Don’t forget these plays: Precious Catch by CeeDee

FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys once again found themselves in a close game in the third quarter, only to let it slip away in the second half.

The Texans dominated the final score, but the Cowboys had their chances. Here are some plays that may have been forgotten but could have changed the outcome.

Mazi Smith takes calls – Right from the start, the Cowboys appeared to get a break when the Texans were flagged for an illegal man downfield to negate a long touchdown catch by Nico Collins. Then on first-and-15, the Cowboys stopped Joe Mixon on a run and looked at second-and-long, but a defensive holding call on Mazi Smith gave Houston a first down. From there, the Texans never looked back, cruising into the end zone on a long score from Mixon for a 7-0 lead.

Mixon in the 9 after the TD – Not only did the Cowboys cut Houston’s lead in half with a long TD run by KaVontae Turpin, but a fumbled kickoff by the Texans put them back at their own 8-yard line to start their next possession. But on first down, Mixon picked up 9 yards to give the Texans some breathing room. Even a false start on the next play didn’t set them back because of the first down. The Texans were able to pick up the first down and three more to get a field goal and push the lead back to 10.

Dowdle’s drop before half time, missed FG – Right before the break, the Cowboys were in position to score points as they trailed 17-7. On second-and-9 at the Texans’ 24-yard line, Cooper Rush threw to the right flat to Rico Dowdle, who dropped the pass for an incompletion with 1:06 left. On third down, Rush then scrambled for just two yards. On the next play, Brandon Aubrey uncharacteristically missed a 40-yard field goal. Go back to the pass to Dowdle who probably gains 4-5 yards. That might have been the difference in Aubrey’s kick, which grazed the right upright.

Rush was fired to start the third – The reason the Cowboys delayed the decision after the coin toss was to get the ball to start the second half. And down by 10, they had a chance to make a difference. But on second-and-9 after a 1-yard run, Rush was sacked for a 4-yard loss, putting them behind the chains again. And although CeeDee Lamb caught an 8-yard pass on the next play, it wasn’t enough to move the sticks because of the sack. The Cowboys took the ball to start the third and once again failed to score, setting the tone for a downhill second half.

Pass to Lamb on third down – A strange sequence occurred late in the third quarter when the Texans were flagged for a personal foul on Aubrey’s 64-yard field goal that would have cut the lead to 20-13. But the Cowboys chose to take the points off the board and keep the drive going. But on a third-and-15 from the 21-yard line and Rush hit Lamb for 13 yards. That made it close enough for Mike McCarthy to go for it on fourth down, and the Cowboys came up short on an incomplete pass. The pass to Lamb was a nice throw and catch, but without it the Cowboys probably kick a field goal and cut the game to 7. Also, let’s not forget the fumbled snap by Rush on first down that cost them 5 yards.