Cowboys (Sort of) Perfect! Dallas Edges Detroit Lions 20-19 in Wild Finish: Live Game Log

Cowboys (Sort of) Perfect! Dallas Edges Detroit Lions 20-19 in Wild Finish: Live Game Log

ARLINGTON - If you were looking for "perfection'' in the Dallas Cowboys' hosting of the NFC North champion Detroit Lions on Saturday night? You didn't get it over the entirety of Dallas' wildly chaotic 20-19 thriller of a win.

But "perfect'' in terms of Dallas finishing the regular season here at AT&T Stadium with an unbeaten mark of 8-0? Yes, that sort of "perfect'' - along with the halftime induction into the Cowboys Ring of Honor of legendary coach Jimmy Johnson - will have to do.

The Detroit response to a last-second sequence of events that saw the officiating crew get really, really involved as the Lions took three cracks at a 2-point conversion for the win? Lions coach Dan Campbell said it from the sideline, in three crisp words ...

"No (bleeping) way!'' he screamed at the stripes.''

So how did it all go down? Follow along chronologically in our live blog!

Dallas boasts a 15-game home winning streak at AT&T Stadium dating back to last season, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave the Cowboys their last home loss in Week 1 on Sept. 11, 2022. Dallas is 10-5 and just suffered consecutive losses for the first time since Weeks 11 and 12 in 2021 against the Chiefs and Raiders.

Dak and Goff

An important task tonight? Run-stopping, so up from the Cowboys practice squad come defensive tackle Carl Davis and linebacker Buddy Johnson for this one.

Under the tutelage of former Cowboys tight end Dan Campbell, the Lions have locked up their first-ever NFC North division title, and first division crown since 1993 when they were a part of the old NFC Central. Detroit has also reached a double-digit win total for just the third time since 1995.

Both teams have locked up postseason berths and hope to have a good showing in the penultimate game on the 2023 schedule.

FIRST LOOK Inside AT&T Stadium: Ring of Honor Awaits Jimmy

Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb needs three catches to break Hall of Famer and former Cowboys great Michael Irvin's team record of 111 catches in a season. Currently sitting at 109, Lamb leads the league. He's second in yards with a career-best 1,424 and tied for fourth with nine touchdowns. Lamb can also be the first Cowboys receiver with a touchdown in eight consecutive games.

With a win, Dallas could match its longest winning streak over Detroit with six in a row, including playoff wins. The previous stretch occurred from 1963-1977. For Detroit, a victory would mean they won't register consecutive losses in a season for the first time since 1972.

Jerry Jones had finally opened up the Cowboys' celebrated Ring of Honor to former coach Jimmy Johnson, and ESPN will televise the ceremony at halftime.

Live game updates will appear here after kickoff...

The Lions will get the ball first to start the game.

FIRST QUARTER: Cowboys 7, Lions 3

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.

Montgomery almost fumbles the handoff and is stuffed at the LOS for no gain. Goff then passes short right to Reynolds but it's incomplete. On 3rd and 10 from the DET 25, Goff completes to Raymond for 11 and a first down.

Goff completes deep down the middle to St. Brown for 23 to the DAL 41.

Montgomery carries for seven off right guard, then Montgomery carries again off right guard for no gain.

TIMEOUT DAL (#1) at 11:53

Montgomery carries up the middle for 11 and a first down to the DAL 23.

Goff passes incomplete in the left flat to Gibbs, who dropped the pass, then Goff throws incomplete to LaPorta on the right side - batted down at the line by Kearse. On 3rd and 10 from the DAL 23, Goff passes short left to Gibbs for no gain. Penalty on DET-J.Jackson, Illegal Block Above the Waist, declined.

Field Goal Lions: Badgley is good from 31 for a 3-0 lead over the Cowboys with 10:46 left in the first quarter. The drive goes 52 yards in 11 plays and takes 4:14 off the clock.

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.

Dak finds Ferguson for eight, the Pollard carries off left end for a loss of two, tackled by Hutchinson and Anzalone. On 3rd and 4 from the DAL 33, Dak connects with Lamb for 31 yards to the DET 38. 

Dak completes to Hendershot for six, then Prescott throws incomplete to Cooks deep in the end zone, Dak overthrew him by five yards. 

INTERCEPTION LIONS: On 3rd and 4 from the DET 32, Dak throws to the left sideline for Lamb, and its INTERCEPTED by Melifonwu at the DET 19 and returned 24 yards to the DET 43. 

Gibbs runs up the middle for two, then Goff connects with St. Brown for 13 and a first down.

Williams carries off right end for six, then Gibbs gets stuffed in the backfield for a loss of four, tackled by Micah Parsons. On 3rd and 8 from the DAL 40, Goff is sacked for a loss of seven by Dorance Armstrong. The punt goes 36 yards to the DAL 11, fair caught by Turpin.

Pollard carries off right guard for a loss of three, then Dak passes incomplete to Ferguson. 

TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS: On 3rd and 13 from the DAL 8, Dak scrambles and hits Lamb for 92 yards and a 7-3 lead over the Lions with 3:26 left in the first quarter. 

OFF-SCRIPT WOW! #Dak to Lamb … 92-yard TD toss! #cowboys pic.twitter.com/HsyCl9xf5g

— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) December 31, 2023

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback. 

Montgomery runs up the middle for five, then PENALTY on DET-G.Glasgow, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DET 30 - No Play. On 2nd and 10 Goff hits LaPorta for eight. On 3rd and 2 from the DET 25, Montgomery gets shut down in the backfield for a loss of two by Dante Fowler. The punt goes 70 yards into the end zone for a touchback.

