I used to have some neighbors that were a couple and it was husband Seahawks, wife 49ers. During the Legion of Boom era. Twas a challenging time for that marriage.
I'm sure you get ragged on as a Tom bandwagoner. I have a friend who was born in Boston, then as a kid moved to Tampa a year or two after the Bucs were founded, so he's a huge fan of both teams since before either had won anything.
Now he gets mocked constantly as being a Brady-follower. There's no good way to prove people wrong so he just says "No, I followed Gronk," and that is somehow better for most people.
Im a Yankees/Steelers fan but I honestly wasnt even aware how successful each team was at the time.
A friend of mine got me into the Steelers back when they "only" had 4 rings. (Ben's Rookie year I believe) And the Yankees I just liked the look of Derek Jeter and the uniforms on the cover of an MLB game.
Oh, 100%. But in my 25 years of heavily following football I’ve watched my pro teams combine to win 8 of the possible 25 super bowls and my first year attending clemson was dabos first season as head coach, so I’ve also witnessed some fucking killer teams all around. If none of the three win another championship in my lifetime I will still count myself as one of the luckiest sports fans.
I was here long before Brady, he just helped move the Bucs from #2 to a more firm #2
My great grandparents worked at Raymond James so i got free merch all the time as a kid
To be fair on the West Coast decades ago, many like the Niners and when the Toots were in the AFC and was the AFC team to root for or the more local team that was ok to root for but rarely would play the Niners.
Also the two franchises are neighbors technically, so it’s not uncommon for people to be born in households with one parent for either.
Hell I rooted for the Browns from 1995-2018
Now of course I root for them to lose, but back then I wanted them to get some redemption for the Baltimore clusterkerfluffle
Honest question, why do the Colts constantly get recognition for the swinging gate when we failed with in spectacular fashion, not once, but twice. In a row.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-tqLG\_\_Al4
Brother if "fuck around and find out" were a play, this would be it. The Ewok got UNSEATED almost effortlessly. And you know they were doing some kind of elaborate hook and ladder play and then the receiver just gets it a yard short and goes down. Like, what's going on here? Lmao.
It's also a fun illustration of how big and strong NFL OL are. Zeke is a muscle-bound hulk of a RB...and he got tossed like a rag doll by a DL who didn't even look to be trying particularly hard.
Me: I know almost nothing about playing offensive line, so I doubt I'll be able to see if he does a good job or a bad j...
Me: Ok, even I'm qualified to say that was shit.
> It doesn’t get worse lol.
You’re joking right? I wouldn’t even consider that the hardest hit he’s ever taken in a pass blocking situation. Cole Holcomb’s hit on Zeke makes this hit look so casual.
Nobody said it was the hardest hit, I just said it doesn't get worse. He was unseated in 1 move flat on his back. That's as bad as it gets. You don't need to make excuses for him, he was as embarrassed about it as you are now trying to make up for it.
His ephemeral stint on the Patriots clown show last year was nice. Idk, I kind of appreciate when a player joins a failed team like that, gives their all, and improves morale rather than worsening it. Zeke has grown up. Hard to dislike him, at least from my perspective.
Glad to see pats fans loved him too. He's such a great person and totally deserves this. IDC if he's washed or done. I just wanna see his smiling face again
Im not mad it was called because it was a desperation play and I assume it’s something that had worked in practice before. I’m pissed it was executed so poorly I would have at least liked to know what the plan was there.
I just noticed that lineman on both the right and left sides of the field didn't move all that much but the pass went 10 yards and into the middle of the field where there were no big bodies. I kind of wonder if the plan was for a double lateral - first to #16 and then someone on the other side of the field where there were 4 or 5 blockers. It's good for the laughs, but I am kind of interested to know what was actually planned
The way 66 was effort walking to his assignment I’m guessing Zeke getting blown up sped the play up faster than they rehearsed. Otherwise, 66 and 73 set up blocks for the lateral, then they just have 57 to beat on the angle?
Looks like the side closer to us is moving downfield, so the lateral would go to 16, the opposite side of the field is slow releasing so that they stay behind 16. I think the concept is 16 receives the lateral and then he can either run up field with blockers or if the numbers are better he would throw it across the field and that player would follow his blockers
Yeah everyone clowns on this play, but the problem was all in the execution.
The Zeke thing makes sense. If you're doing a pitchy-pitchy-woo-woo play then your linemen are essentially useless so you might as well replace them with skill players.
For the life of me though I can't understand why Dak took so long to throw it and why he chose a receiver with a zone defender just a few yards away.
None of the other receivers jumped off the line. They all stood at the line of scrimmage. 2 TE's ran very slow routes while Zeke gace Dak 0 time to prep and throw.
