It’s another sloppy start for Dallas Cowboys, who can’t keep pace in loss to Seahawks
That yardstick you heard breaking from Seattle’s CenturyLink Field all the way back in North Texas was likely just Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy beating it against the wall in the locker room after the game.
It was McCarthy who called Sunday’s game against the Seahawks a measuring stick match-up for his team in his third game as Cowboys coach.
An early-season confidence boost was right there for the taking, with the Cowboys taking a late lead in the 38-31 loss to Seattle.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was great as expected, tossing five touchdown passes including the game-winner, a 29-yard strike to receiver D.K. Metcalf to go ahead by seven with 1:47 remaining. Wilson’s five scores gave him the NFL record for most touchdown passes (14) in the first three games of a season.
Seattle’s defense made it hold up when quarterback Dak Prescott tossed an interception on a desperation heave with 6 seconds left in a game that will be remembered for miscues and sloppy play from the Cowboys.
And that’s a reflection on the head coach.
“We are not a clean football team right now,” McCarthy said. “We have too many turnovers. We need to execute better. Our rhythm and timing and isn’t where it needs to be. We will work to get that done.”
It’s a miracle that the Cowboys were even in the game after two turnovers from Prescott, a muffed kickoff return, a safety, mental breakdowns in the secondary, two missed extra points and a plethora of penalties allowed Seattle to jump out to a 30-15 lead in the third quarter.
But credit Prescott for nearly pulling off his second consecutive comeback miracle.
Prescott, who passed for 450 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in rallying the Cowboys from a 20-point deficit in a 40-39 victory against the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, passed for 472 yards and three touchdowns against the Seahawks.
It marked the first time in his career that he passed for over 400 yards in back-to-back games.
For a moment, it looked he was going to out duel Wilson in an anticipated showdown between two of the league’s top quarterbacks.
A three-play drive that started with a 52-yard pass to Michael Gallup and ended with a 42-yard strike to Cedrick Wilson made the score 30-22 with 5:47 left in the third quarter.
Prescott made it a 30-28 game on a 43-yard touchdown pass to Gallup at the 13:07 mark of the fourth quarter. The Cowboys failed on a two-point try.
And another surprising stop by the defense, which had blown coverages throughout the first half, put the ball back in Prescott’s hands for a drive that resulted in a 42-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein, who missed two extra points in the first half.
The defense ultimately couldn’t make it hold up against Wilson, who passed for 315 yards.
Prescott drove the Cowboys down the field and had a first down at the Seattle 22 with 22 seconds left. An incomplete pass was followed by a sack and then came the final desperation heave that was intercepted.
“I tried to give my guys a shot on the last one,” Prescott said. “It came up short. I want the ball in my hands. I want to make those throws and have the opportunity to win the game.”
Prescott said the team has to do a better job taking care of the football. His two early turnovers — an interception late in the second quarter and a fumble on a strip sack on the first play of the third quarter — directly led to Seattle touchdowns.
While he does not regret the final throw to the end zone, Prescott lamented the early miscues, penalties and turnovers that have become a disappointing trend through the first three games.
“The last three weeks we are only stopping ourselves,” Prescott said. “We have to get of our own way and play cleaner. We gotta get that straight.”
Gallup led the Cowboys with six catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. Wilson had five catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first 100-yard game of his career.
The Cowboys got nothing on the ground from running back Ezekiel Elliott, who had 14 carries for 34 yards and had overcome some challenges at tackle with undrafted free agents Brandon Knight and Terence Steele starting in place of the injured Tyron Smith and La’el Collins.
The Cowboys benched Steele in the second half and moved right guard Zack Martin to right tackle. Center Joe Looney moved to right guard and Tyler Biadasz came in at center.
It settled the line and helped lay the foundation for the near comeback, but it was not enough.
The Cowboys are now 1-2 to start the McCarthy era and now face the Cleveland Browns next Sunday, the first of three straight games at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys are 0-2 on the road and now 0-6 away from home dating back to last season. They are also 2-8 against teams with winning record dating back to 2019, including 0-2 in 2020.
This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 8:31 PM.
