Undisciplined play cost the Cowboys.
“This could have been the year!” It has been 26 years since the Cowboys, “America’s Team,” went to the Super Bowl. Getting there this year meant, first, beating the 49ers in the Wild Card Round of the 2022 NFL Playoffs.
San Francisco led for a good share of the game, ahead 23-7, going into the fourth quarter. Then the Cowboys staged a rally, scoring 10 points in a four-minute span, to pull to 23-17 with 8 minutes left.
Starting at its own 20 with 32 seconds to play, Dallas managed time strategically, using sideline passes effectively. That offense fit the defense because San Francisco decided not to rush QB Dak Prescott and, instead, to drop back its corners, linebackers, and safeties into coverage.
End of the road for the Cowboys (photo, The Big Lead)
Then, with only 14 seconds left, Prescott ran the ball on what appeared to be a QB draw. He gained 17 yards to the SF 24. That up-the-middle run meant that he couldn’t get out of bounds, and the Cowboys were out of time-outs. Prescott hurried to spike the ball but made a tactical error in the process–handing the ball to his center without waiting for an official to spot the ball first. The clock ran out, and the 49ers had a 23-17 win.
Was it a mental mistake? Oversight of the moment? Either way, it was one of many undisciplined plays the Cowboys made on the day–including multiple penalties in a row–and 14 penalties overall. In addition, Mike McCarthy hasn’t been good all year as far as time management is concerned, and now there is talk about the need to replace him.
In a close game like Sunday’s match-up, mistakes are costly. That said, San Franciso had a +8-minute advantage in time of possession, and one reason is the 49ers outrushed the Cowboys by about 100 yards.
There won’t be a Super Bowl for Dallas this year. What’s in store for 2022-23? What changes will be made during the off-season? We’ll know soon.
