This instant replay showed just how close the Dallas Cowboys were from recovering a fourth quarter fumble against the New York Giants on Sunday.
Even with playoff chances looking grim throughout the season, the Dallas Cowboys were still in the hunt for a berth in Week 17. All they had to do was defeat the New York Giants and have the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the Washington Football Team, and they’d be NFC East champions.
The Cowboys nearly had the chance to win, but quarterback Andy Dalton threw an interception to Giants rookie safety Xavier McKinney while attempting to target tight end Dalton Schultz in the end zone.
However, the Giants nearly gave them another chance to win the game after running back Wayne Gallman fumbled the ball late in the fourth. There was much confusion at the time, with one official calling it a Cowboys recovery and the other giving possession to the Giants.
If you wanted to see how close the Cowboys were from potentially recovering the dropped ball, well here you go.
This replay wouldn’t have changed anything
While yes, it looked like the Cowboys could’ve grabbed the ball that popped out of the pile of bodies, it wouldn’t have counted. When looking at the official review, Gallman actually sat on top of the football to ensure the recovery and secure the 23-19 win.
The Cowboys early 20-6 deficit turned out to bee too much for them to overcome. Dallas’ defense once again struggled to stop quarterback Daniel Jones and the Giants offense, surrendering an average of 6.8 yards per play. Additionally, the Cowboys offensive line struggled to stop New York’s three-man front, surrendering a total of six sacks on the day.
With this loss, the Cowboys are destined to land a top 10 pick in the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The exact number is yet to be determined, as they await the results of the afternoon games. Even if the Cowboys had beat the Giants and clinched the division, it’s hard to envision they’d have any success in the playoffs.
For the Cowboys, it’s now time to evaluate the roster and get ready for the draft.