By the end of the season, neither the Dallas Cowboys or the Seattle Seahawks looked destined for the playoffs. Seattle had won only their last of four games, and Dallas was on a two-game losing streak after ending the season with a lost to Detroit. Both teams were 9-7, but momentum was in Seattle's favor.
Seattle won the toss and ended their first possession with a 23-yard field goal from Josh Brown. Dallas achieved nothing on their first drive, but cornerback Anthony Henry picked off Matt Hasselbeck's next pass intended for Deion Branch and gave them a second chance which ended in a 50-yard field goal for Martin Gramatica.
Seattle added a 30-yard field goal in the middle of the second quarter, but Dallas put together a 10 play, 76 yard touchdown drive that put the Cowboys on top 10-6 at the half.
The Hawks came back in their first drive of the third quarter, driving 62 yards with two fourth-down conversions and ending in a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens. Seattle regained the lead, but Dallas' Miles Austin came right back and returned the following kickoff, barely touched, 93 yards for a touchdown.
After Gramatica added another field goal for 29 yards in the fourth quarter, Seattle found themselves trailing 20-13 with ten minutes left in the game. Seattle came back and got to the Cowboys' one yard line, but Dallas' defense held and Seattle turned the ball over after a failed pass on fourth down.
Then Dallas imploded.
On their first snap, Tony Romo passed to Terry Glenn, but Seattle's cornerback Kelly Jennings forced a fumble. The ball rolled into the end zone, in and out of several Seattle players until Michael Boulware recovered it for a touchdown. After review it is ruled a safety after Lofa Tatupu had stepped out of bounds trying to recover the ball.
Trailing 20-15, Seattle got the ball back with over six minutes remaining. Nate Burleson returned the ball 19 yards to the 50 yard line, and four plays later Matt Hasselbeck connected again with Jerramy Stevens for a 37-yard touchdown. The Hawks tried to make it a three-point game, but failed to make the two-point conversion.
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Article comments
1 - Kye
I admire tony romo, if i were him i would be hanging from a cailing fan somewhere! This guy screwed up big time the cowboys didnt give this game away....romo did. Even after he messed up he managed to trot about 4 yards.Dive embasile! Poor Cowboys! How bout em'!?
2 - Erynn
He's definitely got a long off-season ahead of him, but he has Carrie Underwood to help start the healing process. He'll be just fine.
Plus, let's not forget Terry Glenn's fumble that gave Seattle the safety. Without those two points, this game probably would have gone into overtime and Romo would have had a chance to redeem himself.