It was almost the blocked extra point that saved a season. It may still be.
The Dallas Cowboys may have walked off the field with a 40-40 tie against the Packers on Sunday night but it could have been worse.
A blocked extra point took one point away from the Packers.
Markquese Bell’s return of the block for two points turned out even bigger.
Instead of being down 14-0 early, the Cowboys only trailed 13-2. More importantly, the play seemed to inspire the team as Dallas took a 16-13 lead at halftime.
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Without that play, the game might not even get to overtime. The Cowboys may have even folded their tents early, going down 14 so quickly.
While the tie was disappointing, it’s better than a loss.
The Cowboys might even have some momentum as they play two teams they should beat in the next two weeks, the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers.
It is far too soon to call that play a season saver.
But put a bookmark on it as the year plays out, especially if the Cowboys make the playoffs on that one-half game difference between a loss and a tie.
This Is The Way
The key to the Cowboys’ success was sticking to the run and setting up the play action pass. That’s why Dak Prescott was able to move the ball through the air.
Yes, he had some luck along the way.
He should have been called for intentional grounding on the drive to tie the game in regulation. Two of his passes were more in the form of “throw it up and pray”.
But both got caught.
Those are the kinds of breaks he hasn’t been getting in the years before this one.
He’s also running the ball and moving around better this year.
This is the formula Dallas has to stick to in order to win. Because their defense isn’t stopping anybody this year.
The Sour Big Apple?
Last year, the two opening day starting quarterbacks for the New York Giants and New York Jets were Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers.
By the end of the 2024 season, it was apparent that both had played their last games for their respective teams.
Both the Jets – 0-3 going into tonight’s game – and the Giants (1-3) are already jockeying for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Draft. The Steelers and Colts are currently 3-1.
Rodgers is Pittsburgh’s starter and Jones is starting in Indianapolis.
Both are off to very good starts.
Maybe it’s you, New York City? Or maybe playing in New Jersey is just too depressing.
I hear there’s a wide open park on Manhattan Island.
Be a great place to put a new football stadium, eh?
Quoth The Ravens Nevermore?
The Baltimore Ravens are off to a 1-3 start this season.
Whereas a 1-3 start for the Cowboys would have been met with doom and gloom, not that a 1-2-1 start is all that great, it’s not panic time in Baltimore.
The Ravens have lost to Buffalo, Detroit, and a Kansas City team that just got its WR1 back. That’s three pretty solid teams to lose to.
The Ravens’ lone win was against the Browns so they are 1-0in their division.
They sweep their seven remaining divisional games and they are right back in the hunt.
What’s A Catch?
For years, we were told that the ground could not cause a fumble. A little over a decade ago we discovered the ground could cause an incomplete pass.
Even when the receiver was not in the field of play. As of Friday, at least in college football’s ACC, now the air can cause an incompletion after going out of bounds.
In Friday night’s 46-38 win by Virginia over Florida State, apparently having possession of the ball in both hands with one foot in bounds is no longer good enough.
The Seminoles receiver took two more steps out of bounds, while not falling to the ground, before bobbling the ball.
That was enough to overturn the touchdown. I don’t what a catch is anymore if a receiver has to maintain possession while out of bounds and on his feet for more than 10 seconds.
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