Just when it looked like a miracle had happened and the Cowboys would get one last chance to try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the refs stepped in and correctly delivered the final blow for what has been a brutal year for Dallas and the NFC East.
Giants running back Wayne Gallman fumbled the football with just over a minute left in the game and it was ruled that he had recovered the ball, even though some replays at first didn’t show that. After a short review, however, the call correctly stood and the Giants went on to kill the clock and win the game, 23-19.
The Giants’ playoff hopes are still alive as they would win the NFC East if Washington loses tonight. If Washington wins tonight then they are the NFC East champs.
Here’s the play:
Wayne Gallman just fumbled against air. The Cowboys appeared to recover the fumble, and one official called it Cowboys ball. But he was overruled and the Giants get it back with refs saying Gallman got the ball back.
Now a review that could basically end the game. Wild. pic.twitter.com/PIpPh7HByY
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) January 3, 2021
Check this incredible image out, though this wasn’t when he had possession:
This was ruled possession by Wayne Gallman. pic.twitter.com/JCklvhLzYK
— ESPN (@espn) January 3, 2021
This was when he had possession:
This was the possession !!! pic.twitter.com/bVAsDRLmVa
— Joseph Petrisch (@LICEY_4_EVER) January 3, 2021
NFL fans had lots of jokes:
The NFC East summed up in 1 picture. #Cowboys #Giants pic.twitter.com/2sR10aKzTX
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 3, 2021
Can’t wait for the back page headlines about Wayne Gallman and balls.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 3, 2021
Nothing screams NFC East more than that Wayne Gallman fumble and the refs rescinding it and calling it “Blue’s Ball”
— Jake Schwartz (@Jake11291) January 3, 2021
With that Wayne Gallman fumble, I see why both of these teams are so bad. Neither should be in the playoffs.
— Stephen Kitchen (@stephkitch93) January 3, 2021
That fumble by Wayne Gallman is the perfect illumination of the NFC East this season.#nfl #cowboysgiants
— timothy bowens (@tbglover) January 3, 2021
Wayne Gallman fumble recovery to end the #DallasCowboys season. pic.twitter.com/WNJwAzJmBZ
— Colby Daniels (@Colby_Daniels) January 3, 2021
Mark Sanchez, 2012: Butt Fumble
Wayne Gallman, 2021: Butt Recovery#Giants #nfl #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/ZU5TEJOkYS— Stephen Aldrin (@swaldrin) January 3, 2021
Can’t wait for the WFT to top this https://t.co/3AhrbGovL9
— Mr. Irrelevant (@MrIrrelevantDC) January 3, 2021
The Giants trying to close out the game. pic.twitter.com/Q7BLYdJrkf
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) January 3, 2021
The 2020 Dallas Cowboys season should end with Jaylon Smith celebrating something incorrectly if we are all being honest.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 3, 2021
Giants hatching a plan to win the division pic.twitter.com/9PS2gMzUN1
— CJ Fogler #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) January 3, 2021