The Dallas Cowboys have nobody to blame but themselves

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The Dallas Cowboys had their season come to an abrupt end in the most Dallas Cowboys type of way yesterday when they couldn’t get a snap off in time and could then only stand there in utter disbelief as the refs ran off the field and the 49ers celebrated a huge win in the House that Jerry built.

It was a fitting finish because the Cowboys have been a long-running soap opera that has been powered by drama. And man did they have plenty of that in the final minutes against the 49ers.

That drama continued after the final whistle, too, as they tossed blame at the umpire for getting in the way before that failed snap and causing time to run out before Dak Prescott could get the ball and spike it into the ground to kill the clock. They were desperate arguments from a sad team that was looking once again to put the blame on someone else.

But here’s the thing – the Dallas Cowboys’ season is now over and they have nobody to blame but themselves.

It wasn’t the umpire’s fault that Dallas lost, he was just doing his job and was trying to spot the ball so the Cowboys could run a play.

That umpire didn’t tell the Cowboys to run a QB sneak from the 40 yard line with 14 seconds left on the clock and no time outs. That’s just the riskiest thing to do with your season on the line and the clock ticking away.

Here’s the bigger story, though, and it’s one that has plagued the Cowboys for quite some time – they did it to themselves by committing so many penalties on Sunday. Mike McCarthy’s team set a playoff franchise record with 14 penalties for 89 yards. Those penalties often gave the 49ers new life and allowed them to keep keep their lead and build confidence. You just can’t commit that many penalties in a playoff game and expect to win. Can’t happen. Won’t happen. Didn’t happen.

It wasn’t really a surprise, though, because Dallas was the most penalized team in the league this year. The Cowboys did what they do and it cost them their season.

Dallas players and fans can yell excuses into the air as much they want but until this franchise takes a look in the mirror and decides to play smarter football, these types of endings are only going to continue to pile up.

The Cowboys blew yesterday’s game. That loss is on them and them only. If that sounds dramatic it’s because it is. That’s who the Cowboys are and that’s what they do.

And now what they do is start the offseason and wait.

Again.

Quick hits: Sad Cowboys fan becomes a meme… NFL fans rip Drew Brees… Lots of jokes about a Tom Brady aging graphic… And more. 

– This sad Cowboys fan quickly became a meme at the end of Dallas’ loss to the 49ers.

– NFL fans crushed Drew Brees over his brutal day in the booth calling the Raiders-Bengals game.

– FOX Sports showed a trippy graphic about how Tom Brady has aged during his career and NFL fans had lots of jokes.

– The Cowboys’ radio call of the final play is a fun listen on this Monday morning.

– Next week’s Bills-Chiefs showdown in Kansas City is going to be so good.