Saw the Cowboys/Packers Dez non catch game on NFL network

[MarcusRock]

Murray might of scored a TD if he didn't fumble that ball.

Might have. There was a safety deep that would have gotten him I think. But if we do score there it would have been 21-10. Rodgers came back from 21-13 even later in the game including a 90-yard drive that took all of 2:13 and followed it up with an 80-yard drive that took 4:19. Green Bay almost took longer than each of those drives running out the clock at the end of the game (4:06). So when folks say the defense let us down that day, I tend to agree. Murray fumbled and GB got a FG. Rodgers fumbled and we got a TD out of it. We came out on top with turnovers I'd say so Murray's much further down my list.

 

[gtb1943]

Quite.
The defensive effort against a gimpy Aaron Rodgers was embarrassing.

we could not get good pressure against a ONE LEGGED QB.
now the Dez blown call might have made a difference but with the way our D laid down probably not

 

[tromofan]

It's not denial. It was a catch. We lost because it wasn't called a catch. Could we have STILL lost the game after that catch? Sure. But nothing is guaranteed. Anything could have happened. That's why you play the game. Everyone needs to cope and saying the defense would still have lost the game is a great way to move on. But I will stand behind the fact that the only thing we truly know is that it was a catch and the refs took away our chance to win. We win that game, we beat the Seahawks the next week, and

That was our best OL in the last 20 seasons

Daks first year (2016), was our best OL.

3rd and 15, minute left in the 3rd qtr, 46 yard pass to Adams. Cowboys were up 21-13. Our corner went for the interception and Wilcox misses the kill shot. This was the game changing play!

Actually, early in the third, Demarco’s fumble forced by Julius Peppers, with nothing but open field in front of him was the game changer.

 

[KJJ]

That offense could beat you in several different ways. Stats might say otherwise, but I don't think there ever was a Dak led offense as good. They have been good either with the run or the pass, but never together.

It was the running game led by Murray’s 1800+ yards that made that offense. In 2023 the Cowboys ranked 4th in total offense and led the league in scoring with just over 500 points. Dak set a franchise record with 37 TDs which led the league. The 509 points was a franchise record. We had 5 games with 40 or more points. In 2021 we led the league in offense and had 2 games with 50 or more points. The 2014 offensive was very efficient but not as explosive as the offensives we’ve had under Dak. However, the 07 offense was a great offense but like in 2014 we didn’t score enough when it mattered in the playoffs and our defense folded.

 

[CCBoy]

The last two Green Bay losses were accumulated under 7 seconds combined. Not on QB.

 

[CCBoy]

Who can forget the elite tandem of Ronald Leary and Jermey Parnell?

Have the scouting group improved, huh? I forget to some that should not be pointed out over a decade and just complained about. Any coyotes eat your chickens?

 

[rambo2]

After the Murray fumble, we held them to a FG. People NEVER discuss that Rodgers fumbled in the 2nd Quarter and we turned that into a TD to go up 14-7. What if Rodgers doesn't fumble? People can do this all day with that game. It was a good one.

Game was a tossup.

 

[WillieBeamen]

LOL, you lost me, Willie

Do you remember the Joseph Randall disaster? How Stephen used him and our OLine ( anyone can run behind this line and gain a 1000 yards) to low-ball Murray or run him off the team. We could have carried Murray OPOY momentum into the 2015 season and def been a contender for SB. Murray wanted a contract for $7M but willing to settle for 6 but Stephen wouldn't budge off $5M. Despite pleas from Garrett, Witten and Romo

Darren McFadden had 1100 yds

 

[speedkilz88]

Daks first year (2016), was our best OL.

Actually, early in the third, Demarco’s fumble forced by Julius Peppers, with nothing but open field in front of him was the game changer.

Murray was so slow getting out of the backfield. It would have been a td for most backs.

 

[Reid1boys]

Pretty much everyone knows the Dez catch ruling was one of the biggest F up calls up in playoff history up to that point. Just as bad as the no call for the saints in the 2019(?) playoffs. Plus the fumble hurt

But as the OP stated would the catch even had mattered? Our defense was starting to get carved up and Rodgers had plenty of time to walk down the field

Would have been nice to know if it would have mattered vs the refs taking the game into their hands. I dont blame the refs, that rule sucked, which is why it no longer exists.

 

[McKDaddy]

Murray's fumble is why we lost that game. i will never forgive HIM.

If he had "fumbled" I would understand. But he was straight up "stripped". Peppers "made" a play. I can't blame DeMarco nor can I not give Pep his due.

