Often, the ache of your favourite crew shedding a playoff sport is sufficient for any fan. However what about when your crew’s season ends through a string of significantly unlucky performs that trigger the complete NFL fan base to take part in a joint facepalm?
Nicely, that’s precisely what occurred to Dallas Cowboys fan throughout the nation as they watched their membership fall to the 49ers 17-12 on Sunday night time.
For individuals who weren’t fortunate to witness the occasions in actual time, right here’s a fast run down:
An ill-advised punt with 2:05 remaining in regulation
With 2:59 on the clock, the Cowboys had the ball first-and-10 at their 18-yard line. Two incompletions and a sack on Dak Prescott swiftly ended the Cowboys’ drive after simply 59 seconds. Going through a fourth-and-10 with the sport on the road, the Cowboys determined to punt the ball again to a 49ers offense that begs for the prospect to run the clock out behind their proficient steady of backs. They obtained the ball again with 45 seconds remaining nedding a landing to tie.
DAL determined to punt to SF from the DAL 18 on 4th & 10 with 2:05 remaining within the 4th whereas shedding 12 to 19.
With a Give up Index of 4.56, this punt ranks on the 86th percentile of cowardly punts of the 2022 season, and the 83rd percentile of all punts since 1999.
— Give up Index (@surrender_index) January 23, 2023
Dak Prescott almost takes a sack on first play of potential game-winning drive
The Cowboys have been fortunate to get the ball again in any respect following their punt as 49ers working again Elijah Mitchell solely wanted to fall down in bounds on a first-down scamper to seal the sport.
So, going through a 94-yard subject in entrance of them, Prescott and his offense went to work…type’ve.
On the primary play of the drive, Prescott took the snap and escaped the pocket to his proper, shedding a number of yards of depth into his personal finish zone. As he neared the sideline, Prescott pumped the ball and proceeded to take a success from defensive sort out Arik Armstead inside his personal finish zone. Miraculously, Prescott spun off and managed to get a cross off out of bounds.
TE Dalton Schultz didn’t cease clock whereas nonetheless going out of bounds
Greg Olsen was everywhere in the ruling to wind the clock on a Dalton Schultz catch.
“Once you exit of bounds, you need to be going forwards in case you are contacted by the defender… you’ve got gotta flip up and be bodily into contact and get that official to cease the clock.” pic.twitter.com/KmwR4Nh5Pq
— Terrible Asserting (@awfulannouncing) January 23, 2023
On third-and-one from the Dallas 15-yard line, Schultz caught a brief out route from Prescott earlier than colliding with a 49ers defender and heading out of bounds. Nevertheless, the sport clock didn’t find yourself stopping as soon as Schultz crossed the sideline.
It’s a rule many followers aren’t conscious of, however a participant MUST try to achieve yardage after the catch whereas heading out of bounds to really cease the clock. It’s a must to be transferring ahead. The officers didn’t rule that Schultz tried to maneuver ahead after the catch which induced the clock to proceed winding down.
The failure to cease the clock ended up costing the Cowboys 19 treasured seconds.
Schultz didn’t get second foot down on a routine catch on the sideline
After an incompletion on the earlier first down, the Cowboys confronted a second-and-10 with 10 seconds left within the sport. Prescott discovered Schultz as soon as once more for a 15-yard acquire to cease the clock in vary of a protracted throw. Nevertheless, regardless of initially being dominated a catch, the officers overturned the decision after assessment.
To everybody’s disbelief, Schultz merely didn’t drag his second foot in bounds on what definitely seemed like every other routine catch you’d count on a participant to make.
The incompletion left the Cowboys with 76 yards to go together with solely six seconds left.
So what does any crew do on this scenario? A Hail Mary, proper?
Nicely, not if you happen to’re the Cowboys.
Ezekiel Elliott and KaVontae Turpin get steamrolled on underwhelming closing play
As an alternative of lining up with 5 pass-catchers out vast for one final heave in direction of the top zone, the Cowboys lined up in an unorthodox formation that had working again Ezekiel Elliott lined up at middle to snap the ball. With a mix of linemen and receivers lined up on both facet of the formation, Prescott took the snap and fired a brief slant to receiver KaVontae Turpin, who took an absolute shot by 49ers security Jimmie Ward to finish the sport.
On the identical time, Elliott by no means obtained an opportunity to make a play for his crew as linebacker Fred Warner bulldozed him as quickly because the ball left his hand.
For Cowboys followers, it was an incredibly-frustrating ending to a different promising season. However to these exterior the Dallas fan base, it was a poetic finale that completely encapsulated the Cowboys’ struggles on an in any other case thrilling divisional spherical.
