Dallas Cowboys Down Detroit Lions With Second-Half Surge
The Detroit Lions failed to clinch a playoff spot on Monday night, losing to the NFC-leading Dallas Cowboys 42-21 on the road.
The Detroit Lions will need to wait until next week to try to clinch a playoff spot after losing to the Dallas Cowboys 42-21 on Monday Night Football.
The Cowboys ran right down the field on the first drive of the game, a 21-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Brice Butler capping off a nine-play, 66-yard drive and giving the Cowboys the lead. The Lions responded immediately, Zach Zenner picking up four first downs on a nine-play, 75-yard drive before tying the game with a seven-yard touchdown run.
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On the Cowboys’ next drive, Ezekiel Elliott scampered for 55 yards to give Dallas the lead again, but on the Lions’ next drive, Detroit responded again, Matthew Stafford sneaking in from a yard out on fourth and goal to finish an 11-play, 58-yard drive, tying the score at 14. After making a stop on defense, the Lions took their first lead of the game, 21-14, on a five-yard run by Zenner. As the half ended, however, the Cowboys launched a six-play, 51-yard drive, scoring on a 25-yard pass from Prescott to Dez Bryant to tie the game once more, 21-21, going into halftime.
The Lions opened the second half with the ball, but an interception by Stafford gave the Cowboys a short field, which they made the most of as Elliott scored on a one-yard run to give Dallas a 28-21 lead. After a Detroit punt, a 10-yard touchdown pass on a trick play from Bryant to Jason Witten finished off a seven-play, 95-yard drive and doubled Dallas’ lead.
The Lions offense stalled out in Dallas territory on their next drive, failing to score again after Matt Prater missed a 47-yard field goal. The Cowboys drove down the field once again, Bryant scoring his third touchdown of the game on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to increase the Dallas lead to 42-21 early in the fourth quarter. The Detroit offense continued to struggle, Stafford fumbling in the Cowboys’ redzone late in the fourth to end the Lions’ final scoring threat as Dallas cruised to a 42-21 win.