The Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions very controversially in Dallas on Saturday, December 30th. The Lions went into this game trying to extend a two-game win streak after a big win against the Minnesota Vikings on Week 16 while the Cowboys were looking to bounce back after a Christmas Eve loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The first half of the game ended 7-3 to the Cowboys with both scores coming in the first quarter, the Lions took the lead early field goal from Michael Badgley but the Cowboys responded with a fantastic 92-yard touchdown from Cee Dee Lamb who added on another impressive performance to his incredible season with 13 receptions, 227 receiving yards, 5 rushing yards, and the touchdown. The 3rd quarter of the game ended tied at 10 after David Montgomery earned his 12th touchdown of the season with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. The Cowboys’ kicker Brandon Aubrey tied the game at 10 with less than a minute left to make his 35th field goal of the season in 35 attempts. Brandin Cooks gave the Cowboys the lead with an 8-yard reception touchdown in the middle of the 4th quarter and another Brandon Aubrey field goal after the Lions led 13-10 through another Michael Badgley field goal to make the score 20-13.
The game got intense at the end when Amon-Ra St. Brown was found in the back of the endzone with 23 seconds to go in the game. Lions head coach Dan Campbell was aggressive and went for a 2-point conversion in hopes of just winning the game rather than go to overtime. Jared Goff found offensive lineman, Taylor Decker in the endzone for the conversion, but was then flagged for illegal touching after the referees said he did not report as eligible. After 2 more attempts, Goff threw an incomplete pass which officially ended the game.
“The explanation was 70 [offensive tackle Dan Skipper] reported. Two people can’t report. I don’t want to talk about it. I explained everything pregame to a T. 70 reported. 68 didn’t. We threw it to 68. That was the explanation,” said a furious Dan Campbell after the game. The Lions will look to bounce back next week against the Vikings as the Cowboys will travel to FedEx Field to take on the Washington Commanders.
