By Colton Pouncy, Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf
What the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions’ Saturday night clash lacked in scoring, it made up for in momentum shifts, dramatic two-point conversion attempts and the pomp and circumstance of a Ring of Honor induction.
The Cowboys snapped a two-game losing streak with a 20-19 win over the Lions at AT&T Stadium that saw Detroit come up empty on three attempts to convert a two-point play in the final minute of the contest.
Trailing 20-13, the Lions marched 75 yards in 1:18 to get into the end zone on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown. After appearing to take the lead on a two-point conversion pass from Goff to offensive lineman Taylor Decker, the Lions were flagged for illegal touching. It was ruled that Decker failed to report as an eligible receiver before the play, and the points were wiped off the scoreboard. On Detroit’s second two-point attempt, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons drew an offsides penalty that erased an interception. The third two-point attempt failed as Goff’s pass to James Mitchell fell incomplete.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said in the postgame news conference that the officials told him the reason that Decker wasn’t eligible on the successful two-point conversion that was nullified by penalty is that two players can’t report as eligible.
According to NFL Rule 5, Section 3, Article 1, there is no limit to the number of players who can report as eligible on a given play.
When asked why the illegal touching penalty was called on the first try, referee Brad Allen said Decker didn’t report to him.
“On this particular play, number 70 (Dan Skipper), who had reported during the game a couple times, reported to me as eligible. Then he lined up at the tackle position. So, actually he didn’t have to report at all. Number 68 (Decker), who ended up going downfield and touching the pass, did not report. Therefore, he is an ineligible touching a pass that goes beyond the line, which makes it a foul,” Allen said, per a pool report. “The issue is, number 70 did report, number 68 did not.”
Allen also addressed the second flag thrown on that play.
“Because number 70 reported as eligible and he was covered up on the line of scrimmage, that makes it an illegal formation. So, number 70 is in an illegal position because he is covered up by rule, and number 68 catches the pass, which is also illegal.”
After Detroit’s third two-point try came up short, Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb sealed the win by recovering the ensuing onside kick.
The final play was a button on a historic performance for Lamb, who broke the franchise record for the most receiving yards in a single season and recorded the first 200-yard receiving game of his career. The 24-year-old has 1,651 receiving yards through 16 games this season after tallying 227 yards versus Detroit.
Lamb waltzed into the end zone for the first of Dallas’ two touchdowns on a 92-yard reception that unexpectedly blossomed from Dak Prescott’s hand after it appeared the Cowboys quarterback would be taken down in the end zone. Prescott escaped Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes to avoid the safety, then zipped the longest pass play for a touchdown in the NFL this season. It was the second longest pass play in Dallas franchise history, just shy of a 95-yard toss from 1966.
The Cowboys pulled off the thrilling escape in front of former coach Jimmy Johnson, who was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at halftime.
What are the players saying?
Should the Lions have gone for it, again?
That one’s going to sting for a while. The Lions had a chance to win the game, but got flagged for an illegal touching penalty on a two-point conversion pass from Goff to Decker, one that would’ve given the Lions a lead late in the game. On the next play, the Cowboys were flagged for offsides, giving the Lions a third and final look. At that point, maybe the Lions should’ve kicked the extra point. But Campbell went for it again and a pass from Goff to Mitchell was short and incomplete. That was your ballgame. Campbell looked visibly frustrated by the illegal touching call. You knew he’d have some postgame comments about it. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer
How Detroit stacked up
The Lions were eager to see how they stacked up against one of the NFC’s better teams. Turns out, pretty well, despite the loss. They held the Cowboys below their home scoring average by nearly 20 points. They took the Cowboys down to the wire, in Dallas, where the team had won 15 in a row.
There are no moral victories, but if you were looking to see the Lions play on the level of an NFC contender, they did that tonight. Of course, there will be much to discuss re: coaching decisions, playcalling, etc. But overall, the Lions hung with the Cowboys. At the very least, it should give them confidence heading into January. — Pouncy
Cowboys will finish regular season undefeated at home
It took a wild final minute, but the Cowboys will finish the regular season undefeated at home. They can give some thanks to the Lions for deciding to go for two on three different occasions following their final touchdown. In the end, the Cowboys found a way to end their two-game losing streak. It would be entertaining to see these two play again next month. — Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer
Lamb’s big day
There was no bigger star Saturday night than Lamb. The Pro Bowl wide receiver had a career-game with 13 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown. In the process, he set franchise single-season records for receptions and receiving yards. Both records were previously held by Michael Irvin, who was in attendance.
After Lamb wasn’t targeted in the second and third quarters last week at Miami, it was clear that he was going to be targeted early and often. — Machota
Ebbs and flows in Dallas
The Cowboys defense had a roller coaster evening, with highest of highs and a few troubling lows. The high points were the turnovers, namely the highlight-reel interceptions by Jourdan Lewis and Donovan Wilson. Wilson’s interception, in particular, was a huge play in a clutch moment that had the potential to end the game.
However, after some questionable playcalling on offense, the Lions had enough clock to work with for one last gasp. The Cowboys defense got worked, with Goff methodically driving them down the field for a touchdown. — Saad Yousuf, Cowboys beat writer
Highlight of the game
Required reading
(Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
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