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Week 18 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 20, Seattle Seahawks 21What you need to know
QB Tony Romo didn’t handle pressure well through the bulk of the game. He was able to use his feet to avoid pressure and only took two sacks, but while on the move his accuracy suffered. He threw several balls into the ground. However, late in the game his accuracy improved and he did move the team into scoring position to win the game, but bobbled the final field goal snap killing the Cowboys’ chances. RB Julius Jones was the featured player in the Cowboys’ offense. He had 22 carries and four targets in the passing game. He kept backup RB Marion Barber on the bench with only three carries expect for obvious passing downs and short yardage situations. Jones rewarded the Cowboys for sticking with him late as he burst for several big runs in the fourth quarter. The wide receiver duo of Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn weren’t able to take advantage of the dinged up Seattle secondary. They each suffered drops in key situations and weren’t able to create adequate separation for QB Tony Romo. The pair combined for only thirteen targets as Dallas opted to stick with RB Julius Jones and the running game.
TE Jerramy Stevens took huge strides in repairing his reputation on national television. He caught all five of six targets; the incompletion drew a defensive penalty, including two touchdowns. He’s had a tough time living up to his potential label during his five year career, but the freakish size and speed combination have kept Seattle faithful hopeful even though he’s suffered through multiple terrible games on national television. QB Matt Hasselbeck threw two interceptions and nearly had three others. He looked jittery and uncomfortable in the pocket through most of the game. However, he did come up with a few big plays bringing the Seahawks back from a deficit late in the game. RB Shaun Alexander had long carries of 12 and 20 yards. His other 22 carries went for a total of 37 yards. The Seahawks remained dedicated to him feeding Alexander the ball, but weren’t able to consistently control the clock or tempo throughout the game. The Seahawks’ defense created turnovers and were able to overcome the loss of both starting cornerbacks. Both CB Kelly Jennings and backup safety Jordan Babineaux (started at cornerback) made huge plays creating turnovers and making game saving tackles. They held the starting Cowboys’ receivers to a combined six catches for 67 yards.
What you ought to know
Romo struggled early in the game with his accuracy. He threw many passes into the ground or at the feet of intended receivers. Often he was being put on the move because of the pass rush, but to his credit he displayed nimble enough feet avoiding sacks. Late in the second quarter he marched the Cowboys down the field and threw a touchdown pass to WR Patrick Crayton. Before that play he was able to convert a fourth and two with a 32 yard completion to TE Jason Whitten. In the second half Romo looked much more poised completing eight of eleven passes, but didn’t get much help from his teammates. RB Marion Barber and both of the starting receivers suffered terrible drops. WR Terry Glenn and TE Jason Whitten each lost a fumble. At the end of the game Romo muffed the hold on a field goal that would have likely won the game. This game will be remembered for this one play and the solid plays that he made down the stretch will be forgotten.
The Cowboys leaned on Jones throughout the game. Even when it appeared that they weren’t going to be able to move the ball head coach Bill Parcells stuck with the running game knowing it would pay off. Late in the game Jones was finally able to burst through the line for gains of 18 and 35 yards on their final two drives. He put Dallas in chip shot field goal range with his longest carry of the game.
Barber didn’t get his first touch until late in the second quarter. He came out of the backfield up the middle and caught a short pass from QB Tony Romo. After a long pass put the Cowboys inside the Seattle three yard line Barber stayed in the game as the goal line back. Dallas went play action and a holding penalty sent them back ten yards leading to the Crayton touchdown reception. Early in the fourth quarter Barber came in for a carry on a third and short deep in Seattle territory. He was stuffed and lost a yard. Dallas had to settle for a field goal.
Glenn saw three quick targets at the start of the game. The first was thrown into the ground at the line of scrimmage. Glenn dropped the second one on a quick slant, but caught the third converting a long third down. It was apparent from the start that Dallas was going to pick on newly signed CB Pete Hunter, but went away from that plan as the game wore on. While backed up on their goal line QB Tony Romo hit Glenn on the two yard line with a quick hitter. Glenn stumbled and didn’t have a good hold on the ball. CB Kelly Jennings poked the ball free into the end zone where Seattle recovered it for a touchdown. After reviewing the play the referees overturned the call and it was recorded as a safety.
Crayton didn’t see his first target until midway through the second quarter. He was open in the right flat on a long third down play, but QB Tony Romo floated the ball too far over his head as he was scrambling out of the pocket. On the following drive he converted a third and six with an 18 yard catch and run up the middle. Just before halftime Crayton found a hole in the Seattle zone near the five yard line. After making the catch he powered through two Seattle defenders and reached out with the ball over the goal line to give Dallas the lead.
