Daily Californian sports writers Eric Hayrapetian and Emily Hamill discuss the drama that took place on Thursday Night Football between the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys.
The Seattle Seahawks visited Jerry’s World to play the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. What was a competitive game eventually sent the Seahawks home with a 35-41 loss and a 6-6 record.
It seems as though these collaborative columns have cursed the Seahawks and have provided a platform for my fellow Daily Californian sports writers to boast about their favorite teams while flaming me in the process. This week, Emily Hamill joins me to break down week 13.
Instant thoughts/reactions:
Emily Hamill: What stood out to me was that neither team punted, which is actually only the fifth time that’s happened in NFL history. Although each team manifested high scores and solid performances, it was ultimately the Seahawks’ failure to score on their last possession that cost them the game. I can admit some of the referees’ calls were questionable, but then again, so is the fact that the Cowboys have now accomplished a 14-win streak at AT&T Stadium this season — there may just be magic in the cards for Dallas this year. And who seems to be the handler of these cards? Dak Prescott, whose three sharp touchdowns garnered the smart and purposeful energy the boys needed to emerge victorious.
Eric Hayrapetian: I’m not sure what the referees discussed before the game, but a combined 19 penalties for 257 yards is unheard of. For starters, there were highly questionable defensive pass interference calls on Seattle. We also witnessed a clear offensive holding and an offensive pass interference that was never called on Dallas. I can babble about the officiating for days, but Seattle missed its opportunities. One of the most absurd fourth-down calls on the game’s final possession put the nail in the coffin. Designing a play to purposefully leave Micah Parsons untouched on the game’s final play is diabolical. It's unfortunate because Shane Waldron called a perfect game up to that last play.
Team MVP:
Hamill: The officials! Haha, just kidding … I’d probably have to say Prescott. Although the Cowboys trailed Seattle after halftime and in the fourth quarter, Dallas’ star QB stepped up to lead his team to victory in the neck-and-neck battle. With three touchdown passes and a fourth handoff to Tony Pollard, he finished the game 29-41 for 299 yards with no interceptions, despite four sacks. However, over the last six games, Prescott has now thrown 20 passing touchdowns — the most in a six-game span in Cowboys history.
Hayrapetian: I have to go with DK Metcalf here. It doesn’t get better than six receptions, 134 yards and three touchdowns. In what has been a quiet season for the fifth-year receiver, he stepped into this game and absolutely dominated the Cowboys’ secondary. Going against the league leader in interceptions, DaRon Bland, Metcalf had his way against the young corner as a slant that went for 73 yards and a touchdown started the game for Metcalf and ultimately set the tone.
Eye-opening stats:
Hamill: Beyond Prescott’s shining offensive performance, the Cowboys’ defense remained true to their top ranking in the league, making fourth down stops on each of the Seahawks’ final three possessions. Exemplary figures that led this effort were Parsons, whose pressure on Seattle’s last fourth down sealed the game for Dallas, and Bland, whose NFL-leading eighth interception late into the third quarter shifted momentum in the boys’ favor. Plus, Dallas’ rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals, extending his start-of-career record to an impressive 26 consecutive makes. And we can’t forget about CeeDee Lamb, who had 12 catches for 116 yards and led a 24-yard run that set up Dallas’ six-point lead.
Hayrapetian: I want to begin with the 9/14 third down conversions. I can’t remember the last time Seattle went above 50% on third down. It just speaks to the adjustments Waldron has made over the weeks, and though I still believe that he’s still on the hot seat, I'm really happy with the game he called. The play calling also complimented Geno Smith as he threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns. The o-line also kept Smith clean, allowing no sacks — an overall great performance by the offense.
One compliment & one diss:
Hamill: Seattle’s offense has been showing some massive improvement, evident through Metcalf’s standout performance and rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s smart touchdown-making plays. But if they keep making plays like the one where they left Parsons open … well, they can kiss their playoff seat goodbye (if they even still have one).
Hayrapetian: Prescott has really impressed me this season and has a legit case for MVP. However, we know Dallas can’t perform in the playoffs.
Contact Eric Hayrapetian at Eric.hayrapetian@gmail.com
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