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It may be a play that causes the NFL to change its controversial and confusing rule on what actually constitutes a catch.
Certainly, 50 drunken guys in a bar could plainly see Bryant catch the ball from quarterback Tony Romo, take two steps and reach for the end zone when the ball came out.
It was initially ruled a catch and then overturned on replay as the NFL invoked the Calvin Johnson rule.
It proved to be the deciding play of the game in the Cowboys’ 26-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round.
Bryant believes the Cowboys had the game and their season taken away from them.
“Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah ... it wasn’t like [Johnson’s play],” Bryant said. “I’m reaching for the touchdown, trying to score, trying to break the plane. I can’t believe. I can’t believe it. Please, please take that rule out.”
Instead of having the ball at the 1-yard line and setting up for the go-ahead touchdown and possibly their first trip to the NFC title game in 19 years, the Packers took over and ran out the clock.
But the Cowboys lost the game, which ended their shocking and surprising 2014 season, because of a number of miscues, breakdowns and blown opportunities over the course of 60 minutes.
“Obviously, we didn’t do what was necessary to win the game,” coach Jason Garrett said. “And we have to live with that. We didn’t get the job done. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and take responsibility for it.”
There was nothing bigger than the events at the end of the first half with the Cowboys up 14-7 with 40 seconds left when, on 3rd-and-1 from the Green Bay 27, quarterback Tony Romo fumbled a shotgun snap.
He recovered the ball, but the aborted play forced him to throw it out of bounds, causing the clock to stop.
Then normally reliable kicker Dan Bailey missed a 45-yard field goal only to have the play nullified by a false start. The subsequent 50-yard field goal was blocked.
Green Bay took over the ball at the 40 with enough time remaining to turn it into a field goal of its own.
Instead of going up 17-7 and taking a two-score lead at halftime, the Cowboys led 14-10 at halftime.
Early in the third quarter with the score still 14-10, running back DeMarco Murray appeared to be breaking into the clear for a huge gain to put the Cowboys into scoring position when linebacker Julius Peppers ripped the ball out of his hands.
It was Murray’s first fumble since October.
The Packers turned that play into a field goal to narrow the deficit to 14-13.
The Cowboys went up 21-13 on a one-yard touchdown run from Murray to seemingly re-take control of the game.
But the Cowboys' maligned defense commenced to let quarterback Aaron Rodgers pick them apart with back-to-back touchdown drives of 90 and 80 yards.
It was one thing for the pass rush not to get to Rodgers, but the Cowboys didn’t tackle the Packers receivers after the catches.
Receiver Davante Adams broke their back with a 46-yard touchdown catch-and-run when he hauled in a short pass and avoided a tackle from safety J.J. Wilcox before racing to the end zone to make the score 21-20.
“I missed a tackle,” Wilcox said. “It’s as simple as that. It’s a team effort, but I’ve got to step up and make plays. I’ve got to make it.”
The Cowboys gave the ball right back to the Packers when their next drive ended because of back-to-back Romo sacks.
Rodgers completed a perfect 7-of-7 passes for 78 yards, including a 13-yard laser to tight end Richard Rodgers for the touchdown.
The attempted two-point conversion failed, making the score 26-21 and setting the stage for the climactic reversal on the Bryant catch that wasn’t.
“As a D-line, we didn’t rush how we were supposed to rush,” defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford said. “We didn’t do what we’re supposed to do. Personally, I did not do what I’m supposed to do. I did not get to the quarterback. I’m mad at myself for it, but the game is over and you’ve got to get better.”
Clarence Hill covers the Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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