EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The season has finally come to an end as the Cowboys finished 7-9-1 in Brian Schottenheimer's first season.
The goal to get to .500 came up short, as the Cowboys were downed 34-17 at MetLife Stadium. There were some memorable plays, but let's look at a handful that could've changed the overall outcome in Sunday's game.
Incomplete to Ferguson – The Cowboys were on the move with a couple of big runs by Jaydon Blue, setting up first-and-goal at the Giants 5-yard line. But on first down, the offense went back to the air as Dak Prescott found Jake Ferguson, who was hit as the ball arrived. After a Giants challenge, the call of incomplete was upheld. Either way, the Cowboys didn't get any yards there, and couldn't get anymore and settled for a field goal. Knowing Prescott was going to play a half, the offense didn't do enough early on to get points, and that was a wasted opportunity.
Thomas offside – After the Cowboys missed a fourth-down attempt inside the 3-yard line, the thought process was to try and pin the Giants back, call timeouts and get the ball back in good field position. But on first down for the Giants, Solomon Thomas was called offside before the snap. That gave the Giants enough breathing room and, more importantly, a first-and-5. The Giants were able to keep the ball and drive for a touchdown.
Murray's hit out of bounds – The Cowboys still had a shot to get the ball back with the Giants having second-and-21 at their 26-yard line with 1:21 to play. But Kenneth Murray was flagged for a late hit out of bounds on Tyrone Tracy, negating a third-and-long. The first down by penalty move the ball to the Giants 46, and they were in the end zone a few plays later to grab a 16-10 lead.
Blue dropped for minus-3 – After an explosive start to the game, Blue was stopped in his tracks more often than not in the second half. One of the big losses occurred in the third quarter after Dallas picked up a first down to the Giants 41. But on the next snap, Blue was dropped for a 3-yard loss. The next two plays were incomplete passes, resulting in a missed field goal by Brandon Aubrey, keeping the score 24-10.
Carson PI on third-and-long – The Cowboys had just scored to cut the Giants' lead to seven at 24-17. And after an offensive pass interference call, New York was facing a third-and-19 at their own 18-yard line. But like he did all day, Dart lofted up another deep ball down the sideline, and this time Caelen Carson was called for pass interference. The spot foul moved the ball near midfield, and instead of Dallas getting the ball down by a touchdown, the Giants kept possession and drove for a touchdown of their own.
