Based on most of their players’ performances against the 49ers, the Cowboys unquestionably had a team worthy of an NFC title game appearance. To take juggernaut San Francisco down to the wire is no small task and speaks to the talent level Dallas had as it tried to make a deep postseason run.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys’ most important player, Dak Prescott, didn’t come to play and support his teammates’ admirable performance. (To be frank, neither did Mike McCarthy.)
As Dallas chased a 19-12 margin in the final moments of Sunday’s divisional round battle in the Bay Area, they needed Prescott to orchestrate a clutch drive and keep their season alive. All he needed was an opening, just one mistake by the 49ers’ defense.
That’s what happened when Michael Gallup streaked down the middle of the field on a 2nd-and-10 play. If Prescott delivers the pass in stride or even gives his target a better chance at the ball, the Cowboys are in business and have a real shot to tie the game. (Gallup might have even scored!)
But he didn’t. Prescott missed Gallup badly, as the receiver was forced to stop running and turn around on an absolute duck of a throw.
Woof. Prescott, buddy. In a tight playoff battle, these are not throws you simply can miss. At the very least, you have to give your receiver an opportunity to make a play.
Not only did Prescott let the Cowboys down in the clutch, he let down any bettors who thought he would surpass a pre-game over and under of 257.5 yards. Prescott fell way short of that mark and was an utter disappointment, with just over 200 passing yards and two picks.
Unsurprisingly, the Cowboys would not get another opening like Gallup streaking downfield. They would eventually self-combust on a longshot final possession to lose by that 19-12 score as another postseason went down the drain. Something tells me Prescott will be thinking about this play for a while. As will the rest of the Cowboys.