The Cowboys are likely going to be in their feelings for the entire 10-hour flight home from Rio de Janeiro after fumbling away a 34-31 loss to the Ravens. It was giving major deja vu, but not in a good way.
The fumble at the finish
With just seven seconds left on the clock, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed a 23-yard field goal to tie the game. Instead of trying to burn time or force a return, the Cowboys opted for a touchback. Highkey, this was a massive L. Thanks to the 2024 NFL kickoff rule, that touchback put the Ravens at the 35-yard line with seven seconds to go.
Ravens coach Jesse Minter didn't even try to hide his relief, saying, "The touchback rule is huge... We felt like, one play that could take six seconds." Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers for a 27-yard gain, leaving one second on the clock for Tyler Loop to drill a 56-yard game-winning field goal.
Receipts on the decision
Why did they do it? Aubrey had two previous kickoffs go out of bounds, which likely shook the team's confidence. However, on four other kicks, the Ravens were held inside their own 23-yard line. By playing it safe, the Cowboys effectively gifted the Ravens the extra yardage and time they needed to get in range.
It wasn't just the kickoff, though. The Cowboys were mid with their time management all through the final 30 seconds. They burnt a timeout way too early with 14 seconds left, which basically left the door wide open for the Ravens to capitalize.
Why it matters
This loss is a brutal reality check. Between the questionable kickoff strategy and poor clock management, the Cowboys left at least five seconds on the table that they absolutely didn't need to. In the NFL, that’s all the difference between overtime and going home with an L. Real talk: they beat themselves.