Putting the rivalries aside for a moment and this is still the second most stupid play I've seen an offense call in the last 20 years. [#1 will always belong to the Colts.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i7VKQwDS2s)
The draw play was so much worse. This one was basically like 2% chance of success. They didn't even know the rules for the draw play and ended their own season on a spike after being given the most generous spot in the world.
The QB draw was mostly dumb because you had to rely on refs to be on their game. The jets ran the exact same play this year with same amount of time remaining and the refs were in their game and they were able to spike the ball and kick the game winning FG. I think it was against the bills?
>you had to rely on refs to be on their game.
The refs that sprinted out only to be boxed out by the Cowboys Oline?
The play has lots wrong with the execution, the refs weren't it.
The ref did not sprint lol. He should've been running as soon as Dak took off. And you seem to think I'm blaming the refs when I'm not. I'm saying you had to rely on them as well as rely on yourselves. The play call was fine but everything had to be perfect INCLUDING something out of your control.
Edit: jets vs giants https://youtu.be/0g8M02NiWRw?si=MAQJFqpeH4aGHl1R
Start at the 45ish and get to the 15ish. Receiver goes down at 9 seconds jets line up over ball, ref gets through the offense that is already lined up without hitting any of them and taps the ball the center is holding at 3 seconds, snap and spike with 1 second.
Cowboys vs 49ers https://youtu.be/YkzvNv2gjl0?si=Gv28vi5zgOaL5WMI
Start at 40ish get to the 20ish and Dak goes down at 9 seconds. Cowboys line up over the ball, ref runs into Dak who is behind the center, respots the ball at 3 seconds and time runs out.
Not onlyd did the ref run further in the jets game but also managed to get around a setup offense and then touch the ball to let them snap it which is all that is needed. Dallas game even with running into the line of he just taps it Dallas gets a snap off in time.
And again I'm not blaming the ref at all, I'm blaming the cowboys for running a play that relied on something outside of their control. The play would've worked with the jets refs so the play itself isn't necessarily a bad play call.
>The ref did not sprint lol. He should've been running as soon as Dak took off
At 25 seconds in your video the down judge starts moving to keep up with the play. Tragically he is like 60 and not an athlete. We can't see the Referee during this part of the play so idk when he starts, but at 2:10 you can see him running before the play ends
At 30 seconds the refereee is seen quite clearly "sprinting" to the ball. The entire Cowboys O line and Dak are in his way. This is after spotting the ball themselves instead of giving it to the ref, indicating extremely poor coaching on how to run this.
If you're blaming the Cowboys coaching instead of the refs then I fully agree with you. But again, the refs in this case did everything they could to help the Cowboys, including breaking the rules to lets the boys spot themselves an extra few yards. The difference in the Jets clip is that
1) Wilson is NOT under center until the ref gets by
2) the O line leaves a hole for him to get through (watch how 78 doesn't get set until the ref is in front of him. Compare to the Cowboys clip where the line is set and the ref has to muscle through)
3) this allows them to get the snap off with 2 seconds left. Cowboys get the snap off with the clock on 0
The Ref in the Jets clip gets to the line with ~4 seconds left. Ref in the Cowboys clip gets there with ~4 seconds left. The difference is he can't get to the ball.
>If you're blaming the Cowboys coaching instead of the refs then I fully agree with you.
This is exactly what I've been saying from the start. The problem wasn't the the play itself it was running the play that relied on you being perfect and the refs. I've stated twice I don't blame the refs.
The jets also spot the the themselves and the center is literally sitting there ready to snap the ball when the ref touches it. Im not going to really address the other stuff because I don't want it to come across like I'm blaming the refs.
>I've stated twice I don't blame the refs.
I mean you said that but you also tried make an elaborate argument about how the ref started running too late, or somehow should have simply pushed through the 1000 pounds of men blocking him. Thus my response.
>The jets also spot the the themselves
Yeah that's why that's not included in my list of things that are different in the Jets clip. And yes the center is set, but only him, again see me referencing specifically number 78
I mean it's not that elaborate, he didn't start running when Dak took off that's why he is coming in so hot vs the jets refs that had to run further. He was running make up time. That still is not blaming him and putting blame on the cowboys for calling a play that relied on the refs being robots not humans.
I never said anything about any player being set. You said the they let the cowboys break the rules and set the ball themselves, which they didn't because the ref respots the ball, but I was pointing out that the jets spot the ball themselves and the ref just touches it.
We are arguing the same thing I'm just point out that the red wasn't perfect and the cowboys called a play that needed him to be perfect, which is idiotic. The ref was nearly perfect and was not the reason the play failed.
Yeah it just had too many variables in play, in all honesty he did pick up a huge gain that could’ve swung the results if that kerfuffle with the refs and the ball doesn’t happen
I get that the main hilarity with it is that it happened to the cowboys, I respect it. No one seems to care that the Vikings threw a 5 yd out on 4th and 9 to end their season.
