Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott returned to the field on Sunday for the first time since Week 1 and led the team to a 24-6 victory against the Detroit Lions. Prescott settled into the game after a frustrating first half to finish the day with 207 yards on 19 completions for a touchdown and no interceptions. The duo of Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott handled the running game, combining for 140 yards, with Elliott scoring two touchdowns. A minus-four-yard run by CeeDee Lamb effectively erased a three-yard attempt by Kavontae Turpin, giving Dallas a total of 139 yards on the ground.
The Cowboys’ two opening drives were both three-and-outs that resulted in a combined net of zero yards, but the defense was able to hold Detroit to a first down and nothing more on the first drive. The Lions went on a 10-play drive that resulted in a 40-yard field goal from Mike Badgley to give Detroit an early lead.
The Cowboys would answer on offense, moving the ball 72 yards on 12 plays to set up a 22-yard field goal from Brett Maher, who also made all three extra-point attempts. Maher has been consistent this year after winning the job in the preseason and returning to a team that released him only two years earlier.
The Lions would add another field goal on the ensuing drive to take a 6-3 lead which held through the end of the second quarter. Dallas moved into the red zone late in the second quarter, but a pass from Prescott to receiver Noah Brown resulted in a fumble recovered by Detroit. Brown flipped 270 degrees in the air, losing the ball in the process.
The Lions received the ball first in the second half but met with an ignited Dallas defense. Lions QB Jared Goff took a shot deep, looking to connect with receiver Josh Reynolds who was covered by corner Trevon Diggs. Diggs cut below the receiver and intercepted the underthrown pass for the first Detroit turnover of the game.
The Cowboys used dink-and-dunk passes and power running to set up the first touchdown of the day, a one-yard body slam from Elliott that gave the Cowboys a 10-6 lead. The Defense then forced another Lions punt after a four-play drive.
A Lions sack on Prescott and a delay of game penalty derailed the Cowboys’ drive and forced yet another Brian Anger punt. The Dallas defense then turned in the biggest play of the game. After driving 72 yards, the Lions were poised to punch in a touchdown and take the lead in the early part of the fourth quarter when running back Jamaal Wilson lost the ball at the Dallas two-yard-line, which was recovered by Dallas’ Demarcus Williams.
The Cowboys’ offense stalled after four plays and punted back to Detroit. Four plays later, Goff threw his second interception of the half. Jourdan Lewis made a diving arm catch that narrowly prevented the ball from touching the turf. The Cowboy’s drive on the turnover saw chunk passes to Brown and Lamb of 10 and 15 yards and was capped by another one-yarder from Elliott.
On the first Lions play, Sam Williams beat the offensive line and swiped the ball from Goff’s hands and directly into his control, rumbling forward to set up the Dallas offense, just as the defensive unit has done through the four wins this season.
The ensuing drive saw Prescott finally connect for a touchdown, his first of the season after getting blanked through three quarters before the injury. Prescott hit tight end Peyton Hendershot for a three-yard score that gave Dallas a 24-6 lead.
The defense wasn’t done, though. On the next drive, Goff dropped back to pass only to be hunted down by linebacker Micah Parsons who forced the ball loose. Dorance Armstrong pounced on the ball to secure the Dallas victory.
The Cowboys are now 5-2 and remain in third in the NFC East behind Philadelphia and New York. The Cowboys will next face the Chicago Bears on October 30.
