Precisely 10 years in the past right now, Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys had their playoff run thwarted after a late fourth-quarter catch was overturned in a recreation that may come to be generally known as “Dez Caught It” or the “No-Catch Recreation.”
The controversial name within the 2014 divisional playoff recreation towards the Green Bay Packers pressured a Dallas turnover on downs with lower than 5 minutes remaining and in the end price the Cowboys their likelihood at a win and a convention championship berth.
Let’s take a stroll down reminiscence lane and break down what occurred on January 11, 2015:
Setting the scene
The Cowboys (12-4) had been dealing with the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers (12-4) at Lambeau Area. Dallas got here into the matchup because the No. 3 seed and NFC East champions, whereas Inexperienced Bay got here in because the No. 2 seed with a first-round bye because the NFC North divisional champions.
It marked the primary time the 2 groups met within the playoffs in 19 years for the reason that 1995 NFC Championship Recreation.
The notorious name
Inexperienced Bay was up by 5 factors within the fourth quarter when Dallas began what could be its remaining drive of the sport.
With 4:42 left on the sport clock on fourth-and-2, quarterback Tony Romo threw a deep left move to Bryant, who seemed to have accomplished the 31-yard catch to place Dallas at Inexperienced Bay’s 1-yard line. Bryant, lined by Packers cornerback Sam Shields, proceeded to achieve the ball over the aim line for a landing.
Picture by David E. Klutho /Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Pictures)
After the officers reviewed the tape, the decision was reversed to an incomplete move after it was decided that Bryant didn’t safe the ball earlier than hitting the bottom and solely regained management after it hit the bottom. Per the foundations on the time, the move didn’t meet the standards for a accomplished catch.
The Cowboys handed the ball again to the Packers with 4:06 to go, and the remaining is historical past. Inexperienced Bay went on to win 26-21 and superior to the convention title recreation, the place it misplaced to Seattle by the same margin, 28-22.
The legacy
The outrage from the decision prompted a social media outcry accompanied by the hashtag #DezCaughtIt, prompting the sport’s now iconic nickname.
The decision additionally impacted the way forward for the finished catch rule, which has since been updated by the NFL.
(Ron Jenkins/Fort Value Star-Telegram/Tribune Information Service through Getty Pictures)
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