The Dallas Cowboys looked for a split second like they were about to steal the game from the Philadelphia Eagles, winning with a score in the final seconds of Sunday’s encounter at Lincoln Financial Field. But all of a sudden, it collapsed.
Tyler Smith, a left tackle, was flagged for a false start on Philadelphia’s six-yard line, setting the stage for disaster. The next play, quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked for an 11-yard loss. Prescott attempted a pass, but it was incomplete. Receiver CeeDee Lamb caught his last pass, but he was ultimately stopped a few yards short of the goal line.
The outcome? A 28-23 defeat that ended the Cowboys’ hopes of winning the NFC East and caused them to take a sad flight home. Smith described it as “heartbreaking.” Not even a lie will do for me. Obviously not what we had hoped for. We seemed to be just about ready to break away and do what we needed to (win). When the chips are down, though, it’s the tiny things, the specifics, that matter most. However, we’ll return.”
As for his false start, Smith wasn’t fond of the officials’ decision to call it but accepted accountability and vows to fix it moving forward. “I felt like it was ticky-tack, but I’m not going to make excuses or anything,” Smith said. “It is what it is. That’s just something I’ve got to be better at and improve upon.”
Still, the Cowboys left Philadelphia with hope that better times are ahead. Smith expressed his high level of confidence that Dallas will react appropriately and capitalize on the opportunity the next time one of those late-game scenarios occurs. The Cowboys had a point to prove against the Eagles after being humiliated by the San Francisco 49ers in their most recent much awaited meeting. Although they lost in the end, Smith thinks a bigger message was conveyed.
“We showed today that we can contend with anybody,” Smith stated. “We belong to that higher stratum. All we need to do is focus on the little things and make the most of the moments we have left. We’ll return, stronger than before. They won the inch in this game of inches.
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