Tomlin examines Dallas’ final defensive decisions
The Cowboys’ Week 3 loss to the Ravens came down to a dramatic final seven seconds in Rio de Janeiro. Dallas tied the game late, but Baltimore quickly moved into field-goal range for the winning kick.
Mike Tomlin later examined the Cowboys’ defense and clock management during NBC’s analysis. Here is a closer look at the final sequence and the choices that shaped the finish.
Dallas tied the score with seven seconds left
Brandon Aubrey kicked a 23-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining, tying the game at 31. Dallas then kicked through the end zone for a touchback, giving Baltimore possession at its 35-yard line without time coming off the clock.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the plan was to play for overtime and make Baltimore throw short. The Ravens then attacked downfield with their first offensive play.
Tomlin questioned the defensive call
During NBC’s analysis, Mike Tomlin addressed Dallas’ final defensive sequence. He said he was surprised the Cowboys used man-to-man coverage and explained that teams commonly use an umbrella zone in circumstances like that.
Tomlin’s comments came during halftime of NBC’s Rams-Broncos broadcast. His analysis focused on the defensive call that allowed Baltimore to target Zay Flowers over the middle with seconds remaining.
The coverage left Zay Flowers in a one-on-one matchup
Dallas used outside-leverage man-to-man coverage on Baltimore’s final play. Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers, who won his matchup and moved the Ravens to the Dallas 38-yard line with one second remaining.
The completion gave Baltimore enough field position for a long field-goal attempt. The Ravens then called their final timeout before Tyler Loop entered for the kick.
Tomlin described the umbrella zone concept
Tomlin explained that an umbrella zone places defenders deep to protect against a long completion while limiting open space downfield. His televised comments focused specifically on Dallas’ coverage choice after the touchback, rather than questioning Baltimore’s decision to throw.
Baltimore needed significant yardage quickly. Dallas’ man coverage created individual matchups, and Flowers became the target on Jackson’s decisive throw.
The Cowboys chose a touchback
Dallas’ kickoff decision became part of the late-game discussion. Schottenheimer said the Cowboys wanted to avoid a return touchdown and believed Baltimore would have to make a short throw.
Because the clock stayed at seven seconds, Baltimore had time for one passing attempt. Jackson’s completion to Flowers moved the ball to the Dallas 38-yard line and set up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal.
Interesting fact: Tomlin reached 191 regular-season wins by December 2025, placing him 10th on the NFL’s all-time regular-season coaching wins list at that point.
Baltimore needed only one completion
Jackson needed one pass to move Baltimore into position for a field-goal attempt. Flowers caught the 27-yard throw and the Ravens used their timeout with one second left, allowing Loop to attempt the winning kick from 56 yards.
The play came immediately after Dallas had tied the game. Baltimore did not need multiple completions because the pass reached the Cowboys’ 38-yard line.
Interesting fact: Mike Tomlin spent 19 seasons coaching Pittsburgh, from 2007 through 2025, making his tenure one of the longest among modern NFL head coaches.
Tyler Loop finished the drive
Loop converted the 56-yard field goal as the clock reached zero. The kick completed a seven-second sequence that began with Baltimore receiving the kickoff and became the quickest game-winning drive in ESPN’s database, which dates to 1978.
The sequence also marked the first time in the Super Bowl era that both teams made field goals during the final 10 seconds. Baltimore’s winning kick gave the Ravens their second victory.
Dallas had rallied from a 24-13 deficit
The Cowboys entered the fourth quarter trailing 24-13 before Dak Prescott helped lead two touchdown drives. Dallas moved ahead 28-24 during the comeback, but Baltimore answered with a late touchdown to take a 31-28 lead before Dallas tied the score at 31.
Prescott finished with 276 passing yards and one touchdown. Dallas produced 415 total yards, while Baltimore recorded 378, according to the game’s statistical record.
Dallas had a red-zone chance late
Before Aubrey’s tying field goal, Dallas had first-and-goal at Baltimore’s 2-yard line with 23 seconds remaining. Prescott threw incomplete on first down, then scrambled after a false-start penalty, and another incompletion ended the possession with Dallas settling for three points.
Dallas used 16 seconds during the possession. Baltimore then had enough time to regain possession after the field goal, creating the final seven-second opportunity.
The clock became part of the sequence
Dallas used 16 seconds during its late red-zone possession, leaving seven seconds after Aubrey’s field goal. Schottenheimer also called timeout with 14 seconds remaining after Prescott’s run, a decision discussed in postgame reports alongside the kickoff and defensive coverage choices.
The Cowboys’ final sequence involved clock management and defensive execution. Baltimore gained 27 yards on one pass before stopping the clock with its timeout.
Tomlin also credited Jackson and Flowers
Tomlin’s comments did not dismiss Baltimore’s execution on the final play. He specifically said Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers made a major play in the moment, while also stating that Dallas’ strategic choices helped create the circumstances for the game-winning field goal.
Jackson finished with 186 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and 50 rushing yards. Flowers recorded five catches for 84 yards, including the 27-yard reception that set up Loop’s kick.
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The loss shaped Dallas’ Week 4 outlook
The defeat dropped Dallas to 1-2 through three games. The Cowboys’ next scheduled game was against the Houston Texans on October 4, while Baltimore entered Week 4 at 2-1 after its Rio de Janeiro victory.
Dallas had previously beaten Washington 37-20 in Week 2. Baltimore’s Week 3 win followed a Week 2 loss to New Orleans.
The Cowboys’ loss also comes amid wider discussion around the NFL fan experience, including NFL ticket prices leaving frustrated fans feeling squeezed.
Did Mike Tomlin raise a fair point about Dallas’ late-game strategy? Like this post and comment with your take on the Cowboys’ coverage and kickoff decisions.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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