Cowboys countdown to kickoff: Top 100 iconic games – Day 26

It is Day 26 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.

Here we go for Day 26 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit the playoff victory that gave the Cowboys’ young core something tangible to believe in. Dallas leaned on Ezekiel Elliott, a physical defensive performance and Dak Prescott’s late determination to defeat the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Final Score: Dallas Cowboys 24, Seattle Seahawks 22

In the 2019 season, the Cowboys had recovered from a 3-5 start to finish 10-6, win the NFC East and earn a home playoff game. Seattle had beaten Dallas 24-13 earlier in the season, but this rematch looked very different. The Cowboys were more settled offensively following the arrival of Amari Cooper, while their young defense had developed into one of the team’s greatest strengths. 

Dallas opened the scoring with Brett Maher’s 39-yard field goal. Seattle answered during the second quarter with Sebastian Janikowski field goals from 27 and 42 yards, moving ahead 6-3. The Cowboys reclaimed the lead shortly before halftime when Prescott found Michael Gallup for an 11-yard touchdown, completing a 75-yard drive and sending Dallas into the break ahead 10-6. 

The Seahawks moved back in front during the third quarter. Russell Wilson scored on a four-yard option run before Mike Davis converted the two-point attempt, giving Seattle a 14-10 advantage. The Cowboys responded early in the fourth when Elliott powered across the goal line from one yard out, putting Dallas back ahead 17-14. 

Dallas had a chance to create separation after Tavon Austin’s 51-yard punt return, but Prescott’s pass for Noah Brown was intercepted by K.J. Wright in the end zone. Instead of allowing the mistake to change the game, the Cowboys’ defense forced another stop and gave Prescott an opportunity to finish the job. 

The defining moment came on third-and-14 from Seattle’s 17-yard line. Prescott escaped through the middle, lowered his shoulder and flipped over a defender before being brought down at the one. He scored on a quarterback keeper on the following play, completing an 11-play drive that consumed more than five minutes and put Dallas ahead 24-14 with 2:08 remaining. 

Seattle refused to disappear. Wilson completed a 53-yard pass to Tyler Lockett before finding J.D. McKissic for a seven-yard touchdown. Chris Carson ran in the two-point conversion, reducing Dallas’ lead to 24-22 with 1:18 left. Seattle then attempted an unusual onside drop kick, but Cole Beasley secured it and allowed the Cowboys to run out the clock. 

This game belongs on the countdown because it represented the first postseason breakthrough for the Prescott-and-Elliott core. Dallas had developed a young roster capable of winning through defense, rushing efficiency and quarterback toughness. Prescott’s fearless third-down run became the lasting image of a victory that gave the group credibility and renewed belief that it could compete deep into January.

Interesting Facts About the Game

Elliott accumulated 169 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches, including 137 rushing yards against a Seattle defence built to make opponents play physically. 

Countdown to kickoff 

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