 

[McKDaddy]

Pretty much everyone knows the Dez catch ruling was one of the biggest F up calls up in playoff history up to that point. Just as bad as the no call for the saints in the 2019(?) playoffs. Plus the fumble hurt

But as the OP stated would the catch even had mattered? Our defense was starting to get carved up and Rodgers had plenty of time to walk down the field

That may very well be true but everyone deserved the right call to be made and to "see" what would happen.

 

[Bamx]

I will never forgive Stephen Jones for not resigning him.........

Some have compared Omarion Hampton to another Murray. Cowboys did have a shot at drafting him.

 

[McKDaddy]

through contact with the ground

it was never intended to apply after the receiver had reestablished himself as a runner. Dez had clearly met all those criteria and went to the ground as a runner trying to score not in order to complete the catch.

 

[Cowboyny]

It was the running game led by Murray’s 1800+ yards that made that offense. In 2023 the Cowboys ranked 4th in total offense and led the league in scoring with just over 500 points. Dak set a franchise record with 37 TDs which led the league. The 509 points was a franchise record. We had 5 games with 40 or more points. In 2021 we led the league in offense and had 2 games with 50 or more points. The 2014 offensive was very efficient but not as explosive as the offensives we’ve had under Dak. However, the 07 offense was a great offense but like in 2014 we didn’t score enough when it mattered in the playoffs and our defense folded.

I think those stats were very misleading. We got a ton of defensive turnovers that season and took advantage of a very weak division with the Giants/Commanders. This offense killed the bad teams and struggled against the elite ones.

2007 offense was real good, but they probably peaked to early and caught the Giants at the wrong time. Didn't help that TO just got back from injury.

 

[Cowboyny]

Some have compared Omarion Hampton to another Murray. Cowboys did have a shot at drafting him.

They took Murray in the 3rd rd, Hampton isn't a generational back and not worthy of a 1st rd pick. Good, solid runner, but not special. Murray had a great OL that made him look better then what he really was.

 

[McKDaddy]

That Murray fumble in the 3rd quarter was such a big play in the game. Heck of a play by the HOFer Julius Peppers, but, had Dallas' future HOFer Zach Martin not have missed his block on Peppers that was a TD.

Yes, Murray needs to secure that football. But, his eyes were probably as big as saucers seeing that open field and huge whole. Plus, he likely didn't think he had to worry about Martin's assignment so he wasn't focused on ball security.

A score there and Dallas is likely in the NFC Championship game even with that horrible defense.

Well summarized.

I'll just add that Peppers was completely out of the play other than the fact that he was Peppers, a HOF'er himself, who "made" an incredible play. I don't think any back in the history of the game would have thought that defender posed any threat whatsoever.

 

[McKDaddy]

You can check it out (and Murray) yourself.

There is a video where Romo explains exactly what the GB defense was loading up to take away & thus why Dez 1 on 1 was the best option. He knew all this pre snap.

 

[MarcusRock]

it was never intended to apply after the receiver had reestablished himself as a runner. Dez had clearly met all those criteria and went to the ground as a runner trying to score not in order to complete the catch.

You can't "re-"establish if you haven't first established. The overall rule was control, 2 feet and time. If you couldn't establish the time portion and you were going to the ground, keeping possession of the ball all the way through (and keeping it off the ground) is what they considered meeting that time marker and then it is a catch. You go to the ground and football moves are off the table except if you can perform a lunge. Dez did not and thus it was incomplete.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Some of my thoughts:

-This may of been the best Cowboy offense we have seen over the last 20 years:

-Elite OL (Leary/Parnell), Elite running game(Murray), very good receiving options (prime Dez, Witten, Beasley and TWilliams) Huge Murray fumble at the end of the 1st half was a big momentum swing.

-Defense was very suspect. Couldn't get any pressure on a injured Rodgers. Rookie Devonta Adams had a huge game as the Cowboy defenders keyed on stopping Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb. Huge 3rd and 15 for a long TD in the 3rd qrt changed the game.

Dez call was total BS as we all know, but it wouldn't of mattered as the defense couldn't get a stop.

Some conclusions based on what I saw compared to this Cowboy Team:

-Our current offense has similar receiving weapons, but the OL/run game is the biggest difference. It makes sense that they made fixing the run game an offseason priority. It is still very much a work in progress.

-Defensively, our current group is far more talented.

Mincey/Selvie and a rookie DLaw were our pass rushers. Hayden/Crawford were our DT's. McClain was out due to injury, saw Hitchens/Carter at backer, Carr/Steling Moore were at corner, Scandrick in the nickel, Wilcox/Heath at Safety.

Remember our DC was Marinelli and Eberflus was our LB coach. Eberflus did a tremendous job was turning around McClain's career at the time, Hitchens was suppose to be a undrafted fa and became a solid starter. Point is, don't discount Eberflus coaching chops.

D Law had a couple sacks in the Detroit game right