Owens saw his first target at the end of the opening Dallas drive. QB Tony Romo tried to get him the ball on a crossing route to convert a third down, but CB Jordan Babineaux (normally a safety) made a good play to knock the pass away at the last moment. On the second Dallas possession he pulled in a quick slant breaking a tackle and ran with the ball for a nice 18 yard gain. Late in the second quarter Owens dropped a pass from Romo on a third and two. He was crossing just behind the defensive line. The pass hit him in the hands with no defenders near him on the play. His final target was a twelve yard reception on the final Dallas drive that put them in Seattle territory. During the post game interview Owens was contrite about his play and empathic towards Romo with regard to the muffed hold.
Witten made his first reception converting a long third down near the end of the first quarter. After he came out of his break and made the reception he took two big hits. SS Michael Boulware jarred the ball loose killing the Cowboys drive. With only thirty seconds left in the first half QB Tony Romo found Witten deep in the Seattle secondary on a fourth and two play. Whitten looked surprised that he wasn’t getting popped by a safety and turned it up field running to the Seattle three yard line for a 32 yard gain. Witten made his last reception on the final Dallas drive. He caught a third down pass that nearly ended it. The officials marked him down at the one yard line giving the Cowboys enough time to run out the clock before a final field goal, but instant replay overturned the spot of the ball marking them just short of the one yard line.
Gramatica missed out on his chance to win the game when QB Tony Romo muffed the hold on a chip shot field goal attempt.
The Cowboys’ front seven shut RB Shaun Alexander down. Other than a 12 yard run to start the second quarter and a 20 yard run at the conclusion of the game they gave up only 37 yards on his other 22 carries barely averaging just over one yard per carry. They met him in the backfield on many carries and didn’t allow him to get into the second layer of the defense. However, when they had a chance to make a game changing play on fourth and short multiple times they couldn’t hold.
Dallas wasn’t able to sack QB Matt Hasselbeck even one time in the game. Further they put hits on him on just a handful of plays, but they were around his legs and in his face enough to rattle him. They did intercept two passes including a spectacular tipped ball from CB Terrance Newman, but Dallas defenders also had three other passes hit them in the hands that could have been game changing plays. LB Bobby Carpenter seemed to be everywhere making plays against the run and the pass.
Hasselbeck marched the Seahawks down the field on their first drive completing four of six passes including a long one up the middle to WR Bobby Engram. However, he threw an interception on the first play of their next drive. The pass was badly wobbling as it left his hand and floated down field. He continued to struggle through most of the first half. The pressure in his face had an obvious impact on his ability to calmly survey the field. He hit LB Bobby Carpenter in the hands with a pass on a slant and CB Terrance Newman in the hands on a pass to the back of the end zone. He lucked out that each was dropped. He got the Seattle offense clicking early in the third quarter hooking up with TE Jerramy Stevens for two completions including a fifteen yard touchdown pass. He was aided by the strength of a ball control running attack on that particular drive. He got lucky on the following drive when he hit CB Aaron Glenn in the chest on a third down play. Glenn jumped a slant route and nearly picked off the pass. On the following possession the Seahawks went at CB Terrance Newman with a double move and lobbed a deep ball down the sideline to WR D.J. Hackett. Newman ended up tipping the ball back to FS Roy Williams who intercepted the pass before stepping out of bounds. Hasselbeck put great touch on a deep corner route to WR Bobby Engram midway through the fourth quarter for 30 yards. The drive stalled when Seattle couldn’t push the ball in from first and goal at the one, but the Seattle defense responded with a safety on the first Dallas play. Hasselbeck came back with a 37 yard touchdown to Stevens when he beat the Dallas safeties deep down the middle of the field to give the Seahawks the lead late in the game.
Wallace was on the field for the first play of the game. QB Matt Hasselbeck hit him on a short cross that went for six yards. Seattle did a similar maneuver last year during the playoffs utilizing Wallace’s athleticism as a wide receiver. After the first play he wasn’t on the field again.
Alexander found little room to run early in the game. His first quarter carry log read 1, 2, 3, 2, 2, and 3 yards. The Dallas defensive line did a good job of stacking up the line of scrimmage early. He was able to pop a solid twelve yard run early in the second quarter, but the Cowboys continued to shut down all the running lanes into the third quarter. Alexander was able to convert on fourth and one twice during the third quarter on a long drive that was capped by the touchdown to TE Jeremy Stevens. Midway through the fourth quarter Seattle had the ball first and goal on the one. Alexander took a pitch around right end and retreated giving ground against heavy defensive pressure. He lost seven yards on the carry and the Seahawks eventually left the field on downs. When Seattle got the ball back after the botched field goal attempt Alexander exploded up the middle of the field for a twenty yard run. At the end of the play he left the field with either a turned knee or ankle limping noticeably, but he was back on the field for two more carries after sitting one play.
