Cowboys Fall Short Against Seahawks, 13-12

The banged up Cowboys have now lost five games in a row

A phenomenal defensive effort kept it close all day, but was ultimately wasted as the freefalling Dallas Cowboys fell short to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, 13-12.

The Seahawks’ offense looked to be clicking on all cylinders out of the gate, marching 72 yards in just over six minutes before the Cowboys’ defense woke up and they were forced to turn it over to kicker Steven Hauschka, who gave the visitors a 3-0 lead on a 26-yard field goal.

On a day when points were at a premium, the Cowboys didn’t respond until the end of the first quarter, when Dan Bailey tied it up with a 33-yarder.

The Seahawks found the end zone in the second quarter, when Russell Wilson hit Luke Wilson for a 22-yard touchdown pass, which at the time might have been read as Wilson and co. finding their rhythm, but stood as the only touchdown of the game.

The Cowboys answered with a 35-yard Dan Bailey field goal to pull within four at 10-6, but for a moment, it looked like they’d have a chance to keep the drive moving toward the end zone and maybe tie it up. Coming out of a timeout, the Seahawks’ defense lined up with 12 men on the field. Pete Carroll called a timeout, but they were coming out of a timeout, remember, so that’s not allowed. It should have been a 15-yard penalty. But they stopped the clock anyway, and had Bailey just line up for the field goal again as if nothing ever happened.

The first half ended on a scary note.

Seahawks’ return man Ricardo Lockette was hit by Jeff Heath on the ensuing kickoff, crumpled to the ground and stayed there. Seahawks players and staff immediately rushed to Lockette’s side, and he was carted off, waving his hands in the air as he exited the field. Later in the game, it was reported that he had merely suffered a concussion.

There wouldn’t be a whole lot more offense in the second half.

The Cowboys closed to within three on a 52-yard field goal off the foot of Bailey in the third quarter, then took the lead on a 27-yarder in the fourth, at 12-10. But while they took the lead, the field goal marked another failure by the offense, as they had gotten the ball at the Seattle 12-yard line after Greg Hardy intercepted Russell Wilson.

With five and a half minutes remaining, the Seahawks marched 79 yards on 17 plays to set up the 24-yard field goal attempt from Hauschka, which he put through the uprights for the victory, 13-12.

In his return to action, Dez Bryant had 12 yards on a pair of catches, but was on the field for most of the game, which is a good sign. Matt Cassell finished a pedestrian 13-of-25 passing for 97 yards.

At 2-5, and losers of their last five, the Cowboys will host the Eagles on Sunday Night Football next week.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us