Micah Parsons is not having a good day after the Dallas Cowboys’ most recent defeat.
The two-time Pro Bowl linebacker couldn’t contain his annoyance with the refereeing after the Cowboys lost to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 by a score of 22–20. After the game, Parsons described several of the penalties as “mind-blowing.”
By way of The Athletic’s Jon Machota:
On Sunday, December 24, Parsons remarked, “The things that are getting called and the positions that we get put in, it’s mind-blowing.” All we need to do is learn how to overcome hardship. It’s the world we live in, and I realize a lot of it is bullshit. The star is affixed to our helmet. It is difficult to play defense.
Parsons was probably upset about a roughing the passer call that happened to him during the Dolphins’ touchdown drive at the end of the first half, even though there wasn’t a significant difference in the number of penalties called between the two teams—Dallas was called for six penalties for 38 yards compared to Miami’s five penalties for 33 yards.
Shortly after the quarterback tossed the ball on a crucial 2nd-and-1 play from the Cowboys’ nine-yard line, Parsons pushed Tua Tagovailoa, only pushing him to the ground, but it resulted in a flag being called. The next play saw Tagovailoa toss for a touchdown to Raheem Mostert after the penalty led in an automatic first down at Dallas’ four-yard line.
Micah Parsons Criticizes the Controversial Penalty
During the post-game press conference, Parsons expressed his opinion about that specific play.
Parsons remarked, “(The referee) said my intent was to punish the quarterback.” If all I’m attempting to do is fire him, how am I supposed to punish him? It wasn’t like a surprise strike. Not that I’m getting up from my feet. I didn’t take the initiative. How you manage to make that call is beyond me.
Given that the blow itself wasn’t particularly severe, it’s difficult to refute Parsons’ argument. The Dolphins would have been forced to convert on a crucial third-and-one if the penalty hadn’t been called. In that scenario, the Cowboys would have also had the opportunity to stop Miami, which may
But, with the game on the line and a 20-19 lead, the Cowboys defense did have a chance to shut down the Dolphins’ attack in the closing seconds of the game. As time ran out, Dallas, however, let Miami run 64 yards down the field and make the game-winning field goal.
Mike McCarthy Still Has Faith in the Cowboys In spite of the most recent road loss
This game did not solve the Cowboys’ road problems.
Even though Dallas outperformed themselves the week before in their road 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, they were still defeated, falling to 3-5 on the season away from home.
Mike McCarthy, the head coach, is still optimistic about his team despite their most recent setback.
“It was an enormous game,” McCarthy remarked. That’s what we anticipated. These games are difficult because you always know it will come down to a single move. They also very likely made a few more plays than we did. It was a competitive game. It is evident that in order to do this, we might need to travel. I believe there are many lessons to be learned from this. We have to play better than we did today because we will be road warriors and you have to play above it when you’re on the road.
The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the easier remaining schedules, while the Cowboys fall to 10-5.
Dallas will probably have to travel throughout their postseason run because the Cowboys are down to 10-5 and the Philadelphia Eagles have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NFL with games against the 5-9 New York Giants and 3-12 Arizona Cardinals.
They will want to repeat their impressive performance in Miami by triumphing away from home during the postseason.