Cowboys’ defense gets 2 takeaways, but can’t make game-changing stop
Once again, the defense kept the Dallas Cowboys in the game.
And once again, the Cowboys couldn’t capitalize and allowed a crucial, back-breaking play late in a 16-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Dallas came into the game at wet and cold Ralph Wilson Stadium with only nine takeaways this season.
A fumble recovery by Brandon Carr and an end-zone interception by surprise starter Deji Olatoye at cornerback gives them 11 takeaways, tying the league mark for the fewest in a season with the 2013 Houston Texans and 1982 Colts.
Seems like we’ve played this game 10 times this year. We just don’t make the plays to win games.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones
Yet, an anemic offense and an inability for the defense to muster one final stand was the difference.
“Seems like we’ve played this game 10 times this year,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We just don’t make the plays to win games. I thought our defense played hard, but you’re not going to win many games in this league scoring six points.”
Still, Dallas’ defense kept the game close. The defense allowed only nine points through three quarters, including a stand right before the end of the first half.
Olatoye, the North Carolina A&T alum who got the start at right corner with Byron Jones staying at free safety, intercepted Tyrod Taylor in the end zone with 2 seconds left in the first half.
The play killed a 13-play, 76-yard Buffalo drive that had consumed 5:23 and would have put the Bills ahead by a touchdown instead of being tied 6-6 at halftime.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around and trailing 9-6, Dallas again needed a crucial stop on as the Bills began a drive on their 8-yard line with 6:53 to play.
It would have been nice to have a couple of more tackles down the stretch when we needed it.
Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee
on the Bills’ touchdown drive that sealed Dallas’ defeatTwice, however, on third-and-6 and third-and-1, the Bills converted first downs on runs and then got a 50-yard touchdown from Mike Gillislee to seal the win.
It was Taylor’s third-and-6 scramble out of a collapsing pocket at his own 12 for 7 yards that kept the chains moving.
“He did a great job of extending plays, especially the critical third down at the end of the game,” Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee said. “It would have been nice to have a couple of more tackles down the stretch when we needed it.
“I think the biggest thing is that we have to find a way to get off the field late in the game and stay focused on that if we want to be a great defense.”
A lot of key players went down this year, but there was a lot of fight with this team.
Cowboys safety Barry Church
whose season ended in the fourth quarter with a broken arm.Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said he’ll need to take a closer look at his unit’s performance.
“I’d have to watch the film. The quarterback, we couldn’t seem to get him on the ground,” he said. “Takeaways are a big part of the game and it’s been a problem for us, no question.”
Safety Barry Church broke his arm midway through the final quarter and will miss the season finale next week against Washington.
“I’ll be out about six to eight weeks, but I won’t require surgery because it was a clean break,” Church said. “You know Washington is already in the playoffs so I doubt we’ll be going against their starters or anything like that.
“I’m just excited for this team to finish strong and start building on next year. It’s been a rough year. A lot of key players went down this year, but there was a lot of fight with this team.”
This story was originally published December 27, 2015 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Cowboys’ defense gets 2 takeaways, but can’t make game-changing stop."