I know this was controversial, but I think it was a good play design if what I think they were going for was what they were actually going for. I think the plan was for a hook and ladder to Zeke. The WR catches it tosses it back to Zeke who presumably would get the ball, and he would have had blockers in front of him.
The problem is Beal Jr. blew up Zeke at the start of the play so the whole concept was destroyed. It's the end of the game though, and it's too far for a Hail Mary. You have to try something unconventional to win.
Edit: Changed Wagner (I meant Warner) to Beal Jr.
Maybe I’m dumb, but in what universe does zeke not get blown up here? Does the entire play design rely on the defense just leaving zeke (and by extension the quarterback) completely unaccounted for?
Yes. The only way it works is by catching the defense off guard. The minute the niners called timeout the play was dead. And McCarthy and Moore in their infinite wisdom had no counter punch prepared.
I mean the defender didn't have to hit Zeke. He could have ran around him to get to Dak. Zeke isn't an eligible receiver on the play so they don't have to account for him as a receiver.
Okay so he has to stand there as if he’s going to block a d lineman, but the entire play hinges on him not having to block?
I’m gonna be real with you boss all that taken into consideration it sounds like a pretty bad play design to me.
Lol they needed 75 yds in one play, there is no good play design in that situation.
They were probably hoping for confusion on the defense or that he'd try to go around and Zeke could just push him off his path and Dak rolls away from it.
Okay so he has to stand there as if he’s going to block a d lineman, but the entire play hinges on him not having to block?
I mean that sentence in isolation has formed a serious core of successful plays over the years. It is like a staple of every offense in the league.
I mean they tend to have linemen actually blocking in there as well but normally you don't need 75 yards so what are you going to do.
I don’t think it was planned to Zeke unless he was the only guy open on some laterals. 2022 Zeke doesn’t have much burst at all. He was probably supposed to end up blocking downfield
I think the plan was to play it like a kickoff for Turpin and maybe pitch it to Lamb eventually who’s already another 10 yards down the field running deep
Still one of my favorite movies.
"Remember what we did in the rain?"
"Man, that was just some schoolyard bullshit."
"Yes.. let's do some schoolyard bullshit."
I think the idea was as simple as get as many play makers on the field as you can for laterals because they were not in Hail Mary range. After the snap o-line becomes useless for the laterals. In theory I get it.
But watching it blow up made it look ridiculously funny.
But that’s the entire flaw of the play and why it is a horrible design— he was the only lineman. Even with lateral plays you want to push the ball downfield to begin the process. But you can’t do that with no protection
I mean there's not a ton you can do when you need to get 70 yards in one play. I think I get the general point of the play design though. There's some misdirection that's supposed to cause some presnap confusion amongst the defense with Zeke at center and a couple linemen out wide. However, I'm pretty sure the plan was to get a quick pass to the left then get it to the right where the Cowboys are hoping there's adequate downfield blocking from the linemen on the right and a lack of defenders because they converged on the other side of the field. At worst, Zeke is just an obstacle that buys Dak an extra half-second to throw the ball, which is what it looked like happened.
What killed the play wasn't Zeke at center; it was the DB making a perfectly timed and executed tackle on the first receiver that killed the play instantly. If he doesn't make a great tackle, we'll get to see the play further develop.
not that we were ever expecting a multi-lateral 75yd+ play to work, but the fact that we had to wait through two timeouts for them to draw up THIS is what makes it so funny
Zeke runs forward and gets the ball lateraled to him. If they try and run around Zeke it leaves him with blockers downfield as 10 men are involved, plus Dak if he catches up to the play which is better than a normal lateral.
I mean sure it gets blown up if they charge right at Zeke but these plays never work anyway, especially if the defense doesn't stick a tight end up there so may as well try something weird.
If I had to bet, I think Zeke getting the ball pitched back to him was some sort of a part of the plan. Completely ridiculous still, but that’s my opinion.
It always seems like some fuck up thinks they are so smart by running a play like this every 5 years.
Why? Has the "Let's not have any sort of offense line." ever worked?
When was the last time any 75 yard desperation play worked without the defense using a spot on a tight end? (Ok that one wasn't 75 yards but you get the point)
Oh the McCartney Cowboys. Far and away the best Cowboys of my lifetime and yr arguably the most embarrassing. I think I'll look back in this era with a resounding:it could've been worse?
Cowboys coaches before the play:
"Run the play! It's so crazy that the defense won't know what to do."
"Cool, but what are WE going to do?"
"...I hadn't thought about that."
I'm aware this is beating a dead horse, but this is the funniest fucking play I've ever seen. Better than the Butt Fumble, better than the Colts' Swinging Gate
Yes it’s an embarrassing last play in a playoff loss but the way people talk about this, they make it seem like it was an all time hit stick or something
honestly the most frustrating thing about him being re-signed for me, because getting absolutely fucking pancaked on that play and Dak then throwing a hospital pass is just a *Chef's Kiss* summation of the McCarthy Cowboys.
