New angle of Dak Prescott missing wide open TE on crucial 4th down will haunt Cowboys fans

The Dallas Cowboys couldn't have asked for more from Dak Prescott on Sunday. Prescott has compiled numerous A+ performances in his career, so it speaks volumes so many talking heads are calling this arguably the best performance of his career.

Prescott proved that he can show up in championship moments, which is something that's followed him throughout his career.

While the Cowboys came up short against the Eagles, Prescott put the team on his shoulders throughout the game. He answered the bell on every "gotta have it" drive to keep Dallas within striking distance in the second half.

Another positive takeaway from Dak's performance is his growing chemistry with tight end Jake Ferguson. The two connected seven times on 10 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. What's crazy is that the Cowboys might have won the game if Prescott looked Ferguson's way one more time.

On 4th and 8 late in the fourth quarter Prescott overthrew Jalen Tolbert on a curl route. If you look toward the middle of the field, though, you'll nice a WIDE OPEN Ferguson pleading for the ball. Ferg might find the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown if Prescott hit him in stride.

Cowboys' Dak Prescott missed wide open Jake Ferguson on crucial 4th down vs Eagles

This is haunting. The worst part is Dallas' pass rush actually held up on the play. The Eagles generated a whopping 13 pressures in the fourth quarter alone. Prescott wasn't hurried, but he forced the ball to Tolbert after he came off his initial read.

If you pause the above highlight at the three-second mark, you'll see just how much real estate Ferguson had in front of him. Among the league leaders at the TE position in yards after the catch per reception, it's not crazy to think that the 24-year-old finds his way into the end zone needing just 15 yards.

This is without question one of the plays Prescott mentioned postgame that he'll lose sleep over.

"But at the end of the day, I judge myself on wins & as I've told y’all before, I'm myself's biggest critic. So I can promise you, I can tell you about 2 or 3 plays off the top of my head, I'll lose sleep over. But that's why I continue to work and I'll get better because of them."

- Dak Prescott, via Jori Epstein

We hate to nitpick Prescott after that performance. He's the least of the Cowboys concerns, but Sunday was a game of inches and missing Ferguson on this fourth down proved to be costly in a game Dallas lost by five points.

Next time, we'd bet on Prescott linking with his new favorite security blanket. Until then, this highlight will live on in Cowboys fans' nightmares.

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