On Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Seattle Seahawks and were eliminated from this season’s playoffs.
When all the early action was done on Sunday afternoon, the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers had secured playoff berths in the NFC. And that meant that this late afternoon tilt between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys shaped up as a win-and-stay-alive game for each of these 2016 division champions.
Both teams struggled to reach the end zone during the first half. Jason Garrett’s club owned a 9-7 halftime lead thanks to three field goals by Dan Bailey. But the Cowboys would prove to be their own worst enemy my game’s end.
Seattle rallied for a 21-12 victory and kept their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Cowboys won’t be making a Super Bowl run in January as Garrett’s club was eliminated from the postseason.
This save... Wow. #SEAvsDAL https://t.co/47Agw2w1pk
— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2017
One-on-one vs. @TheJimmyGraham won't end well if you're a defender.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 24, 2017
Touchdown #Seahawks! https://t.co/7Lo619x2U0
Justin Coleman, good at football. #SEAvsDAL #PickSix pic.twitter.com/qZYu4GyOGY
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 24, 2017
Doug left him in the dust. #WOOTS pic.twitter.com/Y3AHfHIQFN
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 24, 2017
Three Stars
1. QB Russell Wilson
He threw for only 93 yards but connected for a pair of touchdowns. Wilson also led the team with a mere 29 yards rushing. The Seahawks won a game with a total of 136 yards of offense.
2. CB Justin Coleman
He gave Seattle the lead for good with a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown. Coleman finished with three tackles, the aforementioned pick and one pass defensed.
3. LB K.J. Wright
The underrated defender finished with six tackles and had the second of the team’s two interceptions of Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott.
More fansided.com: NFL power rankings, Week 15: Vikings, Jaguars, Patriots in playoffs
Odds
The Cowboys were 4.5-point favorites to hand the Seahawks a third consecutive loss. Then again, the defending NFC West champions did own a 4-3 road record this season entering Sunday’s contest and came away with the victory.
Next Week
The 9-6 Seattle Seahawks close the regular season at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Back on a Thursday night in Week 10, Carroll’s club came away with a 22-16 victory at University of Phoenix Stadium. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys head to the City of Brotherly Love looking to avenge a 37-9 Sunday night loss back in Week 11 at AT&T Stadium.