
The Cowboys won a slow, brutal game against the Seahawks to advance in the playoffs on Saturday.
The Dallas Cowboys are through to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs after a close victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday evening, 24-22. The game was very slow to start, with little action and lots of mistakes on the offensive side of the ball, but things picked up in a second half that saw multiple lead changes.
Offensively, both teams mainly relied on chunks of yardage from guys like Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper for Dallas, and Doug Baldwin for Seattle. But they weren’t able to get it into the end zone consistently, and there was a lot of early punting.
The Cowboys took a 10-point lead in the final two minutes, but the Seahawks quickly scored to make it a three-point game, though they were without their starting kicker at that point. Either way, they were unable to convert the onside kick attempt.
Dak Prescott finished 22-of-33 for 226 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Russell Wilson completed 18 of 27 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown for Seattle, while as a team they managed just 73 yards rushing.
Check out the top plays from the game:
Dak Prescott got airborne
With time about two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Seahawks managing their timeouts well to get the ball back just inside the two-minute warning, Prescott made a huge play for Dallas with his legs — and set up the score that made it a 10-point game!
PUT THE TEAM ON YOUR @dakpic.twitter.com/6KPidio5mW
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 6, 2019
Seahawks’ defense kept hope alive
Dallas forced a quick punt after taking the lead, and were driving with 9:43 on the clock in the fourth quarter when Prescott was, unfortunately for him, intercepted in the end zone. That was after a huge 61-yard punt return by Tavon Austin. K.J. Wright got the pick for Seattle, and just barely.
K.J. WRIGHT.
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2019
ARE YOU KIDDING?!
: #SEAvsDAL on FOX #NFLPlayoffspic.twitter.com/AbSGChmOM3
Amari Cooper set up the go-ahead score
We have ourselves a game! The Cowboys got the ball back, and marched 67 yards in nine plays, taking 4:31 off the clock in the fourth. Elliott eventually ran in the touchdown, but the big play was a 34-yard reception by Amari Cooper with 12:28 to play.
.@Dak& @amaricooper9 working their magic in the 4th quarter.
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2019
: #SEAvsDAL on FOX #NFLPlayoffspic.twitter.com/rZJiuzsGNG
Doug Baldwin dragged his toes and the Seahawks went in front
The Seahawks went ahead after a nine-play, 44-yard drive late in the third quarter that was made possible by a beautiful fourth-down reception by Doug Baldwin for 22 yards. Wilson eventually ran in a 4-yard touchdown, and they converted the two-point conversion (necessary because of an injury to Sebastian Janikowski) to make it a 14-10 game. But peep this catch!
.@DougBaldwinJr got that toe drag swag pic.twitter.com/TsppKh6hu4
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 6, 2019
Yes, PUNT COVERAGE counted as a highlight here
This wasn’t the most EXCITING game, especially early, so ... how about some rad punt coverage from the third quarter? Yeah!
GOOD PUNT COVERAGE MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE pic.twitter.com/YLYbOPpZhh
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 6, 2019
There goes Ezekiel Elliott
The Seahawks were leading the early, boring battle of field goals with time running down in the first half when Elliott broke out a huge run into Seattle territory. Prescott eventually hit Michael Gallup for an 11-yard touchdown pass to take a 10-6 lead into the intermission.
MOMMA THERE GO THAT MAN pic.twitter.com/vlC76jabPg
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 6, 2019
Good luck blocking Jarran Reed
The Seahawks got the ball back with under 10 minutes in the second quarter after a Cowboys punt. Why did the Cowboys punt, you ask? Jarran Reed.
Jarran Reed just MAYHEM in the backfield @1j_reedpic.twitter.com/mzG7cQ2SlX
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 6, 2019
With just one Dallas field goal accounting for all the first quarter scoring in this one, the most noteworthy early moment was a gruesome leg injury to Cowboys wide receiver Allen Hurns. He went down after a third-down catch. I do not advise you to go seek out the video of it. But if you must, you have been warned.