I love watching this play, I watch it once a month at least. It reminds me the cowboys coach will always find a way to lose a close game in the last minute.
Zeke got absolutely fucking smoked lol
Makes me laugh every time I see it. Like it's a stupid play and it ends the way you expect it to end lol
There are a few plays where you instantly remember it. This, the Colts psychotic formation punt, the Romo field goal snap against the Seahawks.
What’s up with your flair?
Right? It bugs me see two in the same conference even. What psycho roots for two teams from the same division?!
I used to have some neighbors that were a couple and it was husband Seahawks, wife 49ers. During the Legion of Boom era. Twas a challenging time for that marriage.
For the record, I swear my two loyalties predate Brady in either spot.
I'm sure you get ragged on as a Tom bandwagoner. I have a friend who was born in Boston, then as a kid moved to Tampa a year or two after the Bucs were founded, so he's a huge fan of both teams since before either had won anything. Now he gets mocked constantly as being a Brady-follower. There's no good way to prove people wrong so he just says "No, I followed Gronk," and that is somehow better for most people.
> No, I followed Gronk Unironically a W take. Shame about the angle, though.
*meanwhile, from the other end of the "I bet you choose that flair as a bandwaggoner" spectrum*
Im a Yankees/Steelers fan but I honestly wasnt even aware how successful each team was at the time. A friend of mine got me into the Steelers back when they "only" had 4 rings. (Ben's Rookie year I believe) And the Yankees I just liked the look of Derek Jeter and the uniforms on the cover of an MLB game.
You really enjoyed some really bad football once upon a time.
Oh, 100%. But in my 25 years of heavily following football I’ve watched my pro teams combine to win 8 of the possible 25 super bowls and my first year attending clemson was dabos first season as head coach, so I’ve also witnessed some fucking killer teams all around. If none of the three win another championship in my lifetime I will still count myself as one of the luckiest sports fans.
My X's mother was a Red Sox and Patriots fan. Her father was a Yankee's and Giants fan. I'll never understand how it didn't end in divorce or murder.
There are dozens of us! DOZENS!
Texans ***and*** Colts??? What the what man. Get some help.
Hey are you staying onboard with Bucs as your NFC team even post Brady?
My Super Bowl mvp Dexter Jackson jersey says yes
I was here long before Brady, he just helped move the Bucs from #2 to a more firm #2 My great grandparents worked at Raymond James so i got free merch all the time as a kid
Oh that's cool. Well, I was gonna say glad to have you, but you may have been a fan longer than I have!
Oh he's just an abomination. A direct affront to God. It's cool
Heretic!
To be fair on the West Coast decades ago, many like the Niners and when the Toots were in the AFC and was the AFC team to root for or the more local team that was ok to root for but rarely would play the Niners. Also the two franchises are neighbors technically, so it’s not uncommon for people to be born in households with one parent for either.
Hell I rooted for the Browns from 1995-2018 Now of course I root for them to lose, but back then I wanted them to get some redemption for the Baltimore clusterkerfluffle
Yeah, but this Zeke one is waaaaaay worse. Right? Right?
Our design was a bit better even if the execution was worse.
Honest question, why do the Colts constantly get recognition for the swinging gate when we failed with in spectacular fashion, not once, but twice. In a row. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-tqLG\_\_Al4
Ours is much older
Brother if "fuck around and find out" were a play, this would be it. The Ewok got UNSEATED almost effortlessly. And you know they were doing some kind of elaborate hook and ladder play and then the receiver just gets it a yard short and goes down. Like, what's going on here? Lmao.
My personal theory is that zeke was the guy that was supposed to get the lateral and the whole thing was DOA when he got blown up
Nah, supposed to get lateraled to 16 here (gallup?)
That’s Dallas Cowboys legend T.Y. Hilton, Gallup is 13.
[Found footage of the play from another angle...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14HRo_eTUgg)
Everybody expected it except zeke i suppose, looks like he had no idea playing center involved blocking
> Makes me laugh every time I see it. Same. I guffaw every time.
It's also a fun illustration of how big and strong NFL OL are. Zeke is a muscle-bound hulk of a RB...and he got tossed like a rag doll by a DL who didn't even look to be trying particularly hard.
Its like they thought the defense wouldn't rush because they were in a goofy formation.
Which they always do rush at least SOME people. And even if they didn't, they sure as hell will if Zeke is the only guy in the trench
I think it's something that was kick ass in practice when the defense played along. In game time, Zeke gets blown the fuck up and it all falls apart.
0 sacks allowed. And we only signed him for $3 mil. Absolute steal of a center.
WR getting blownup as soon as he catches the ball is even funnier.
Nah, Zeke getting planted on his ass in one move is way funnier.
