ATLANTA — Early in the second quarter, the Dallas Cowboys called a timeout facing fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 44-yard line. Trailing 7-3, they were looking to keep the drive alive with something more creative than a hand-off to running back Rico Dowdle or a sneak by QB Dak Prescott.
A jet sweep to WR CeeDee Lamb was the call. He never got close to the sticks as Atlanta Falcons LB Kaden Elliss and friends tackled Lamb for a 3-yard loss.
It was a great example of how the day went for the Cowboys, who suffered their third consecutive loss of the season, 27-21 to the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Fox cameras captured Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s reaction to that turnover on downs. He slammed his Microsoft Surface tablet in anger. It was the type of reaction that usually doesn’t happen after just one bad play. It was clear frustration at where this season has been heading.
Frustration is mounting for Mike McCarthy
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— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 3, 2024
“We just really got to keep the focus narrow,” McCarthy said. “I felt like we were doing that coming into this game. We need to win a game. I know what everyone wants to talk about, long-term. We got five losses. I clearly understand where that puts us as far as what it will take. We got to get to winning. We’re making too many self-inflicted wounds. At this point, the thing about it is some we’re repeating. The pre-snap penalties are totally unacceptable.”
There was a delay of game, an illegal formation, too many men in the huddle and false starts on Tyler Smith, Terence Steele, Jake Ferguson and Tyler Guyton. Combine that with a poor fake punt attempt and an offensive line that allowed a subpar Atlanta pass rush to have its best game of the season and you had the recipe for a disaster. Not what was expected in a game that Prescott acknowledged before was a “must-win” situation.
Even when the Cowboys scored Sunday, things didn’t look good. Prescott’s second-quarter touchdown pass to Dowdle appeared like it should have been a sack on multiple occasions. And then what looked like an easy reception turned into a bobbled pass that eventually landed in Dowdle’s arms. Dallas’ sideline erupted in what seemed like relief as the Cowboys pulled to within four, 14-10.
DAK TO DOWDLE. HOW DID THIS GET COMPLETED??
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📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gQOFAxj8r1— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Things then went from bad to worse with two minutes left in the third quarter. Prescott injured his hamstring on a short run play. Ironically, the injury occurred three days after Prescott answered questions about needing to run more. He went to the medical tent and never returned to the field. Backup QB Cooper Rush finished the game. Prescott was walking with a slight limp after the game.
“I felt something I’ve never felt,” Prescott said. “I felt it when I was getting up from the run. I can’t even say that I felt it running. Maybe the tackle, maybe something on the tackle. I don’t know. But when I was standing up from that I felt something. I didn’t think it was much. You get tired, it’s a physical game. A lot of times you feel different things and they kind of go away. When I got to the top of my drop to throw the ball to Jalen Brooks to the right side, I felt something I’ve never felt. It was tough to walk on it at that point.”
His status for next Sunday’s game against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles is up in the air.
“I would say that I’ll be out there next week,” Prescott said. “I’ve got to see. Luckily, I can say I’ve healed fast. I’ve progressed fast on injuries and things, so I’m thankful for that. We’ve got to get (an X-ray) of it. When we get a picture of it, I guess we’ll see how bad it is. It’ll take a lot for me to not be out there, I’ll tell you personally.”
Added to the issues is that Lamb suffered an injury to his right shoulder and veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott didn’t make the trip for disciplinary reasons after he recently missed team meetings.
Aside from Dowdle and the running game having their best outing since Week 5, there’s isn’t much heading in a good direction in Dallas. Strange things happen all the time in sports, but the actions are speaking louder than the words. And the actions the Cowboys are showing look more like a team headed for a top-10 draft pick than one about to go on a run.
“It’s important to keep the confidence,” CB Trevon Diggs said. “We have all the talent that we need on the team. We just have to lock in, keep thinking positive, keep going about our work the right way, and keep coming to practice and working hard. Hopefully, we can just gather some of these wins together.”
What gives Prescott confidence that things can get back on track?
“For me to be able to heal fast,” he said. “I think CeeDee’s just banged up, nothing serious there. Other guys getting back to being healthy. Some games that are all in front of us, a lot of division games, starting next week. It’s our second one of the year. Sometimes in this league, it just takes one. It takes one to get it going, to get that confidence back, to feel good and rally from there. I’m not looking too far ahead. It’s about getting our bodies back and healthy (Monday). Then trying everything in our power to put our best performance next week at home against a good Philly team.”
(Photo of Dak Prescott: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
