Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb left the game with a concussion after making six catches for 121 yards.
Despite Dak Prescott throwing for 376 yards, the Cowboys’ offense committed two turnovers that led to Lions touchdowns.
So much for running the table.
The Dallas Cowboys went to the Motor City and not only saw their hopes for a mad dash to the playoffs likely go up in smoke on Thursday night, they saw the epitome of their season on full display at Ford Field.
Sure, they had a chance against a team nearly as desperate as they were. There was a lot of resilience. Dallas (6-6-1) fought back to make it a three-point game early in the fourth quarter – even without CeeDee Lamb, knocked out of the contest with a concussion to abruptly end his six-catch, 121-yard impact.
There was a lot of Brandon Aubrey, too. Typically. The Cowboys’ MVP special teamer kicked five field goals and became the first player in NFL history to nail three treys of at least 55 yards in a game. Just brilliant. Where would this team be without him?
In the end, though, it turned out to be a big tease. It was so Dallas. The Cowboys were riding a three-game winning streak, including triumphs over the Super Bowl 59 participants, that put them above .500 for the first time all season. Then poof.
What happened?
Too much Amon-Ra St. Brown. Too much Jahmyr Gibbs. Too much heat on Dak Prescott, who gamely threw for 376 yards but was sacked five times and threw two picks.
And on a night when the Cowboys needed George Pickens to step up with Lamb sidelined, the “other” No. 1 receiver went MIA.
St. Brown, on the other hand, was TBD all week (at least publicly) because of an ankle injury. Never mind practice. The gritty Detroit receiver showed up and balled out with a six-catch, 92-yard measure on the stat sheet that was punctuated by his receptions in the clutch and a ton of inspiration.
If any player represents the soul of the Lions (8-5), it has to be St. Brown, who entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2021 and now has two first-team All-Pro selections on his resume. This time, he bounced back from the ankle injury that knocked him out of the Thanksgiving Day loss against Green Bay – just like his team.
The Lions just won an NFL-record-tying 15th consecutive game following a loss.
Now that’s some identity. They can take a hit and rebound.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, just had a game that reflected so much about this roller-coaster season. For all of the reasons for hope under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, the big issue that left them stumbling at 3-5-1 a month ago – suspect defense – turned up again when there was little room for error.
No question, the improved-yet-not-complete unit was put in some terrible positions. Prescott’s first pass after halftime was intercepted as it bounced off Pickens, setting up a quick Lions touchdown. Before that, tight end Jake Ferguson had the ball punched out for a fumble that gave Detroit a short field for a touchdown drive.
On a night the Cowboys needed complementary football to protect the defense (1 sack, 0 takeaways), they blew that equation. Then, by the end, the defense was worn down by the physical Lions, unable to get the key stop that might have, could have…
Well, never mind.
Rather than run it, the Cowboys were likely pushed off the playoff table.
Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell