Cowboys-Niners Controversy Highlights “Wild” NFL Weekend

In a weekend full of blowouts, the match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers lived up the hype, thanks in major part to a series of bizarre events over the game's final 9:48 of San Fran's 23-17 victory.

It looked like the 49ers were on their way to an easy victory. They were up 23-10, and just needed to put together a time consuming drive in the fourth quarter and it would be all over. The Cowboys would have egg all over their face. Stephen A. Smith would roast the Cowboys. Skip Bayless would cry his eyes out. And Jerry Jones would be peppered with questions about Mike McCarthy's job security.

All of that would happen, but from a far different result.

Because the 49ers tried to give the game away. On second and 10 on their own 44-yard line, Jimmy Garapolo rolled right and tossed a huge interception that was brought back to the Niners' 25-yard line. Five plays later the Cowboys turned the gaff into points when Dak Prescott dashed into the end zone for a touchdown that cut the San Francisco lead to just six points.

Later in the quarter, the 49ers came so close to ending the game when Deebo Samuel ran up the right sideline for a 9-1/2 yard game, but fell just short of the first down marker. After much delay as the officials had to review and measure the ball twice, the 49ers faced a fourth and inches with 0:40 left. However a penalty was called on the 49ers backing them up five yards, and forcing a punt.

Dallas got the ball back, and were moving the football rather effectively, until Dak Prescott decided to run the football up the middle of the field with 14 seconds left and no timeouts. As he slid to the Niner's 20-yard line, Prescott failed to hand the ball back to the referee, creating a jumble at the line of scrimmage as the referee collided with Prescott and the center in order to spot the ball. The clock ran out, the game was over.

It created quiet the stir on social media.

After the ending, Cowboys fans were seen throwing garbage onto the field in the direction of the referees and players. When asked about the fans tossing stuff at the refs, Prescott said, "credit to them."

Meanwhile, a quick recap of the other contests:

CHIEFS 42 - STEELERS 21: Likely quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's final game as Steelers quarterback. After T.J. Watt's fumble recovery for a touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead, this was no contest. Patrick Mahomes threw for 304 yards and five touchdowns as the Chiefs rolled to a 42-21 win. If anything this game will bring into question why the NFL expanded the playoffs in the first place.

BUCCANEERS 31 - EAGLES 15: Like Chiefs-Steelers, this was no contest. The defending Super Bowl Champions did away with Eagles fairly easily. Tom Brady threw for 271-yards and two scores as the Bucs built a 31-0 lead through three quarters. Jalen Hurts was ineffective for the Eagles, tossing two interceptions, and the Eagles couldn't get anything going against a healthy Bucs defense.

BILLS 47 - PATRIOTS 17: Speaking of Tom Brady, perhaps the Patriots wished Brady was still playing for them. The Patriots were destroyed by the Buffalo Bills 47-17 on Saturday night. This game was over fast as Josh Allen led two quick scoring drives in the first quarter as the Bills built a 14-0 lead. Allen would throw for five touchdowns, setting a Bills playoff record. Devin Singletary had a big night on the ground vs. the Pats, rushing for 81-yards and two scores.

BENGALS 26 - RAIDERS 19:  And congrats to the Bengals, who won their first playoff game in 31-years by beating the Las Vegas Raiders 26-19 to open Wild Card weekend. It was not an exciting game, but it will be best remembered for another controversial moment when the referees blew a whistle early as Joe Burrow threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd. The whistle should have signaled a 'dead-ball,' but the refs let the touchdown pass stand.

The Rams and Cardinals play on Monday night.

Funniest Moment of the weekend: In the middle of the Bucs-Eagles game, Troy Aikman said what most of us were thinking, he would have loved to have called the Cowboys-Niners game.

Divisional Playoff Schedule:

Saturday, January 22

Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans - 4:30 p.m. - CBS.

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers - 8:15 p.m. - FOX.

Sunday, January 23

Rams/Cardinals winner @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 3:00 - NBC.

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs - 6:30 - CBS.