime.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott stepping out of bounds proves costly in loss vs Eagles

Let's get one thing clear. We're not pinning this loss on Prescott. That would be idiotic. Prescott is arguably the biggest reason the Cowboys had a chance to win late. He finished 29-of-44 for 374 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles had zero answer for No. 4, including on third and fourth down.

This failed scramble, though, is perhaps the one Cowboys fans will look back on the most while processing this loss. It's just unfortunate Prescott has to wear it, but Eagles DE Brandon Graham arguably deserves more credit than Dak does blame. It was Graham's hustle that forced the QB out of bounds.

Lamb's near-game-winning TD and Prescott stepping out of bounds were just two of three heartbreaking cases of the Cowboys coming up inches short.

On 4th and goal earlier in the fourth quarter, Luke Schoonmaker caught a touchdown, but replay showed the rookie TE was an inch shy of the goal line when his knee was down. The Cowboys ended up getting the ball back and scoring a TD in short order, but that play cost Dallas a precious three minutes of game clock.

These little things so such a long way in deciding the outcome of games. Sunday proved the Cowboys and Eagles are evenly matched. Had Dallas come out on the right side of these plays, they possibly walk out with a season-defining win.

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