The Colts had just gone ahead 23-20 with 1:37 to play, and Dallas had spent most of the fourth quarter stalling. Dak Prescott needed one snap to change the mood.
Starting at his own 35 after the kickoff, Prescott threw deep down the right sideline to Ryan Flournoy for 46 yards to the Indianapolis 19. Two Colts penalties moved the ball to the 1, and Javonte Williams scored with 1:08 left. Rookie Caleb Downs intercepted Daniel Jones with 35 seconds remaining, and the Cowboys left Lucas Oil Stadium with a 27-23 win.
Prescott completed 21 of 34 passes for 335 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The winning march covered 65 yards in four plays and 29 seconds, and the club's website noted it came without receiver George Pickens, who was scratched with a hamstring injury about an hour and a half before kickoff.
"We talked about a must win, it was a must drive, and we had to have it," Prescott said, according to DallasCowboys.com.
The Associated Press reported that Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen chose to let Williams into the end zone rather than allow Dallas to drain the clock from the 1.
"Yeah, we let them score," Steichen said. "I mean they've got four shots from the 1-yard line so we have a chance to get the ball back. If not, they're bleeding the clock."
Two drives against the clock
The finish was the second time Prescott beat the clock. With 49 seconds left in the first half and Dallas starting at its 25, he hit CeeDee Lamb for 22 yards and then again for a 44-yard touchdown with 21 seconds remaining, a 17-7 halftime lead. He had already found Jake Ferguson for a 10-yard score early in the second quarter.
