ARLINGTON, Texas – In the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ playoff matchup against the 49ers, Dallas converted one of the most difficult and exciting plays in football: a fake punt. Unfortunately, almost all of the excitement was negated by the confusion that immediately followed the next play.
On fourth-and-five with 14 minutes remaining in the game, punter Bryan Anger took the snap but then threw the ball to gunner and special teams captain CJ Goodwin, catching the 49ers off guard and converting a first attempt. Anger said the play had been practiced all season.
“We hadn’t really needed it yet, so we didn’t want to show it,” Anger said after the game. “They gave us the right look and we made it happen.”
But, after the conversion was made, special teams coordinator John Fassel could be seen insisting that the punt unit stay on the field. Unfortunately, whatever the team planned to do with that unit never materialized. After wasting most of the clock, the offensive players entered the field and the Cowboys were ultimately called for delaying the game.
The 49ers wouldn’t have been allowed to supplant their defense if the Cowboys had executed what they originally intended to do with their special teams unit.
They can’t replace [en ese escenario] since we don’t replace anyone off the field,” Anger tried to explain after the game. “The umpires stood on the ball and we should have made the play.”
Anger called the mix-up “a bit unfortunate.” He did not say what play they intended to make.
“We’ll run it later, probably,” Anger said, even though there are no games left in the season. “It would have been good.”
As if that wasn’t unexpected enough from a kicker, Anger also kicked a ball so high it hit the scoreboard at AT&T Stadium. By rule, the play was null and Anger kicked the ball again.
