Despite being heavy underdogs, the Seattle Seahawks gave the Dallas Cowboys all they could handle on Thursday night. Regrettably, it was not enough, as Seattle could not outgun the Cowboys, and fell in a 41-35 shootout defeat.
It was a thrilling game from wire to wire. Seattle took an early 7-3 lead, but fell in a 17-7 deficit in the second quarter just as quickly. But the Seahawks offense stayed strong, and managed to actually claim a narrow 21-20 lead right before halftime.
Right out of the gate in the third quarter, the Seahawks marched down the field and extended their lead 28-20 on the opening drive of the second half. After a Cowboys field goal drive, Geno Smith found DK Metcalf for his third touchdown of the night moving to a 35-27 advantage.
Unfortunately, it was all she wrote for the Seahawks. After another field goal drive for Dallas, Seattle turned the ball over on downs near midfield. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys then marched 59 yards in only seven plays to reclaim the lead. After a touchdown and two point conversion, it was a margin that Dallas would not relinquish.
Things did get interesting late, as the Seahawks managed to hold the Cowboys to a field goal after another failed turnover on downs. Geno Smith and Co. got one final chance. But like the previous two drives, this one stalled on 4th-and-short near midfield… again.
The final three possessions for the Seahawks ended as such:
- Turnover on downs at Dallas ‘ 46-yard line (4th-and-one)
- Turnover on downs at Seattle’s 49-yard line (4th-and-4)
- Turnover on downs at the 50-yard line (4th-and-2)
The short yardage play calling was an absolute disaster, and directly contributed to Seattle losing a game they could have stolen a win in.
However, the story of the game was atrocious officiating. Dallas and Seattle are the two most penalized teams in the league, and there was plenty of laundry flying. Both teams combined for 19 total penalties and 257 yards. There was a stretch where the Cowboys were gifted five first downs on penalties, a drive where they finished with a touchdown.
Now the Seahawks fall to 6-6, and are dangerously close to falling out of the playoff picture entirely. Seattle will travel to Santa Clara for a rematch with the 49ers, who have dominated them in their last four meetings. Things are getting incredibly desperate for the Seahawks.
