The Dallas Cowboys and their fans expected big things from the team this year, so their crushing 23-17 loss to the 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday means another season in Big D ends in Big Disappointment.
The Cowboys' lack of discipline led to several costly penalties and quarterback Dak Prescott's decision to run up the middle as the clock ticked down while not possessing any timeouts cost Dallas in the end, but after the game, the fans in Dallas decided to direct their anger at the officiating crew.
NFL Media's Jane Slater captured video after the game of fans in AT&T Stadium throwing trash as players and referees run up the tunnel to the locker rooms.
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Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence batted away an object that was about to hit him, and he later told reporters the trash wasn't being directed at him or any other players.
“That s—t was aimed at the refs," Lawrence said. "That wasn’t aimed at me or our team.”
When reporters asked Prescott about the fans throwing trash on the field, he initially thought their actions were directed at Cowboys players and expressed disappointment.
But when Prescott was told the fans were actually throwing things at the refs, his tone changed.
"A credit to them then," Prescott told reporters.
Prescott didn't take up reporters on their offer to walk back his comments.
“Yeah, I mean, yeah, if they weren’t at us, and if the fans felt the same way as us, and that’s what they were doing it for, yeah,” Prescott said when asked to clarify his comments. “I’m guessing that’s why the refs took off and got out of there so fast. Yeah, I think everybody is upset with the way that this thing played out. As I said, I’m sure a fan would feel the same way that we do.”
San Francisco 49ers
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The Cowboys were called for 14 penalties resulting in the loss of 89 yards in the game, while Prescott and the rest of the offensive weren't able to get set fast enough to spike the ball as the clock ran out in regulation.
It's easy to blame the refs after a controversial finish, but penalties, questionable decisions and lack of big plays from their playmakers doomed the Cowboys throughout the first 59 minutes, setting up the frantic final few seconds.