There were plenty of things to complain about and dissect from the Cowboys’ season-opening loss on Sunday night, but one that many are focusing on was Mike McCarthy’s decision to go for it on fourth and three.
Dallas was down 20-17 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the offense had driven from their own 35-yard line to the Rams 11-yard line. A run on third down failed to move the chains, setting up a fourth and three. Conventional football logic says to kick the field goal to at least tie the game, and worry about taking the lead later.