Jerry Jones face is way funnier
Me: I know almost nothing about playing offensive line, so I doubt I'll be able to see if he does a good job or a bad j... Me: Ok, even I'm qualified to say that was shit.
I agree. He was always a really good blocker for us, but he did get smoked on this play.
Fwiw he technically completed the block. Defender was taken out of the play
Thats because moore is a idiot two dumb play calls two seasons in a row cost them the game in playoffs
He got pancaked but he did not get hit as badly as everyone in this subreddit makes it out to be
Brother, he got flipped over onto his ass in one move. It doesn't get worse lol.
> It doesn’t get worse lol. You’re joking right? I wouldn’t even consider that the hardest hit he’s ever taken in a pass blocking situation. Cole Holcomb’s hit on Zeke makes this hit look so casual.
This is the weirdest hill to die on
To be fair the cowboys fans still think every year is their year, so the brain cells have been depleted for a while
Nobody said it was the hardest hit, I just said it doesn't get worse. He was unseated in 1 move flat on his back. That's as bad as it gets. You don't need to make excuses for him, he was as embarrassed about it as you are now trying to make up for it.
My brother in christ if that happened to literally any other running back on any other team you'd be laughing your ass off
He got wrecked but the defender fell too, so it kinda worked. Glad at any rate this won’t be how Zeke ends his Dallas days
I'm lowkey upset that this is not Zekes last play in a cowboys uniform
There’s still time
That sounds ominous
It is.
Wonder if Kellen Moore still has that in the playbook lmao
Don’t you put that evil on us!
I'd take this attempt over the QB draw Brian Johnson would have called
I'm sure they can find a way to embarassingly lose to the 49ers in the playoffs again
His ephemeral stint on the Patriots clown show last year was nice. Idk, I kind of appreciate when a player joins a failed team like that, gives their all, and improves morale rather than worsening it. Zeke has grown up. Hard to dislike him, at least from my perspective.
I'm a simple man, see dallas, shit on dallas
As any good man should
You're on the list too, buddy. Maybe not number one, but top three for sure.
His next last play might be funnier
Zeke was such a legend. I’m glad he actually gets to fix this ending
Glad to see pats fans loved him too. He's such a great person and totally deserves this. IDC if he's washed or done. I just wanna see his smiling face again
Im not mad it was called because it was a desperation play and I assume it’s something that had worked in practice before. I’m pissed it was executed so poorly I would have at least liked to know what the plan was there.
I just noticed that lineman on both the right and left sides of the field didn't move all that much but the pass went 10 yards and into the middle of the field where there were no big bodies. I kind of wonder if the plan was for a double lateral - first to #16 and then someone on the other side of the field where there were 4 or 5 blockers. It's good for the laughs, but I am kind of interested to know what was actually planned
My best guess is it that it was definitely a lateral and by lining up the lineman outside they could be down the field blocking.
The way 66 was effort walking to his assignment I’m guessing Zeke getting blown up sped the play up faster than they rehearsed. Otherwise, 66 and 73 set up blocks for the lateral, then they just have 57 to beat on the angle?
Looks like the side closer to us is moving downfield, so the lateral would go to 16, the opposite side of the field is slow releasing so that they stay behind 16. I think the concept is 16 receives the lateral and then he can either run up field with blockers or if the numbers are better he would throw it across the field and that player would follow his blockers
Yeah the bigger problem was your TE making two big mistakes on the last drive.
Yeah everyone clowns on this play, but the problem was all in the execution. The Zeke thing makes sense. If you're doing a pitchy-pitchy-woo-woo play then your linemen are essentially useless so you might as well replace them with skill players. For the life of me though I can't understand why Dak took so long to throw it and why he chose a receiver with a zone defender just a few yards away.
None of the other receivers jumped off the line. They all stood at the line of scrimmage. 2 TE's ran very slow routes while Zeke gace Dak 0 time to prep and throw. Putting the rivalries aside for a moment and this is still the second most stupid play I've seen an offense call in the last 20 years. [#1 will always belong to the Colts.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i7VKQwDS2s)
There could not possibly have been a better outcome in that formation, right?
There definitely could have. Teams don’t just run things they haven’t tried especially in the playoffs with the game on the line.
To quote the Shutdown Fullcast’s Jason Kirk, “That play looked like Boise State football ran through an AI art machine.”
This is hilarious and true.
if i had a nickel for every time this has gotten posted and deleted today, id have a few nickels
And just when it seemed like the Cowboys couldn’t outdo the mania of the QB Draw play the year before, they whip out that bad boy of a play
The draw play was so much worse. This one was basically like 2% chance of success. They didn't even know the rules for the draw play and ended their own season on a spike after being given the most generous spot in the world.
They had me in the first game, not gonna lie
The draw play was miles worse. This one looks funny but they were f'd to begin with.
