Barham, Bell, Bullish: Good, Bad, Ugly from Cowboys' loss to B'more

The Dallas Cowboys faced a tough 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in a game that could have gone either way. The results were familiar for the team, who once again found a new way to lose. Despite a few promising elements, the Cowboys ultimately made too many mistakes that led to their defeat.

On the positive side, rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham had a standout performance that could mark the beginning of a breakout season. Barham made significant contributions in the fourth quarter, making key plays that kept the Cowboys in contention. In the first quarter, he played a crucial role in a fourth-and-1 stop against the Ravens' running back Derrick Henry.

Later, in the fourth quarter, Barham made two more significant run stops, preventing the Ravens from scoring points and helping the Cowboys maintain a chance to win.

However, the game also showcased some glaring flaws for the Cowboys. Second-year backup safety Markquese Bell seemed to be a liability as he continued to face penalties. Bell was flagged twice for pass interference, which directly contributed to the Ravens' offensive successes. In the first penalty, Bell's deep misplay resulted in a 49-yard infraction that allowed the Ravens to score a touchdown.

Later, in a critical moment, Bell's late-game interference gave the Ravens another set of downs, leading to their subsequent touchdown and eventual victory.

The game's most glaring mistake came from the Cowboys' final offensive sequence. With just 28 seconds left on the clock, the Cowboys faced a 1st-and-goal at the two-yard line. In a moment that could have secured a crucial win, head coach Brian Schottenheimer opted to throw the ball instead of running. This decision proved disastrous as Dak Prescott's pass was incomplete.

Following a false start penalty by Luke Schoonmaker, which extended the play, the Cowboys faced a challenging third down. Schottenheimer's choice to throw again instead of trying to gain yards proved costly. Instead of being bullish and pushing for a win in the final moments, the Cowboys chose to play it safe and play for a field goal, costing them the game.

Schottenheimer defended his decision, stating that he overcoached Prescott to ensure a successful field goal attempt, but the outcome was a clear failure to try and win the game.