For the second straight year, the Dallas Cowboys’ season ends with a head-scratching final play against the San Francisco 49ers. Last year, the clock literally ran out on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys against the 49ers in the wild-card round. This year’s loss in the divisional round wasn’t as dramatic, but it was just as baffling and comical.
Trailing 19-12 with six seconds and no timeouts from their own 24, the Cowboys didn’t have much to work for a last-ditch effort. So, Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore got creative.
First, running back Ezekiel Elliott lined up ineligible on the play at center. Dallas didn’t have anyone else on the line. Elliott snapped the football to Prescott, and disaster struck immediately afterward.
Elliott got flattened by 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Prescott threw a pass KaVonte Turpin, and Turpin got immediately drilled, ending the game. It appeared Dallas was looking for Turpin to get spacing so he could lateral the football.
But 49ers safety Jimmie Ward ended the play immediately with the pop.
The reaction on Twitter was just as expected:
On a night that Prescott threw two bad interceptions, and kicker Brett Maher missed his fifth extra point of the postseason, the amazement of the Cowboys’ poorly-executed final play took some attention and steam from the factors that led to the loss.
From the snap, the play stunk. The play put an exclamation point on the evening for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys are now free for a trip to Cabo. Meanwhile, the 49ers advance to next Sunday’s NFC Championship at the Philadelphia Eagles.
