NFL Fans Were Bewildered After Dak Prescott Avoided Seemingly Obvious Penalty

On Sunday the Dallas Cowboys were backed up against their own goal line against the Baltimore Ravens in their Week 3 matchup. Dak Prescott dropped back to pass and was swarmed by Ravens defenders. As he was going down in the end zone, Prescott desperately flung the football forward in a last-ditch effort to avoid a safety. The ball was caught by guard Tyler Smith, who was immediately tackled.

While it was somewhat amusing the football world immediately assumed Prescott was not successful and the Cowboys would be flagged, leading to a safety. So when that didn't happen, everybody was surprised. The referees instead penalized Smith for illegal touching and Dallas punted.

The bizarre sequence didn't go unnoticed by NFL fans, who were all confused by Prescott getting away with it.

Controversial play in Dallas, with Dak Prescott's throw being called for illegal touching on guard Tyler Smith rather than intentional grounding (which would have been a safety). Here's the play and the start of the discussion. pic.twitter.com/xXlRR7oKTb
— The Comeback NFL (@TheComebackNFL) September 22, 2024

Confusing play in Dallas. Dak throws a pass from the end zone with no eligible receiver in the area. Guard Tyler Smith catches it. Rather than ineligible receiver and safety, it's called "Illegal touching of the forward pass by the offense." 4th down. I don't get that one at all.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) September 22, 2024

Just learned if you get sacked in the endzone, just toss the ball to a lineman and avoid the safety. #Cowboys
— Donnie 'RightSide' Seymour (@RightSideVP) September 22, 2024

The refs really let Dak Prescott throw a pass to an offensive lineman. Cowboys get to punt. No safety.
— Matt Warren (@MattRichWarren) September 22, 2024

Refs just bailed out the cowboys that shoulda been a safety
— They Know My Name (@Kai_Williams01) September 22, 2024

WHERE IS THE SAFETY?

how is this not intentional grounding??? pic.twitter.com/ZjrkKsMlPz
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 22, 2024

So confused how that’s not a safety for the Cowboys. If that’s the case then you should just always do that if you’re gonna get a safety. Just throw it at your linemen.
— J (FEBU) 🦆 (@Mosesthemessiah) September 22, 2024

Be prepared to see this again because NFL teams are always watching. If the referees are going to let Prescott get away with that quarterbacks will be trained to fling the ball to the nearest lineman. Better to take a flag than lose two points.

It's more likely this was a mistake that will be corrected by someone in the coming days. Not that it'll make the Ravens feel any better about it, win or lose.