Jan 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is unable to catch a pass against Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) in the fourth quarter in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field.
Jan 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is unable to catch a pass against Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) in the fourth quarter in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field. REUTERS

The look of exasperation on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Desmond "Dez" Bryant could not be painted after the referee reversed the call that was the turning point of the match. After the game, the 26-year-old soon-to be free agent spent 30 minutes demonstrating to teammates his falling on the catch move and was the last to leave the locker room, still in shock of the turn of events.

The Cowboys were staring at a fourth and 2 with just a little over 4 minutes remaining in the game and coach Jason Garrett decided to go for the Hail Mary. Bryant caught a 31-yard pass in mid-air from quarterback Tony Romo and came stumbling down on their one-yard line. Armed with a final chance to grab back the lead, the team prepared for a 1st and 10 on their own 1-yard line only to be halted by a play challenge. Upon review, the referees overturned the call due to the so-called "Process Rule." Apparently, Bryant did not establish control of the ball while in the process of falling down, a rule which has been slammed by the Cowboys' camp.

"I thought Tony (Romo) made a great throw, Dez made a great catch on the ball," Garrett said via ESPN. "Obviously it was ruled a catch at the outset. It looked like to me he had three feet down. What they describe to us all the time is 'a move common to the game,' and Dez reached out for the goal line like he's done so many times."

Bryant going to the ground. By rule he must hold onto it throughout entire process of contacting the ground. He didn't so it is incomplete.

— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 11, 2015

The unfortunate event granted the Packers the opportunity to win one more game at the expense of the Seattle Seahawks at the NFC Championship Game next week and move on to the biggest game of the season - the Super Bowl. While the controversial play took the spotlight later, the Packers were magnificent in what was comeback win. Garrett took the high road and did not pin the story of the game on the single play but said that they had 60 minutes to deliver but came up short.

Aaron Rodgers did a magnificent job of ensuring the win after the reversal which was a bit anti-climactic but the Packers came away running in quest for its fifth Super Bowl win, the last one coming in 2011. Still, the team has a tall task at hand by coming in as the underdogs to the big playoff game next week. The Seahawks are 7-point favourites in the opening books in sports betting sites in Las Vegas.

Watch the controversial play below:

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