Just like they did in Week 3, the Dallas Cowboys staged a second half comeback Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers after trailing by 17 points in the third quarter.
While the 30-24 final score suggests Dallas played a close game against the reigning NFC champions, anyone who watched knows the 49ers dominated.
Dak Prescott threw two more interceptions, and while the defense put forth a commendable effort in the first half, they allowed three touchdowns in the third quarter alone. Trevon Diggs' effort on the 49ers' first scoring drive was brought into question by WFAA sports anchor Mike Leslie.
Leslie posted a clip of a long catch-and-run by George Kittle that showed Diggs jogging and taking a questionable angle while his Cowboys teammates sprinted to tackle the physical tight end.
Diggs apparently checked social media minutes after the loss and quickly confronted Leslie about his post. Still in full uniform, Diggs lashed out at Leslie and questioned both his football intelligence and athletic prowess.
Trevon Diggs lashed out at Cowboys reporter after loss vs. 49ers
Diggs comes out of the locker room to confront a reporter for a social media post. #Cowboys
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) October 28, 2024
@NBCDFWSports pic.twitter.com/2iDdVjdz69
Where do we even start?
On one hand, that Diggs stumbled on Leslie's post so soon after the game ended is alarming. It's noted that criticism fuels certain athletes. Others avoid social media altogether because of its toxic nature. It stands to reason that Diggs needed some motivation after Dallas' second-straight loss.
That Diggs was so quick to search his name on social media hints at an underlying problem with the Cowboys' culture that fans have discussed ad nauseam. That should have been the last thing on Diggs' mind, but we digress. The tirade itself is the embarrassing part.
Leslie merely questioned Diggs' effort. It was a fair criticism. The star cornerback absolutely could have taken a better angle to slow Kittle's momentum. He didn't get involved in the play until Kittle veered out of bounds thanks to a shove from Malik Hooker.
Leslie did not cross any lines. Diggs, on the other hand, did by saying Leslie doesn't know football and can't do anything he can on the football field. Leslie admirably kept his composure and asked Diggs for his thoughts on the play. The 26-year-old did not cover himself in glory with his answer.
Still heated after the confrontation, Diggs reportedly declined to talk to the media after the locker room was open. That is probably for the best, but it shows a lack of professionalism.
Diggs' frustration is understandable. He wasn't at fault for Kittle's long reception. Donovan Wilson had awful coverage on the play. That was potentially the root of No. 7's frustration, but it does not justify his reaction.
Cowboys fans might want to strap in for a long season. It's only Week 8 and the vibes are as bad as they've been in almost a decade.