Big pass play eclipses Cowboys’ defense despite takeaway

More than a season had passed since a Dallas Cowboys’ cornerback claimed a turnover.

When the Terrance Mitchell picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick in the third quarter it not only snapped that string, but it appeared to be a turning point towards a Cowboys’ victory.

Alas, in the season when nothing went right for the Cowboys, the New York Jets answered and put together two scoring drives late for a 19-16 win at AT&T Stadium.

After Dallas tied it with a 50-yard Dan Bailey field goal with 1:55 remaining, the Jets drove 58 yards before Randy Bullock’s game-winning 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining.

The key on the drive was Kenbrell Thompkins 43-yard catch down the sidelines after beating cornerback Byron Jones. Jones received no help deep and it set up the Jets’ game-winner at the Dallas 26.

“I was playing press man [coverage],” Jones said. “I should have known better. I turned my back on the receiver and he was flying down the sideline.”

The Jets gained 372 yards, including 299 passing by Fitzpatrick.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones defended the defensive performance.

“I thought our defense was outstanding. Again, that thing got down near the end of that game, that last drive I had hoped our offense could keep that ball a little bit, give us a long possession and save those defensive guys from getting back out there for a long period of time,” he said. “Give the Jets, a good football team, credit.”

Mitchell’s interception of Fitzpatrick set up a Cowboys’ field goal late in the third quarter and gave Dallas a 13-9 lead with less than four minutes left in the third quarter.

Mitchell was just called up from the practice squad earlier this week.

“I’m happy the whole Cowboy organization gave me the opportunity to come back here,” said Mitchell, whose interception was the first by a Cowboys’ cornerback since Orlando Scandrick’s interception against the Bears on December 14 last season. “They stressed a lot on getting the ball. That was something I tried to do.”

There were 560 passes thrown against the Cowboys’ defense between the two interceptions.

It was Fitzpatrick’s first interception since throwing two against the Texans a month ago.

The Jets answered with a 70-yard, nine-play scoring drive early in the fourth and took a 16-13 on Eric Decker’s three-yard touchdown catch.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 11:51 PM with the headline "Big pass play eclipses Cowboys’ defense despite takeaway."