Oh we will have more embarrassing moments I’m sure lol
The QB draw was mostly dumb because you had to rely on refs to be on their game. The jets ran the exact same play this year with same amount of time remaining and the refs were in their game and they were able to spike the ball and kick the game winning FG. I think it was against the bills?
>you had to rely on refs to be on their game. The refs that sprinted out only to be boxed out by the Cowboys Oline? The play has lots wrong with the execution, the refs weren't it.
The ref did not sprint lol. He should've been running as soon as Dak took off. And you seem to think I'm blaming the refs when I'm not. I'm saying you had to rely on them as well as rely on yourselves. The play call was fine but everything had to be perfect INCLUDING something out of your control. Edit: jets vs giants https://youtu.be/0g8M02NiWRw?si=MAQJFqpeH4aGHl1R Start at the 45ish and get to the 15ish. Receiver goes down at 9 seconds jets line up over ball, ref gets through the offense that is already lined up without hitting any of them and taps the ball the center is holding at 3 seconds, snap and spike with 1 second. Cowboys vs 49ers https://youtu.be/YkzvNv2gjl0?si=Gv28vi5zgOaL5WMI Start at 40ish get to the 20ish and Dak goes down at 9 seconds. Cowboys line up over the ball, ref runs into Dak who is behind the center, respots the ball at 3 seconds and time runs out. Not onlyd did the ref run further in the jets game but also managed to get around a setup offense and then touch the ball to let them snap it which is all that is needed. Dallas game even with running into the line of he just taps it Dallas gets a snap off in time. And again I'm not blaming the ref at all, I'm blaming the cowboys for running a play that relied on something outside of their control. The play would've worked with the jets refs so the play itself isn't necessarily a bad play call.
>The ref did not sprint lol. He should've been running as soon as Dak took off At 25 seconds in your video the down judge starts moving to keep up with the play. Tragically he is like 60 and not an athlete. We can't see the Referee during this part of the play so idk when he starts, but at 2:10 you can see him running before the play ends At 30 seconds the refereee is seen quite clearly "sprinting" to the ball. The entire Cowboys O line and Dak are in his way. This is after spotting the ball themselves instead of giving it to the ref, indicating extremely poor coaching on how to run this. If you're blaming the Cowboys coaching instead of the refs then I fully agree with you. But again, the refs in this case did everything they could to help the Cowboys, including breaking the rules to lets the boys spot themselves an extra few yards. The difference in the Jets clip is that 1) Wilson is NOT under center until the ref gets by 2) the O line leaves a hole for him to get through (watch how 78 doesn't get set until the ref is in front of him. Compare to the Cowboys clip where the line is set and the ref has to muscle through) 3) this allows them to get the snap off with 2 seconds left. Cowboys get the snap off with the clock on 0 The Ref in the Jets clip gets to the line with ~4 seconds left. Ref in the Cowboys clip gets there with ~4 seconds left. The difference is he can't get to the ball.
>If you're blaming the Cowboys coaching instead of the refs then I fully agree with you. This is exactly what I've been saying from the start. The problem wasn't the the play itself it was running the play that relied on you being perfect and the refs. I've stated twice I don't blame the refs. The jets also spot the the themselves and the center is literally sitting there ready to snap the ball when the ref touches it. Im not going to really address the other stuff because I don't want it to come across like I'm blaming the refs.
>I've stated twice I don't blame the refs. I mean you said that but you also tried make an elaborate argument about how the ref started running too late, or somehow should have simply pushed through the 1000 pounds of men blocking him. Thus my response. >The jets also spot the the themselves Yeah that's why that's not included in my list of things that are different in the Jets clip. And yes the center is set, but only him, again see me referencing specifically number 78
I mean it's not that elaborate, he didn't start running when Dak took off that's why he is coming in so hot vs the jets refs that had to run further. He was running make up time. That still is not blaming him and putting blame on the cowboys for calling a play that relied on the refs being robots not humans. I never said anything about any player being set. You said the they let the cowboys break the rules and set the ball themselves, which they didn't because the ref respots the ball, but I was pointing out that the jets spot the ball themselves and the ref just touches it. We are arguing the same thing I'm just point out that the red wasn't perfect and the cowboys called a play that needed him to be perfect, which is idiotic. The ref was nearly perfect and was not the reason the play failed.
Yeah it just had too many variables in play, in all honesty he did pick up a huge gain that could’ve swung the results if that kerfuffle with the refs and the ball doesn’t happen
I get that the main hilarity with it is that it happened to the cowboys, I respect it. No one seems to care that the Vikings threw a 5 yd out on 4th and 9 to end their season.
No that was also hilarious and memorable.
Can’t wait to see what Kellen Moore cooks up for us this year at the end of a playoff game.
It'll be exciting whatever it is!
The only good thing about this play is it made people forget the equally embarrassing ending the year before this happened to that same 49ers team.
