Why did Dak Prescott throw it away? Everything we know about one of the most controversial plays in recent Dallas Cowboys history
This was the moment the Dallas Cowboys really lost the game to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I just can’t stop thinking about it. Not the 56-yard field goal nor the 27-yard pass the Dallas Cowboys gave up to allow it. Mostly, I can’t get over the Cowboys’ approach on third and goal with a chance to win it in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
From the five-yard line, Prescott fired a confounding throwaway that for a second looked like a misfire. Wide receiver George Pickens broke free late in the play but by then, the ball was sailing high and away. Why?
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer says he overcoached his quarterback. Prescott was on the same page as he explained what they were looking for wasn’t there—though he admitted he regretted not firing it to the pylon.
There’s so much to break down from that play alone. Let’s dive in.
What the Cowboys are saying
Both Schottenheimer and Prescott agreed the play was a throwaway, not an innacurate pass. So why was it thrown away?
“We called a quick out,” said Schottenheimer after the 34-31 loss. “I probably overcoached Dak on that one because we had the points. And I probably overcoached him on that because, with the time, no timeouts, it had to go to (Pickens) or throw it away.”
“That’s on me,” Schottenheimer added. “I overcoached him.”
Prescott declined to go in depth on what the options were on that third down, but he admitted he “probably should have sat on it a little bit longer.”
“The coverage that they were playing, 99 out of 100 times they’re supposed to cover GP,” Prescott explained. “That corner is supposed to be outside leverage, funneling him inside to the safety, GP is GP. He did a great job of winning regardless. I wish I would have just sank on my back foot and just threw it to the front pylon and trusted it. But it’s one of those things you read the coverage, you say, well, they’re not giving you that. And unfortunately, I threw the ball away.”
What were the Cowboys looking for?
In the angle of the play you can see below, you can see the safety is indeed bracketing Pickens, meaning there wasn’t going to be anything inside which is seemingly what the Cowboys were looking for. With the corner on top of Pickens, a fade wasn’t there either.
Based on Schottenheimer’s comments on him overcoaching, it sounds like he insisted on Dak avoiding a risky throw or a sack. With no timeout available at that point, it was a one-read play, the Cowboys let their fear of missing out on three points force them to miss out on seven.
Think about it this way: with a chance to win the game, this was the play called. A de-facto one-route play. There was no scheming somebody open, no easy button to press. And to make matters worse, the coach was overcoaching the quarterback—known as one of the best processors in the NFL—on how to approach the play.
The way the Cowboys and HC Brian Schottenheimer couldn’t have been worse. But their mindset was even worse.
Playing for a tie with this Cowboys defense?
Loss aversion is real and I can see why the Cowboys didn’t want to risk the ball on third down. But rationally, it never made any sense. The Ravens were averaging 6.5 yards per play. Meanwhile, Dallas was hit hard with injuries and were forced to field two backup safeties and a backup cornerback at the end of the game.
Why would you play cautiously to ensure overtime, where the odds were significantly stacked against you? Prescott and Pickens are two of the biggest three stars of your offense. Go for the win. Dial up your best play and try to end it there.
Instead, the “best play” in Schottenheimer’s callsheet for that moment was limiting Prescott to making one read. The Cowboys quarterback didn’t look happy with the situation after the play.
Not only did the Cowboys play conservatively, but did so poorly. Schottenheimer calling the timeout at 14 seconds a play earlier was a mistake. If you’re aiming for overtime, why not let it run a little longer to ensure the Ravens don’t get a chance to win it in regulation? Some are saying it was an injury timeout but Schottenheimer is spotted on video clearly calling the timeout as soon as Prescott is down on second and goal.
The Cowboys lost the game for many reasons and moments. But this one stings the most. Coaching needs to be better at that instance of the game. And it sucks to say because it’s unfair to ask it of him, but Prescott probably needs to ignore his coaches’ input in that spot.
The Cowboys are 1-2 and have to shake off the loss quickly. Players are off Monday and Tuesday after the long trip to Brazil and take on the 0-3 Houston Texans next Sunday.
