ARLINGTON – The Cowboys were mounting a late fourth-quarter comeback in their 27-17 loss to the Cardinals when it was suddenly stopped.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty didn’t decide Monday’s game, but it came at an inappropriate time.
With the Cowboys trailing by 10, wide receiver George Pickens made a first-down reception to the Cowboys’ 48-yard line. Instead of Pickens tossing the ball to one of the officials or laying the ball down, he pointed the ball into the face of defender Denzel Burke.
It was very subtle, because Pickens also quickly pointed the ball away from Burke.
Cowboys
The officials didn’t like what Pickens did and penalized him. The Cowboys lost 15 yards and had to start the drive at their 33.
“I didn’t see it. I heard it, the (official) told me what he did. I’ll look at it,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “Again, the part of us getting penalized is something that has plagued us a little bit and it moved us back again. I want to look at it again before I comment.”
Pickens didn’t speak with reporters after the game.
The Cowboys were penalized six times for 55 yards.
The Cowboys could have used those 15 yards, but the drive ended when running back Javonte Williams fumbled with 4:34 to play in the game.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.