Ode to Norm … Another game another loss. Before he retired, I always enjoyed listening to Norm Hitzges and his post-game analysis of his 5 key plays after either a Cowboy win or loss. These are 5 plays that many fans don’t necessarily remember but had an impact on the game. After a disappointing loss last night here are 5 plays that I have identified:
- It is the 1st QTR and the 1st drive for the Cowboys. After stopping the Ravens and forcing them to a 3 and out the Cowboys all of a sudden discover a run game and proceed down the field in orderly fashion. After throwing an incomplete pass, it is now 3rd and Goal from the Ravens 1 yard line. Dak in Shotgun and is SACKED. The Cowboys are forced to kick a FG to make it 3-0.
As others have astutely alluded to …. Why are the Cowboys passing on 2 straight plays? You have the Ravens reeling in the beginning with the run game. Those 4 points left on the field are going to come back to haunt this team. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb playcalling here.
- It is still the 1st QTR and after the Cowboys stop the Ravens on Downs, they get the ball in excellent shape. They proceed down the field ending with a TD. Aubrey extra point makes it 10-0 Cowboys. Here is where the 2nd Key play occurs. On the ensuing kick-off, Aubrey kicks the ball out of bounds. FLAG. The Ravens now get the ball on the 40 and with seemingly new life proceed to go down the field an score a TD bring the score to 10- 7 Cowboys.
Let’s examine this. How important is this ….. If the Aubrey keep the ball in bounds, and the Cowboys coverage team does it job you potentially have the Ravens on their 20-30 yard line, maybe back further. By having Aubrey kicking the ball out of bounds you are GIVING the Ravens extra yards. Compound that fact with leaving 4 points on the field from the Cowboys 1st drive, then the Ravens could have been looking at 14-0 starting much further back in their own territory. That is a completely different story than having a 10-0 lead with the Ravens starting on their 40.
- It is now the 2nd QTR and the Cowboys are down 14-10. The Cowboys are on their own 44-yard line and it is 4th and 1. The Cowboys elect to go for it. Williams runs slightly off right tackle and is stopped for no-gain and loses the ball. Turnover on downs. Ravens kick a FG on the ensuing short field and go-up 17-10. Jim Nantz makes the comment that had Williams tried to go wide outside, there was room for Williams to possibly pick up the 1st and keep the drive alive. I know above I stated on the goal line they needed to run, but here on your own 44, why chance a Raven defense stop giving them excellent field position, which ultimately happened. Punting here would have been the right thing to do. Regardless, you are giving a chance for the Ravens to get at least 3 points which they did.
- It is now the 3rd QTR and the 2nd drive for the Cowboys in the 2nd half. After receiving the ball the Cowboys drive down the field only to fumble the ball away …The Cowboys defense holds and on the Cowboys 2nd drive they again proceed to march down the field. It is 3rd and 9 from the BAL 44 and DAK completes a 20 yard pass to Pickens to the Raven 24. Awesome …just what the doctor ordered ….BUT WAIT …… There is FLAG. Offensive Holding on Terrence Steele. (SMH) So instead of a 1st down on the 24 it is now 3rd and 19. Dak completes a 13 yard pass to try to get some of the yardage back but not enough as it is 4th and 6th from the Raven 41. Why is this important you ask … on the ensuing FG try, Aubrey’s kick is BLOCKED. That penalty was an absolute killer and momentum changer. As the Ravens take 4 plays and score a TD to go up 24-13. That is a potential 14 point swing. Instead of being down 24-13 the Cowboys could have potentially been up 20-17 or down only 17-16. Regardless … that penalty was HUGE with a capital “H”.
- It now the 4th QTR. The Cowboys just gave up the go-ahead TD and are now down 31-28. Under 2 minutes the Cowboys move the ball effectively downfield. 0:20 seconds to go and it is 2nd and Goal from the BAL 2. The dreaded FLAG rears its ugly head. False Start on Schoonmaker. Now it is 2nd and Goal from the BAL 7. What could have been a run/pass play now dictates it more or less needs to be a pass. Dak scrambles up the middle for 2 yards to the BAL 5. The 3rd down pass to Pickens wasn’t even close. Aubrey ties it up with the FG. How frustrating is it that again the Cowboys cannot punch it in this time due to a penalty. That False Start pretty much dictated what the Cowboys could run especially with the limited time left on the clock.
- Bonus: It is now the following kick off and instead of some type squibb kick forcing the Ravens a return and thus taking time off the clock, Aubrey kicks ball out of endzone for a touchback giving the Ravens the ball on their 35. More importantly NO TIME came off the clock and the Ravens still have 7 seconds. 27 yards later and with 1 second on the clock the defense gives up a huge pass play and well …that’s the ballgame as we see Loop’s kick go through the uprights.
In my humble opinion this was a winnable game and the Cowboys failed in ALL facets of the game.
The offense needs to punch in for TD when on the 2-yard line, not once but twice. That was the ball game right there. Cowboys score TD’s there, the Cowboys win this game.
The defense still gave up 192 rushing yards and despite holding Henry to under 100 yards. Yes they stopped Henry down near goal line, but could not get critical stops when needed. Letting Jackson complete a 27-yard pass with 7 seconds is inexcusable.
Special teams – Aubrey had 2 kicks go out of bounds, 1 blocked FG attempt, and in my opinion a Touchback which was critical in setting up Jackson’s pass considering no time came off the clock.
Coaching matters. Enough said.
Sigh ……..