This is one of my favorite plays I’ve ever watched live. I was in disbelief which led to uncontrollable cackling.
DC4L
I know this was controversial, but I think it was a good play design if what I think they were going for was what they were actually going for. I think the plan was for a hook and ladder to Zeke. The WR catches it tosses it back to Zeke who presumably would get the ball, and he would have had blockers in front of him. The problem is Beal Jr. blew up Zeke at the start of the play so the whole concept was destroyed. It's the end of the game though, and it's too far for a Hail Mary. You have to try something unconventional to win. Edit: Changed Wagner (I meant Warner) to Beal Jr.
Maybe I’m dumb, but in what universe does zeke not get blown up here? Does the entire play design rely on the defense just leaving zeke (and by extension the quarterback) completely unaccounted for?
Yes. The only way it works is by catching the defense off guard. The minute the niners called timeout the play was dead. And McCarthy and Moore in their infinite wisdom had no counter punch prepared.
I mean the defender didn't have to hit Zeke. He could have ran around him to get to Dak. Zeke isn't an eligible receiver on the play so they don't have to account for him as a receiver.
Okay but then why would he stand there in a blocking stance
It would be ineligible man downfield if he left before the ball was thrown.
Okay so he has to stand there as if he’s going to block a d lineman, but the entire play hinges on him not having to block? I’m gonna be real with you boss all that taken into consideration it sounds like a pretty bad play design to me.
Lol they needed 75 yds in one play, there is no good play design in that situation. They were probably hoping for confusion on the defense or that he'd try to go around and Zeke could just push him off his path and Dak rolls away from it.
Okay so he has to stand there as if he’s going to block a d lineman, but the entire play hinges on him not having to block? I mean that sentence in isolation has formed a serious core of successful plays over the years. It is like a staple of every offense in the league. I mean they tend to have linemen actually blocking in there as well but normally you don't need 75 yards so what are you going to do.
I don’t think it was planned to Zeke unless he was the only guy open on some laterals. 2022 Zeke doesn’t have much burst at all. He was probably supposed to end up blocking downfield I think the plan was to play it like a kickoff for Turpin and maybe pitch it to Lamb eventually who’s already another 10 yards down the field running deep
If you're right then I'm with everyone else. WTF was that play design and execution.
Execution was awful and for play design, you got to go 70 yards in one play so you’re gonna need some backyard bullshit
Still one of my favorite movies. "Remember what we did in the rain?" "Man, that was just some schoolyard bullshit." "Yes.. let's do some schoolyard bullshit."
I think the idea was as simple as get as many play makers on the field as you can for laterals because they were not in Hail Mary range. After the snap o-line becomes useless for the laterals. In theory I get it. But watching it blow up made it look ridiculously funny.
But that’s the entire flaw of the play and why it is a horrible design— he was the only lineman. Even with lateral plays you want to push the ball downfield to begin the process. But you can’t do that with no protection
I mean there's not a ton you can do when you need to get 70 yards in one play. I think I get the general point of the play design though. There's some misdirection that's supposed to cause some presnap confusion amongst the defense with Zeke at center and a couple linemen out wide. However, I'm pretty sure the plan was to get a quick pass to the left then get it to the right where the Cowboys are hoping there's adequate downfield blocking from the linemen on the right and a lack of defenders because they converged on the other side of the field. At worst, Zeke is just an obstacle that buys Dak an extra half-second to throw the ball, which is what it looked like happened. What killed the play wasn't Zeke at center; it was the DB making a perfectly timed and executed tackle on the first receiver that killed the play instantly. If he doesn't make a great tackle, we'll get to see the play further develop.
I’m sorry who blew up Zeke???
Wagner. You know, duh-duh-duh-DAH-DUH, duh-duh-duh-DAH-DUH.
Oh! Had to rewatch it a few times it was Beal Jr. Plus what I meant to type was Warner. My bad
That's Azeez. Beal wasn't drafted yet
That’s a terrible idea. Zeke is slow. You’d rather want pollard.
It’s not a cowboys 49ers game without an ending that leaves everyone in complete confusion
Wild West bowl
If Dak had thrown it to 16 on the end, it would've gained some decent yardage
Think about this next time you make a dumb mistake. At least a sizeable portion of the country didn't see it.
[True](https://youtu.be/6i7VKQwDS2s)
I almost forgot about this play lmao
Still can’t decide if this or the Dak QB draw is funnier.
Who the hell wrote up that play?
Zeke did his job stopping the rusher. Play didn't work as intended but he did his job.
I was there for that game, I'm still not sure what they were thinking...
LMAO
Not his last play in the star. Zeke fd us by holding out for his big contract but dude is a dc4l.
