SANTA CLARA, California. – Two more interceptions by Dak Prescott. Another missed extra point from Brett Maher. Some bizarre play-calling at the end of the game.
It all added up to another playoff end for the Dallas Cowboys and more questions about what needs to be done to get them over the hump.
Prescott had two turnovers and led just one touchdown drive, and the Cowboys missed the NFC title game for the 12th straight postseason. Lost 19-12 to the San Francisco 49ers in the division round on Sunday.
“I felt like we were in a good position to come here and win this thing,” said owner Jerry Jones. “Honestly I wouldn’t say surprised, I would say I’m really disappointed that maybe we didn’t make something possible.”
A franchise that won three Super Bowl titles in four years at the start of Jones’ tenure is best known today for playoff flops.
And now there’s speculation about the job security of coach Mike McCarthy, who won a playoff game in three seasons – last week against Tampa Bay.
Jones said the loss didn’t change his mind about McCarthy but he was clearly frustrated with another early finish.
“It’s very disgusting,” he said.
The Cowboys (13-6) haven’t made it to the conference championship game since winning the Super Bowl after the 1995 season, losing seven times in the divisional round and five times in the wildcard round. Only five other teams have not made it to a conference title game since then.
They had their chance to go that far on Sunday thanks to a strong defensive performance but were beaten by the rival 49ers for the second straight game.
“Just disappointment,” Prescott said. “The defense gave us a chance to win this game. They played hard against a really, really good attack, a really good team. That we only collect the points that we have scored is not acceptable. It starts with me I need to get better. There is no other way to sugarcoat it.”
On early interception by Prescott set up a field goal by San Francisco.
The Cowboys then assembled their only TD drive of the game when Prescott hit a 4-yard score with Dalton Schultz. But Maher had his Extra point attempt blocked after missing a record four in a win in Tampa Bay last week.
Prescott then threw another interception — his 13th in his last nine games — to convert a potential late-half shot on goal into a field goal that gave San Francisco a 9-6 lead at the break.
“I can’t endanger the ball like that, whether they’re throwing up on tight throws or I’m late on a stop route,” Prescott said. “It just can’t be allowed to happen. The number it has reached is ridiculous. I can promise that number will never be the same again. I can promise that.”
The Cowboys then failed to capitalize on two big special teams games and settled for field goals after a fiddly punt from Ray-Ray McCloud and a long kickoff return from KaVontae Turpin.
That put them in a desperate situation late on as they overtook their own 18 with 2:59 left, 19-12 back.
Prescott threw two direct incompletes and was dismissed in third. McCarthy chose to go for the fourth and tenth punt with all three timeouts remaining.
The Cowboys got the ball back on their 6 with 45 seconds left, but could only get the ball down to the 24 before an odd endgame that started with Ezekiel Elliott running the ball back and throwing the ball to Prescott, and immediate before the planned laterals ended when Jimmie Ward tackled Turpin after a short pass.
A fitting end to another unfulfilled season.
“In fact, we’re one step closer to our goal,” McCarthy said. “That would be the equivalent of last year to this year.”
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