Cowboys CB Anthony Brown: Jeff Heath came through in the clutch for me

Anthony Brown thought he might’ve lost the game for the Dallas Cowboys.

Brown dropped what should have been an easy, game-sealing interception with 1:05 left in the game. That gave the Oakland Raiders new life and they almost pulled out a victory in the final seconds.

Fortunately for Brown, safety Jeff Heath made the play of the night. With 31 seconds left, Oakland had a third-and-3 from the Dallas 8. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr broke free on a run toward the end zone and extended for the front pylon.

Just as Carr lunged for the end zone, Heath hit him. Carr lost control of the ball and it bounced out of the end zone for a touchback, securing an improbable 20-17 victory for the Cowboys.

“When I dropped that pick, I was just like, ‘Man, I feel like I owe the team,’” Brown said. “This could’ve ended the game right here, but Jeff Heath came through in the clutch for me. That was huge.”

It’s another signature play for Heath, who leads the team with three interceptions. He always seems to be in the right spot at the right time.

“It just felt like a normal play,” Heath said. “I could tell he was getting close to the end zone and I just tried my best to keep him out and thankfully he reached his hand out and he fumbled.”

Asked if he helped knock it out, Heath said: “Hopefully. I don’t know. That’s tough when you’re laid out like that and you’re fully extended and someone hits him. It’s tough to hold onto the ball, unless you’re Aaron Rodgers, obviously.”

Heath is referring to last year’s divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. He sacked Rodgers late in the game and Rodgers somehow hung onto the ball despite the hard it.

“Jeff Heath has played unbelievable for us,” linebacker Sean Lee said. “It’s time to recognize how well he’s been playing, making plays, interceptions, big hits and to finish like that and make that play, it won the game for us.”

Carr couldn’t emulate that this time around and the game turned out in the Cowboys’ favor.

“I thought that play typified what we’re trying to instill in our football team,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Him laying out, somehow, some way not letting that guy get to the pylon and ultimately knocking the ball out. It was a helluva play.”

The Cowboys needed to make a “helluva play” because they whiffed on other opportunities earlier in the game. As stated, Brown dropped an easy interception earlier in the drive.

“I just got lazy with it, tried to catch it with my chest, should’ve tried to catch it with my hands,” said Brown, who has dropped multiple interceptions on the season. “I would’ve walked into the end zone. Easy pick-six, that’s all.

“That could’ve been the game-changer. We could’ve potentially lost the game right there, so that would’ve been bad if we ended up losing. I’ll be on the JUGS all week [catching passes].”

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 4:12 PM with the headline "Cowboys CB Anthony Brown: Jeff Heath came through in the clutch for me."