Jason Garrett is Squarely to Blame After His Red Zone Playcalling Blew Sunday's Game

The Dallas Cowboys fell just short of mustering a go-ahead drive in the closing minutes of Saturday night's clash against the Minnesota Vikings.

Dak Prescott impressively marched his offense down the field on a drive that started inside his own 10-yard line. For reasons we will never understand, however, Jason Garrett opted to take the pigskin out of his hands and place it firmly in the gut of Ezekiel Elliott, who was bottled up all night by the Vikings defense.

On 2nd and two in the red zone, Dallas called a run and Zeke was stuffed. The next play, another run was called, and Elliott lost three yards, clattering to the ground in embarrassing fashion. After that, the Cowboys failed to convert on a 4th and five, essentially ending the game.

The target of that failed pass? So glad you asked. Also Zeke.

That's right. Rather than call a design for Amari Cooper, Randall Cobb, or Michael Gallup -- who were finding gaping holes in Minnesota's secondary all night -- Dallas' head coach indefensibly called an out route for Elliott.

We normally wouldn't have any qualms with the Cowboys trying to feed Zeke, but Prescott could literally do no wrong last night, especially on that fraught final drive. In fact, we'll go as far as to say that this game marked one of the best performances of Dak's career.

In the end, he finished 26-of-42 for 388 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

The Mississippi State product was unstoppable all night. Whether he was in the pocket, under pressure, or rolling out, the Vikings defense just had no answer. In spite of that, Garrett opted to give the football to Elliott, who looked as sluggish as we've seen him, in crunch time.

The Cowboys needed to gain two yards (twice), and didn't trust their quarterback who threw for nearly 400 yards to do so.

If that doesn't say everything about Garrett's tendency to crumble under pressure, then nothing does.