The Dallas Cowboys had victory in the palm of their hands on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They squandered it, losing in an all-time embarrassing fashion at the hands of a clutch Lamar Jackson rescue job for the Baltimore Ravens.
A key play during the sequence came when Dak Prescott had star receiver George Pickens wide open near the right pylon on a short third-and-goal pass. Instead of completing the obvious layup to give the Cowboys a four-point lead with only 14 seconds left, Prescott sailed the pass wide right. Way wide right, to be very clear. When the Cowboys settled for a chip-shot field goal to take it to overtime, it was the sort of open touchdown miss that usually haunts the team that misses it.
The Cowboys, as we know, were no exception
to the rule. You know the story.
What was interesting about the play after the fact was a key difference in opinion. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he micromanaged Prescott to the point of making him overplay for a field goal and avoid disaster, rather than take a risk with a touchdown that presents itself. The explanation makes sense. It does seem like Prescott made up his mind to throw the ball away before Pickens even completed his full route.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Dak Prescott was throwing the ball to George Pickens away.
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) September 28, 2026
He said he overcoached him on the time and to make sure they got to the field goal. It was a high throw on purpose. pic.twitter.com/W3ejWWYuhF
With all due respect to Schottenheimer, just because Prescott was given a yellow light from his coach doesn't mean he couldn't press the gas a little bit. Nothing says you're not allowed to still make a game-winning play because your coach warned you to be careful. Prescott said as much, saying he was too impatient because he was thinking about preserving a field goal and overtime. Let's not get it twisted that Schottenheimer was also potentially trying to cover for his starting quarterback to the media like any coach worth their salt would.
For all intents and purposes, Prescott denied that Schottenheimer was responsible for what was ultimately his execution in the clutch. And rightly so.
Dak Prescott takes accountability. He said he was throwing the ball away but said he should have been more patient on throw the Pickens. He said it’s on him. He is angry. Said he is pissed. Said it sucks they didn’t get it done offensively
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) September 28, 2026
I've thought about it, and I think I agree with Prescott. Between Schottenheimer and Prescott, I blame Prescott more because Schottenheimer never told him he couldn't make a play. (Note: The real culprit is probably a Cowboys defense that couldn't hold up for overtime with seven seconds on the clock.) He simply told him to be careful and let a play die if it seemed like it would ruin the field-goal attempt for overtime that the Cowboys had in their back pocket. If Prescott waits one more second to make an easy throw, we're talking about a massive Dallas victory and some potential great momentum for the Cowboys in what feels like a down year in the NFC East.
The Cowboys may regret this loss all season. Now they just have to hope it doesn't linger and dwell on them in their minds.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Dak Prescott admitted he wasn’t patient enough after missing layup George Pickens TD
