Even though the entire game was never close, Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys loss came down to a handful of critical moments.
Well, that was awful. For the third straight time this season, the Cowboys got blown out at home. They’re now 0-4 in AT&T Stadium in the calendar year after going undefeated during the 2023 regular season. The Lions won 47-9, but things were pretty much over before the second quarter was even halfway done. These five plays were a big part of how that happened.
CeeDee Lamb gets his endzone jump ball, can’t make the catch
Through five games this year, the Cowboys offense has been consistent about one thing: they move the ball well between the 20’s but fizzle out in the red zone. That happened again in this game, but it’s unsustainable against a Lions offense that can score the way they did on Sunday.
The Cowboys started with the ball and quickly went down the field, with Dak Prescott throwing on all but two plays on the drive. On second-and-long just inside the red zone, Prescott launched a jump ball to CeeDee Lamb in the back corner of the endzone. Lamb was closely guarded by Carlton Davis, and the receiver was unable to rise up and go for the ball.
Just a week ago, lip-readers around the world united to uncover that Lamb had asked Prescott for a jump ball on the endzone interception Prescott threw. On the opening drive this week, Prescott delivered said jump ball, but Lamb was unable to beat his man and go up big at the catch point. Instead of getting a touchdown – or at least drawing a pass interference penalty – the Cowboys were set up with third and long, which led to them settling for a field goal.
Tim Patrick bullies Amani Oruwariye for huge catch
It’s hard to imagine in retrospect after giving up 47 points, but the Dallas defense was very close to forcing a three-and-out to start this game. After the Cowboys went up 3-0, Detroit got the ball. A good run was followed by an incomplete pass, setting up third and five.
That’s when Jared Goff, who had all day long to throw, launched a prayer to Tim Patrick. Amani Oruwariye, a former Lions cornerback, was in coverage on Patrick and got outmuscled in coverage. Patrick skied up for the ball, perhaps showing Lamb how it’s done, and came down with the ball for a 42-yard gain.
Not only was this a huge, explosive play, but it extended the Lions’ opening drive. If the Cowboys get any pass rush, or Oruwariye breaks up the pass, the Lions are three-and-out and punting the ball away. Instead, they got a fresh set of downs just outside the red zone and, two plays later, celebrated in the endzone.
Dak Prescott gets picked in the endzone
Following the Lions’ touchdown drive, Dallas trailed 7-3. They came out on offense again and replicated the same success they had on the first drive, with Prescott quickly driving them down the field. They reached a third down inside the 10-yard line when calamity struck.
As Prescott dropped back to pass, he had Lamb running a corner route and Jalen Tolbert floating into the flat. Prescott looked Tolbert’s way and, when Brian Branch started to come down on Tolbert, he fired the ball to Lamb in the corner of the endzone. Branch then showed off his elite change of direction and managed to pick off the ball, ending yet another red zone trip for the Cowboys.
There was plenty to criticize on this play: the call, the throw, the lack of effort from Lamb to at least knock the ball down. It was a perfect encapsulation of how disjointed this offense has been in the red zone, and it cost them points in a game where they’d need every point they could get.
Jake Ferguson can’t haul in big pass
The red zone interception only resulted in a field goal, and the Cowboys were still in the game with a 10-3 deficit. All they needed to do was score a touchdown and things would be even again.
On second down of their next possession, Dallas ran a play-action bootleg concept with CeeDee Lamb designed to come open in the flat. As Prescott rolled out to his right, the defender easily picked up Lamb, and a free rusher was coming in Prescott’s face with nobody open. Prescott then launched the ball across his body and 20 yards downfield towards Jake Ferguson, who actually got his hands on the ball but couldn’t secure it through contact.
Officially this play was recorded as a drop for Ferguson, though it would have been a difficult catch to make. Still, it’s the kind of play they needed, and Prescott did well to deliver the ball in a tough spot. If Ferguson makes the catch, it’s a first down and they flip the field. As it turned out, Dallas came up short on the next play, third down, and had to punt the ball.
Lions dial up trick play that breaks big
That punt carried with it the feeling that the Cowboys were getting knee deep into the danger zone. One more score from the Lions and things could very well be over before halftime even hit.
Two quick plays gained a first down for the Lions right around midfield. That’s when offensive coordinator Ben Johnson delivered a knockout punch trick play, calling for a double-reverse flea-flicker than saw Goff hit Sam LaPorta wide open down the sideline for a 52-yard touchdown.
With that, the Lions went up 17-3 and completely broke any last remaining shred of confidence the Cowboys may have had. Dallas would net three yards on their final three drives before halftime while Detroit scored 10 more points before heading to the locker room. This trick play was the shot that broke the levee, and everything afterwards was just window dressing.
