Cowboys Cool Off on Both Sides in Primetime Loss at Lions

In an effort to continue their momentum of three straight victories and put themselves in better position for the postseason, the Dallas Cowboys stumbled on Thursday night in Detroit, producing ugly performances on both sides in a 44-30 loss. 

The Cowboys were never in sync in the game, failing to capitalize and convert when they needed to early on and throughout. Facing a 2nd and 6 in the red zone on their first defensive possession, the defense made a stand with a play in the backfield by defensive end Donovan Ezeiriuaku and a sack by fellow end James Houston. The offense on their first drive however was limited to a field goal. In fact, the Cowboys turned in field goals on each of their three first half possessions, digging themselves a hole and a 20-9 halftime deficit. Uncharacteristic of how their offense has played this season.

The team also could not convert on their first possession of the second half, and could not stop the Lions on the other side of the ball. The home side went up 27-9 with 14:14 remaining in the third, and though the Cowboys got the game to 30-27, it was Jahmyr Gibbs who scored a touchdown, his second of three on the night, with 7:17 to go in the game to give the Lions a 37-27 lead. On their next possession, the Cowboys again were held to a field goal. Gibbs iced the game with a 13-yard run with 2:19 remaining for the two touchdown cushion. 

Though the Cowboys outgained the Lions in total yardage 417-408 and through the air 326-299, the Lions ran for 109 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per play to the Cowboys’ measly 5.5, getting plays down the field while the Cowboys were limited. The only real impact plays down the field were a Ryan Flournoy touchdown and CeeDee Lamb big gainer. Early in the third quarter while attempting to make a play in the endzone, Lamb banged his head on the turf and was ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion. Lamb was the Cowboys top receiver in the game with six catches for 121 yards, while George Pickens received the attention after Lamb was ruled out. Pickens caught just five passes for 37 yards on the night, a big reason why the Cowboys could not manufacture explosive plays. Flournoy had a career night with nine catches for 115 yards. 

Dak Prescott completed 31/47 passes for 376 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, while Jared Goff completed 25/34 for 309 yards and a touchdown. David Montgomery led the Lions with six carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Gibbs ran 12 times for 43 yards and three touchdowns. The three scores gave Gibbs 47 career rushing touchdowns, which tied Barry Sanders’ for the most touchdowns in a player’s first three seasons. Jameson Williams led the Lions’ receiving corps with 96 yards on seven catches, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 92 yards. Gibbs, ever the all-purpose back, caught seven for 77. 

Defensively for the Cowboys, Houston’s sack on the first defensive possession was the only all game for the unit, while the Lions got five - three from Al-Quandin Muhammad, and one apiece from Jack Campbell and Alim McNeil. Prescott was sacked 20 times in 54 drop backs. The Cowboy line was overmatched, particularly its starting tackles Terence Steele and Nate Thomas. 

The Lions are now 8-5, and sit at third place in a competitive NFC North (Chicago Bears 9-3, Green Bay Packers 8-3-1). The Lions still face a battle to get into the postseason, with the NFC West housing second and third place teams both with nine wins - the Seattle Seahawks at 9-3 and the San Francisco 49ers at 9-4. The Lions finish the season at the Rams, home against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and at the Vikings and Bears. 

The loss for the Cowboys now places them at 6-6-1. The defeat was the first loss since Dec. 18, 2022 at Jacksonville that the Cowboys have lost a game when scoring 30-plus points. Their remaining games are home on Sunday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings, home against the Los Angeles Chargers, at the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day, and at the New York Giants on Jan. 4. They will need to win out just to have a chance. Truthfully, the most challenging of their remaining contests should be the Charger game. Their Week 1 blunder at Philadelphia, tie against the Packers, and Monday Night loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals really were results that they could ill-afford.

They needed Thursday night in a bad way, but failed to play high quality football, turning in a deflating defeat.