Cowboys prove they don't belong in playoffs

Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports Published 7:37 p.m. ET Dec. 24, 2017 | Updated 9:29 p.m. ET Dec. 24, 2017

Check out the top moments that helped define the outcomes of Sunday's NFL matchups. USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas – Three words sum up the plight of the Dallas Cowboys.

Help, desperation, Elimination.

The Cowboys had it set up so well for their playoff prayers on Christmas Eve. Ezekiel Elliott was back from his six-game suspension. Up in Cincinnati, the Detroit Lions lost. Over in New Orleans, the Atlanta Falcons lost. And inside AT&T Stadium, the Seattle Seahawks limped in with an injury-stung defense.

Yet the Cowboys gagged.

The Seahawks (9-6) eliminated Dallas with a 21-12 thumping, and in the end the Cowboys had no one to blame but themselves.

“We dropped the ball,” Dak Prescott, the beleaguered quarterback admitted, mindful of the other factors that were squandered. “All those other things are irrelevant.”

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This didn’t get resolved by a controversial instant replay review or some new interpretation of the Dez Bryant rule. It wasn’t settled by a first-down measurement confirmed by an index card.

No, they can’t pin this on the zebras.

Bottom line, the Cowboys (8-7) couldn’t help themselves – and hardly deserve to go to the playoffs.

Prescott threw two frightening interceptions – one on an ugly throw that was returned 30 yards by Justin Coleman for a pick-six early in the third quarter and the other on a too-hot fling over the middle for Bryant that caromed off the receiver and into the arms of K.J. Wright to kill a potential scoring drive late in the third quarter.

Bryant, by the way, gift-wrapped Seattle’s first touchdown near the end of the first half, when he began a drive by carelessly cradling the football. Byron Maxwell ripped the football out for the fumble, and five snaps later, Russell Wilson hit Jimmy Graham for the 5-yard, go-ahead TD.

Elliott came back, with fresh legs and a rejuvenated spirit after training in Cabo San Lucas during his NFL exile for violating the league’s domestic violence policy, and immediately found a rhythm. He rushed for 97 yards on 24 carries. But it was too little, too late.

And they waited all that time, with all that hope, for this flat-tire of an ending.

These Cowboys looked nothing like a playoff team. Had they somehow squeaked in, they seemed destined to be one-and-done. Sure, the defense is better and they can pound you with Elliott. But despite the occasional improvised big play and the occasional heave to draw a pass interference penalty, there is not enough consistency with Prescott (51.3 passer rating) in the passing game to scare anybody.

Shoot, with the season on the line, the Cowboys couldn’t even score a touchdown. Not even after lining up in the fourth quarter with first-and-goal from the 3-yard line.

That sequence provided the defining snapshot of Dallas’ frustration.

Smelling the goal line, the Cowboys never gave the ball to Elliott – their best player.

This was the situation they were waiting for. Yet on first down, Prescott was stuffed on a run-pass option after he looked to pass before tucking the ball away to run. On a second down incompletion, Jason Witten’s holding penalty moved them back 10 yards. On the do-over down, Prescott was sacked by Frank Clark, who barreled around Byron Bell, subbing for injured Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith. On third-and-goal from the 23, Prescott dumped a pass over the middle for Witten that went nowhere.

Then it rained boos.

“They beat us situationally,” Prescott explained.

Seems like Seattle – which won despite generating just 136 yards of total offense – beat them strategically, too.

The decision not to ride Elliott at the goal line will haunt O-coordinator Scott Linehan. Prescott tried to downplay the play-calling, but he was involved in the mess, too.

“I never question the offensive coordinator, especially when he is putting the ball in my hands,” Prescott said during his postgame news conference. “I’m not going to say, ‘Let’s run the ball. Take the ball out of my hands.’ I wasn’t surprised. I didn’t think about it until now.”

Surprised that Elliott didn’t get the ball.

“Do you want me to be surprised?” Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett responded.

Then Bennett smiled.

“No comment,” he said.

The drive ended with Dan Bailey missing a 34-yard field goal attempt, leaving Dallas with zilch.

Which is also what’s left of the postseason that might have been.

No wonder it was raining boos as that drive ended with a Bailey field goal miss.

The Cowboys still might send thanks to the Bengals for upsetting the Lions and providing some hope. They can tip their hats to the Saints for stuffing the Dirty Birds.

To make the playoffs, the Cowboys needed Detroit to lose one of its final two games and they needed the Falcons – hosting Carolina on Sunday – to drop back-to-back games.

And, of course, the Cowboys needed to win out themselves.

Everything happened according to plan … for a while.

Then it was loser go home. The Cowboys just couldn’t take care of their own business.

Now they can root for the Seahawks, who will host the Arizona Cardinals on New Year’s Eve with a chance to make the playoffs…if Atlanta loses.

The Cowboys will be home for Christmas … and for the playoffs, too.

Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.

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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman (28) jumps out of a Salvation Army kettle with defensive end Frank Clark (55) after returning an interception for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

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