Strong caught both of his targets for modest gains. He got a carry on third and long just before the second Brown field goal. This is one of Holmgren’s favorite plays. They love to try and sneak Strong through the line on obvious passing situations.
Morris entered the game at the end of the first quarter to give starting RB Shaun Alexander a blow for one play. He took the ball off right tackle and quickly hit the hole following his lead blocker for a seven yard gain. Early in the third quarter they ran the same play again for Morris and it went for six yards the second time around.
Branch caught both his first two targets on the Seahawks’ opening drive. The first converted a third down on the right sideline. The other was inside the five yard line. He sat down in the middle of the Dallas zone and set up a third and short. Branch made a big play on a short out when he broke a tackle. He scampered up the left sideline for a 27 yard gain after he slipped the cornerback.
Engram caught his first target converting a long second down during the first Seattle possession. He beat SS Roy Williams straight up the seam for the 36 yard gain setting up the first Brown field goal. At the start of the fourth quarter Engram pulled in two targets to get Seattle moving. The first was a quick cross that he took a big hit on. The next play was a corner route on the right sideline. He did a nice job of tracking the ball and pulling it in over the shoulder for 30 yards.
Hackett was targeted at the end of the third Seattle possession near the end of the first quarter on a long third down. QB Matt Hasselbeck floated the pass just out of his reach on a corner route. He made his first catch early in the third quarter on a quick out. Hasselbeck was under heavy pressure in the backfield and flipped the ball in Hackett’s direction. He had to reach below and behind him to make the catch setting up a third and short. Hackett was targeted deep down the right sideline on a double move at the start of the fourth quarter. He went up to make a play on the ball and came down hard. He took a long time getting up after the play. Reports after the game were that he injured an ankle on the play.
Burleson saw his first target on the goal line at the end of the first Seattle possession. He tried to run a quick slant, but the defensive back had good coverage getting a hand inside knocking the ball away. Burleson was targeted deep to the end zone on a bomb from QB Matt Hasselbeck. The pass wasn’t completed, but it drew a pass interference flag putting Seattle on the one yard line.
Jackson’s first target was a deep pass down the right sideline on the first play of the second quarter. QB Matt Hasselbeck put the ball too far out in front of him. Jackson wasn’t able to make a play on the ball. He saw his only other target late in the second quarter. Reports after the game were that he aggravated his injured toe. Jackson wasn’t seen on the field during the second half.
Stevens didn’t see his first target until the second quarter. QB Matt Hasselbeck attempted to hit him in the middle of the field on a long third down play, but the linebacker was holding as Stevens came out of his break. The pass wasn’t completed, but the holding penalty converted the first down. Stevens got the Seattle offense jump started by catching a thirteen yard out early in the third quarter. He capped that same drive by catching a 15 yard touchdown pass by Hasselbeck. Stevens got open in the right flat and turned it up field for the score. He did a good job of separating from the linebacker on the play making it an easier throw for Hasselbeck. Late in the game Stevens got the Seahawks the lead when he broke free deep in the Dallas zone between the safeties for a 37 yard touchdown over the top.
Brown didn’t get to attempt an extra point late in the game. The Seahawks opted to go for two because the touchdown from TE Jerramy Stevens put Seattle up by one point.
The Seahawks’ front seven bottled up RB Julius Jones for three quarters. They held him to modest gains averaging less than three yards shutting down holes and consistently winning the battle at the point of attack. However, they allowed Jones to burst through the line for 18 and 35 yard gains late in the game that nearly led to their downfall. LB Lofa Tatupu nearly made a spectacular play off the Glenn fumble. Diving out of bounds in the end zone he was able to flip the ball behind his back to SS Michael Boulware for a touchdown. Replay showed that Tatupu had stepped on the sideline before making the recovery negating the score, but the play flipped the momentum and led to the go ahead score on the ensuing Seahawks’ possession.
DE Bryce Fisher recorded the only sacks in the game for Seattle and forced a fumble. Other than those two plays Seattle wasn’t able to put many hits on QB Tony Romo, but they did make him move around in the pocket and made their presence felt. CB Kelly Jennings and backup safety Jordan Babineaux shut down the pair of starting Dallas receivers making huge plays. Jennings forced a fumble and kept WR Terrell Owens under wraps. SS Michael Boulware forced a fumble early on and seemed to be all over the field making big tackles. Babineaux also made the game saving tackle of QB Tony Romo after the botched field goal. Babineaux made the game winning interception last year as well when Dallas lost in the final moments in Seattle.
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