Cowboys’ Defense Gets a Stop Late to Claim Saturday Night Football Victory

There should be no debate in anyone’s mind that these two teams are nearly identical talent-wise. This fact was proved as both of them came out and played an extremely close game on Saturday night and while it was the Cowboys who came out with the victory in this one, if they are to play again in the playoffs the game may not have the same result. Even if one penalty goes the Lions' way in this matchup at the end of the game, they would have walked away with this victory instead of Dallas. With this win the Cowboys improve to 11-5 on the season, while the Lions fall to 11-5 on the year. The Cowboys have already clinched a playoff spot but will keep fighting to win their NFC East division. On the other side the Lions have already clinched a playoff spot and their NFC North division but will still hope to get a win as they head back to Detroit to take on the Minnesota Vikings in their last game of the regular season. The Cowboys will also hope to do the same as they travel to Washington D.C. to take on the Commanders next week. Let’s take a look at how Dallas got this win. 

The Detroit Lions would score on their first drive in this one as their offense was able to set up a 41-yard field goal for kicker Michael Badgley and after Badgley made the field goal the score of the game was 3-0 Detroit early. The Dallas Cowboys' first drive on Saturday night would not go as smoothly as quarterback Dak Prescott threw an interception, a pass intended for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, into the hands of Detroit safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. However, the Cowboys would have a great next drive as Prescott connected with Lamb for a 92-yard touchdown, and after kicker Brandon Aubrey made the extra point the score of the game was 7-3 Dallas late in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, the Lions' offense would make their first big mistake of the game as quarterback Jared Goff threw an interception, a pass intended for running back David Montgomery, into the hands of Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis. Unfortunately for the Cowboys their offense would give the ball right back to Dallas as Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor forced a Lamb fumble out of the endzone, resulting in a touchback with the ball for Detroit. With this being the case both teams would soon head to the locker room with the score still being 7-3 Dallas.

Detroit would be the first team to score in the second half as Montgomery ran in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 10-7 Detroit with nearly 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, Detroit would not keep the lead long as Dallas was able to set up a 51-yard field goal for Aubrey on their next drive, and after Aubrey made the field goal the score of the game was all tied up. The Lions would score once again on their next drive as Badgley knocked down a 30-yard field goal to give the Lions a 13-10 lead. Unfortunately for Detroit though Dallas would score a touchdown on their next drive as well to make the score of the game 17-13 as Prescott connected with wide receiver Brandin Cooks for an 8-yard touchdown. Lions’ fans would later think this game was over as Goff threw an interception, a pass intended for tight end Sam LaPorta, into the hands of Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson with nearly only two minutes remaining in the game. Dallas’ offense would be able to score a field goal off of this turnover as their offense set up a 43-yard attempt for Aubrey, which gave Dallas a 20-13 lead. However, if you watched this game last night, you know that the last few minutes were some insanely good football as Goff found wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a touchdown to make the game score 20-19. The Lions would go for a two-point conversion and while at first it was successful, they would have to retry it multiple times due to penalties. On the final attempt, Goff’s pass to tight end James Mitchell was unsuccessful and so it was the Cowboys that came out with a very controversial 20-19 win in the end. 

Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott went twenty-six for thirty-eight on his past attempts in the game, finishing having thrown for 345 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Tony Pollard had sixteen carries for 49 yards. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had a monster game with thirteen receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks also had a receiving touchdown in the game. Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed nineteen of his thirty-four passes in the game, finishing with totals of 271 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Running back David Montgomery had fourteen carries for 65 yards and one rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had six receptions for 90 yards and the Lions only receiving touchdown in the game.