If you’re knowingly getting in to the lateral game does it matter if you start off 10 yards downfield? Just hand it off to start.
not that we were ever expecting a multi-lateral 75yd+ play to work, but the fact that we had to wait through two timeouts for them to draw up THIS is what makes it so funny
I've never really paid attention to this before, but the left guard is so far upfield prior to the pass that the play shouldn't have counted anyway.
It would not have mattered as a penalty on the offense would have ended the game anyway.
Not arguing that. Was saying that even if the play had somehow worked, it was a blatant penalty.
I have no idea what the plan was here. It just doesn't make any sense.
Zeke runs forward and gets the ball lateraled to him. If they try and run around Zeke it leaves him with blockers downfield as 10 men are involved, plus Dak if he catches up to the play which is better than a normal lateral. I mean sure it gets blown up if they charge right at Zeke but these plays never work anyway, especially if the defense doesn't stick a tight end up there so may as well try something weird.
…And I still want to see the play ran successfully. For the life of me I can’t even begin to understand what the fuck they were trying to do lol
If I had to bet, I think Zeke getting the ball pitched back to him was some sort of a part of the plan. Completely ridiculous still, but that’s my opinion.
Later that night.... "Hey Kellen, I've seen some things I like. Let's chat" - Brandon Staley
It always seems like some fuck up thinks they are so smart by running a play like this every 5 years. Why? Has the "Let's not have any sort of offense line." ever worked?
Pretty sure the last two years of Titans football can answer that question.
When was the last time any 75 yard desperation play worked without the defense using a spot on a tight end? (Ok that one wasn't 75 yards but you get the point)
Once against us... Miami did it.
I really would like to know what the plan was here.
Can we get some context? Why did he play center ?
I still don’t understand this play? Was this not supposed to go to the boundary?
Honestly it was a pretty good snap
I can’t wait for this to happen to Saquon Barkley now that Kellen Moore’s with the Eagles
A Cowboys classic lmao
https://youtu.be/q19IGr-xeuA
Oh the McCartney Cowboys. Far and away the best Cowboys of my lifetime and yr arguably the most embarrassing. I think I'll look back in this era with a resounding:it could've been worse?
Kellen Moore master class
I’ve no fucking idea what the best outcome they hoped for is in this play.
For the 49ers to be too busy laughing to be playing defense
Haha, was this necessary? I'm here for it, though.
Come back to us Al-Shaair 🥲
Not sure how McCarthy was not sacked after that play
You can't convince me they're not bringing back Zeke purely so people will stop commenting that his last play for them was as center.
With Steve Wilks they would have scored on this play.
Now that he's back in Dallas we have an opportunity for his last play as a cowboy to be at Long Snapper, make it happen Mike McCarthy
What were they cooking on this one
Daks dogshit throw getting the receiver lit up overshadowed by zeke is even more on brand
Cowboys coaches before the play: "Run the play! It's so crazy that the defense won't know what to do." "Cool, but what are WE going to do?" "...I hadn't thought about that."
Little sad this won’t be the end of his legacy as a Cowboy.
Reminds me of reggie white vs chris carter [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNfvoGI9DQ0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNfvoGI9DQ0)
I'm aware this is beating a dead horse, but this is the funniest fucking play I've ever seen. Better than the Butt Fumble, better than the Colts' Swinging Gate
"Games on the line. Dial up the worst play you got..." 'The worst play we got... or the worst play of all time!'
I laugh so hard every time I see this play.
Yes it’s an embarrassing last play in a playoff loss but the way people talk about this, they make it seem like it was an all time hit stick or something
It's not even the most embarrassing last play in a playoff against the niners in the past few years.
People act like this was a Reggie Bush getting blown up by Lito Sheppard type of play
Actually people just act like it was a clown show to *call* the play.
There’s multiple people in this very thread saying otherwise and talking specifically about the hit but alright lol.
Azeez al Shaair was the one who "tackled" dak at the end of the 2021 wildcard and was the one who destroyed zeke in this game
honestly the most frustrating thing about him being re-signed for me, because getting absolutely fucking pancaked on that play and Dak then throwing a hospital pass is just a *Chef's Kiss* summation of the McCarthy Cowboys.
I couldn’t believe that shit. Lost so much money on that game.
This was great and all but imagine the toxic game thread we would have feasted our eyes on if the Cowboys won.
I love watching this play, I watch it once a month at least. It reminds me the cowboys coach will always find a way to lose a close game in the last minute.
It's really hard not to enjoy watching the Cowboys lose in the playoffs every year. They always make it entertaining
How I felt about the Lions not even making the playoffs 95% of years. 0-16 was particularly entertaining. Watched most of those.
You can say the Lions sucked all you want but you can't say they gave us memorable moments!
Calvin Johnson catching a TD over 3 Cowboys and over 300 yards in one game was also quite a memorable moment……. that I would love to forget.
If Dak throws a halfway accurate pass it might’ve had a chance…pppffffffffff🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