Sunday 6 January 2019 11:55, UK
Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Dallas Cowboys hung on for a 24-22 Wild Card win over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.
Dallas' defense impressed, keeping Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson and their No 1 rushing attack under control for most of the night to hand the team their first loss in their last four Wild Card games.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, meanwhile, threw for 226 yards and had a one-yard sneak for a score in the fourth quarter to stretch Dallas' lead.
A 53-yard connection between Wilson and Tyler Lockett helped set up set up a quick Seattle touchdown as Wilson found J.D. McKissic from seven yards out. A second successful two-point conversion, following an injury to kicker Sebastian Janikowski, brought the Seahawks back to within two of their hosts.
But, punter Michael Dickson's attempted onside kick was caught by Cole Beasley, sealing a first playoff win for the Cowboys since beating Detroit at the same stage of the 2014 season.
After initially trading in field goals, Dallas went up 10-6 heading into half-time after Prescott found Michael Gallup for a 13-yard score.
Seattle got a double dose of bad news before the break when Janikowski missed a 57-yard field goal on the final play and injured his left thigh.
But, the injury somewhat helped the Seahawks to take the lead, forcing them to go for it on 4th-and-5 from the Dallas 39-yard line in the third quarter, rather than attempt a field goal. Doug Baldwin made an incredible toe-dragging catch on the sideline for 22 yards, setting up a Wilson four-yard touchdown run.
However, fourth-quarter plunges over the goal line by Elliott and Prescott saw Dallas back ahead and hang on for a victory that sets up a divisional round clash with either the New Orleans Saints or Los Angeles Rams next weekend.
On a sour note, Cowboys receiver Allen Hurns appeared to suffer a severe lower left leg injury in the first quarter, when his ankle buckled under a tackle by Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald.
FIRST QUARTER
Seahawks 0-3 Cowboys: Brett Maher 39-yard field goal
SECOND QUARTER
Seahawks 3-3 Cowboys: Sebastian Janikowski 27-yard field goal
Seahawks 6-3 Cowboys: Janikowski 42-yard field goal
Seahawks 6-10 Cowboys: Dak Prescott 11-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gallup (Maher extra point good)
THIRD QUARTER
Seahawks 14-10 Cowboys: Russell Wilson four-yard touchdown run (Mike Davis successful two-point conversion)
FOURTH QUARTER
Seahawks 14-17 Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott one-yard touchdown run (Maher extra point good)
Seahawks 14-24 Cowboys: Prescott one-yard touchdown run (Maher extra point good)
Seahawks 22-24 Cowboys: Wilson seven-yard touchdown pass to J.D. McKissic (Chris Carson successful two-point conversion)
