The Dallas Cowboys lost a heartbreaker to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, falling 34-31 after a 56-yard game-winning field goal broke the hearts of Cowboys fans around the world. The loss dropped Dallas to 1-2 on the season.

The play that will haunt this team happened before that kick, and heck, even before the 27-yard completion that set it up. On third and goal from the 5-yard line, when quarterback Dak Prescott simply threw the football away with the game on the line instead of looking for the game-winning touchdown with an open George Pickens.

Schottenheimer takes the blame for overcoaching Dak

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer provided some context on the decision in his postgame press conference. His explanation unfortunately wasn’t one that justifies any of it.

Schottenheimer said after the game that Prescott is taught to throw the football away in that situation, admitting he “overcoached” his quarterback, via multiple reporters.

Prescott confirmed as much in his own press conference, acknowledging he was throwing the football away on third and goal. Prescott added that he probably should have sat on the throw a bit longer and put it on the pylon.

The full sequence was the problem

Let’s break it down. The Cowboys took possession with 1:30 on the clock, drove down the field, and benefited from a shaky defensive pass interference call that set them up first and goal from the 2-yard line. A false start pushed them back to the seven. From there, the sequence went like this:

On first and goal, the Cowboys took a one-on-one shot to wide receiver George Pickens, which I don’t hate. Pickens deserves that trust. Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins won the rep. On second and goal, a false start from Luke Schoonmaker pushed the offense back five yards. Prescott picked up two yards in a scramble before calling timeout.

Then came third and goal from the five. Looking at the replay (we don’t have the All-22 yet), it appeared there was some sort of rub route with CeeDee Lamb and Ryan Flournoy. Flournoy motioned inside and ran a drag route through the end zone. The worst part? It seemed like that route was open, too. Meanwhile, Pickens appeared to be open on the pylon in a one-on-one matchup. Prescott could have won the game right there.

Instead, he threw it away. Apparently because he was coached to. Quite frankly, even that doesn’t feel like enough to justify the Cowboys QB.

It’s on both Dak and Schottenheimer

I don’t think this is an either-or situation. I think it’s on both.

Prescott needs to know better. He needs to make that throw, whether it’s to Flournoy over the middle or to Pickens on the pylon. He needs to wait just a little longer. You’ve got George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. If somebody is open, you go for it. You don’t throw the football away. You go and win the game right there and then.

And Schottenheimer doesn’t need to overcoach one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He needs to trust him instead. On top of that, you don’t have a better play call for such a game-defining moment? You’re first and goal from the 2-yard line, and you can’t design something better to win the game against one of the toughest opponents you will face all season?

The defensive play call was just as bad

Then there’s the other side of the ball. With seven seconds on the clock and the Ravens needing a miracle, Schottenheimer revealed the Cowboys were running a man-to-man robber look. Based on his description, that sounds like Cover 1 with an underneath zone defender, a deep safety, and everyone else in man-to-man assignments.

I hate that call for that moment. I would rather you play a little bit back, and if it takes longer for the Ravens to make a play, so be it. Additionally, the Cowboys ran a stunt on the defensive line (which have been very unproductive for them this season) and for some reason were showing blitz with LB Jaishawn Barham. Again, why not play more conservatively to avoid the big play? Instead, Baltimore completed a 27-yard pass that set up the game-winning 56-yard field goal.

Personnel issues compound coaching problems

The Cowboys also dealt with roster issues that amplified the coaching failures. Right tackle Terrence Steele was flagged for holding in crunch time and later missed a block on special teams. Flournoy finished with 2 catches on 8 targets. Linebacker Dee Winters missed tackles. The secondary was severely hurt, and it showed.

That’s why the game was 34-31. There were good moments. But coaching lost the Cowboys this one in a big, major way.

Dallas takes on the Houston Texans next week, and don’t let the record deceive you. Houston has a heck of a defense, and with the injuries the Cowboys have right now, I don’t think there’s an offense out there that isn’t scary to face.

The Cowboys are 1-2. And right now, the coaching is making the hole deeper.