Three Dallas Cowboys turnovers resulting in 21 Seattle Seahawks points was too much to overcome in a 21-12 loss to end playoff hopes.
The Cowboys offense struggled all game finishing with 283 yards and three turnovers. Quarterback Dak Prescott finished 24-of-34 for 182 yards and two interceptions one of which was returned for a touchdown. That is Prescott’s fourth pick-six of the season. With running back Ezekiel Elliott back from suspension, the pounded out 128 yards on the ground with Elliott finishing with 97 yards on 24 carries. Wide receiver Dez Bryant finished his 21st straight game without 100 yards receiving snagging three catches for 44 yards led in receiving. He also had a costly fumble that resulted in a touchdown. The Cowboys allowed four sacks.
Defensively the Cowboys played a strong game holding Seattle to 136 yards of offense and just 46 in the first-half. The 136 yards are the fewest offensive yards gained in a win this season. The Cowboys finished with three sacks, a sack each from defensive ends Taco Charlton, Benson Mayowa, and Demarcus Lawrence. This gives Lawrence a league-leading 14.5 sacks. Linebacker Sean Lee led in tackles with 13. Kicker Dan Baliey had another rough game hitting 3-of-5 field goals continuing what has been an unusually rough season.
The Cowboys struck first as kicker Dan Bailey hit a 34-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead early second quarter. Bailey’s 51-yard field goal hit off the side of the uprights and in giving the Cowboys a 6-0 lead middle second quarter.
Later in the quarter, Prescott connected with Bryant who lost the ball after Seahawks cornerback Vernon Maxwell punched it out and was recovered by linebacker K.J. Wright at the DAL 43. Five plays later quarterback Russell Wilson found tight end Jimmy Graham for a three-yard touchdown giving the Seahawks a 7-6 lead late second quarter. Bailey hit his third field goal of the half from 51-yards giving the Cowboys a 9-7 half-time lead.
The second half didn’t start well for the Cowboys as Prescott’s overthrown pass to Elliott was intercepted by Seahawk cornerback Justin Coleman who returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to take a 14-9 lead. Bailey hit a 39-yard field goal on the following drive to make it 14-12 middle third quarter. On the following drive, Prescott threw behind Bryant, bounced off his hands into the hands of Wright for the interception at the SEA 21. 13 plays and 79 yards later Wilson found wide receiver Doug Baldwin in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown giving the Seahawks a 21-12 lead early fourth quarter.
The Cowboys got as far as the Seahawks 2-yard line before a holding call against tight end Jason Witten and a sack resulted in a 34-yard field goal attempt from Bailey that went wide right keeping it 21-12 with 5:39 left in the game.
With 1:05 left in the game Bailey missed a 48-yard field goal allowing the Seahawks to run out the rest of the clock and drop the Cowboys to 8-7.
The Cowboys will look to end the season on a high note as they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles next Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT on FOX.
