The Dallas Cowboys concluded their 2024 season with a tough loss to the Washington Commanders. The highlight of the game was Terry McLaurin’s game-winning pass, but there were several crucial plays that might have changed the outcome.
One key moment came when quarterback Trey Lance threw an incomplete pass in the end zone on two consecutive attempts. Lance initially attempted a pass out of bounds but later scrambled away from a sack to find Rico Dowdle open, only for the ball to fall short and stay out of reach.
The Cowboys also struggled in the red zone, with several plays resulting in negative yardage. Dowdle lost 3 yards on first-and-goal from the 10-yard line, and Jake Ferguson’s touchdown attempt was ruled incomplete due to his foot rolling out of bounds in the back of the end zone.
A facemask call on safety Donovan Wilson also proved costly. Despite appearing to only grab the top of quarterback Marcus Mariota’s helmet, Wilson was flagged for the infraction, wiping out a third-and-14 from the 5-yard line and allowing Washington to drive towards the winning score.
Additionally, Mariota made a crucial scramble on third-and-2 that set up fourth-and-short. Without this play, it’s possible the game might have ended in regulation, with the Cowboys possibly needing to settle for a field goal at best.
Source: https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/don-t-forget-these-plays-empty-trips-in-red-zone