Ezekiel Elliott was at center, linemen were spread out wide, and it was all over in a flash
By Scott Thompson
The Dallas Cowboys found themselves in a situation that required some cunning on their own 24-yard line with six seconds left on the clock and down a touchdown.
The San Francisco 49ers, who defeated the Dallas Cowboys 19-12 to advance to the NFC Championship, were expected to win the game, but nobody anticipated what the Cowboys did as soon as they lined up for the final play.
Dallas’ center, running back Ezekiel Elliott, was the only member of the offensive line in his immediate vicinity. The linemen were instead positioned wide on the left and right sides of the line of scrimmage, and it was obvious the Cowboys were going to try a crazy play in their final ditch effort.
Instead, the play ended real quick.
As Elliott snapped the ball – he got run over quickly by a 49ers pass rusher – Prescott had a quick drop before throwing to rookie KaVontae Turpin, who was immediately hit to end the game.
Turpin’s lineman couldn’t get to Jimmie Ward for the block fast enough, and it was an easy one for the veteran cornerback to seal the deal.
The Cowboys’ streak of not reaching the NFC Championship since 1995 continues, and just as it did last year, it came on an odd final play.
This time, it made more sense for Dallas to try and trick the 49ers. Last season, though, when Prescott ran up the middle to gain more yardage, the clock expired and the 49ers celebrated at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Cowboys fans were livid considering Dallas had a shot to win the game with a touchdown. But, rather than share rage and vitriol on social media, NFL Twitter simply roasted the play design.
It’s once again back to the drawing board for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, who will head to the offseason without fulfilling their Super Bowl goal.