PENALTY on DAL-J.Ferguson, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 20 - No Play. Dak completes to Pollard for no gain, then Dak throws incomplete to Ferguson. On 3rd and 15 from the DAL 15, Pollard runs off left end for no gain.

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER

SECOND QUARTER: Cowboys 7, Lions 3

The punt goes 50 yards to the DET 35, Raymond returns it for seven to the DET 42.

Goff passes deep down the left sideline for St. Brown for 20 to the DAL 38. 

INTERCEPTION COWBOYS: On 1st and 10 from the DAL 38, Goff passes for a screen in the left flat and it's INTERCEPTED by Jourdan Lewis at the DAL 44. First down, Cowboys.

With THAT interception, Jourdan Lewis recorded his first interception of the season and his first interception since Oct. 23, 2022 against ... the Detroit Lions.

Dak passes deep down the left side for Cooks for 21 yards. 

Pollard runs for five, then Dak hits Cooks again for eight and a first down. 

Vaughn runs up the middle for three, then Dak throws incomplete. PENALTY on DET-B.Jones, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at DET 17 - No Play. Pollard carries up the middle for seven.

FUMBLE RECOVERY LIONS: Prescott passes to Lamb at the one who then fumbles the ball into and out of the end zone for a touchback. 

Gibbs runs off right end for eight, then Goff passes incomplete to LaPorta, who dropped the pass. On 3rd and 2, Goff throws incomplete to Williams. In punt formation, Reeves-Maybin passes deep down the right sideline to Dorsey to DAL 41 for 31 yards and a first down.

St. Brown carries off right end for 11 and a first down.

Gibbs runs off right tackle for 11 and another set of downs.

Gibbs runs up the middle for 17 yards to the DAL 2.

Gibbs carries up the middle for a loss of three, then Goff passes incomplete to LaPorta in the end zone, almost picked off by Donovan Wilson. On 3rd and Goal, Gibbs runs off left end out of bounds at the DAL 4 for a gain of one. On 4th and Goal from the DAL 4, Goff passes incomplete to LaPorta. Turnover on downs.

Dak passes short left to Ferguson for eight, the Pollard runs off right guard for eight more and a first down.

Dak passes to the right side for Lamb for six, then Prescott completes to the left sideline for 12 yards and a first down.

Pollard runs up the middle for a gain of one, then Dak get sacked by Hutchinson for a loss of eight. On 3rd and 17 from the DAL 32, PENALTY on DAL, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 32 - No Play. 

-TWO-MINUTE WARNING-

On 3rd and 22 from the DAL 27, Dak completes to Ferguson for nine. 

Timeout #1 by DET at 1:53

Anger punts 49 yards to the DET 15, returned 25 yards by Raymond to the DET 40. 

Goff passes to Williams for six, then Gibbs runs up the middle for three. On 3rd and 1, Gibbs is stuffed behind the line by Lawrence for a loss of four. 

Timeout #2 by DAL at :44

The punt goes 46 yards to the DAL 9, fair caught by Turpin.

Dak hits Lamb for six, then Dak is sacked for a loss of six to tend the half.

HALFTIME

THIRD QUARTER: Cowboys 10, Lions 10

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.

Pollard runs off left guard for three, then PENALTY on DAL-Tyr.Smith, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 28 - No Play. Dak connects with Lamb for four. On 3rd and 8 from the DAL 27, Dak completes to Lamb for nine and a first down.

Pollard runs for a loss of two, then Dak throws incomplete to Pollard, who drops the pass. On 3rd and 12 from the DAL 34, Dak can't complete to Lamb. The punt goes 43 yards to the DET 23, returned three yards by Raymond to the DET 26.

Montgomery runs up the middle for three, then again off right tackle for 22 and a first down.

Montgomery runs off right tackle for four, then carries again off left tackle for four more. On 3rd and 2, Gibbs runs for no gain. On 4th and 2 from the DAL 41, Goff hits LaPorta for four and a first down.

Goff passes complete to LaPorta for seven then Gibbs runs for nine and a fresh set of downs.

Gibbs runs off left end for a loss of three, stuffed behind the line by Parsons. Then Goff connects with Reynolds for 13 for a first down at the DAL 11.

Montgomery runs off right guard for six to the DAL 5, then Montgomery runs again up the middle for two to the DAL 3. 

TOUCHDOWN LIONS: On 3rd and 2 from the DAL 3, Montgomery carries up the middle for the 10-7 lead over the Cowboys. The drive goes 74 yards in 13 plays and takes 7:26 off the clock.

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.

Vaughn gets tackled for a loss of one, then Vaughn carries again for 10. On 3rd and 1, Pollard carries off left guard for 18 and a first down. 

Pollard carries up the middle for a loss of one, then Dak fires deep down the middle of the field for Cooks but he's incomplete. DAL-Tyl.Smith was injured during the play. On 3rd and 11, Dak hits Lamb for a gain of 14 for a first down.

Dak throws incomplete to Cooks, then Lamb drops two consecutive first-down passes. 

FIELD GOAL COWBOYS: Aubrey is good from 51 for a 10-10 tie with the Lions. The drive goes 42 yards in 10 plays and takes 4:11 off the clock. 

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.

Gibbs runs up the middle for 34 yards. PENALTY on DET-J.Mitchell, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 30. 

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER

FOURTH QUARTER: Cowboys 20, Lions 19

Gibbs runs off right tackle for three, then Goff passes deep down the middle to Williams for 63 yards to the DAL 14. 

Gibbs runs off left end for a loss of two, DAL-J.Lewis was injured during the play. Goff passes to the right for St. Brown for nine to the DAL 7. On 3rd and 3, Goff passes incomplete to Gibbs. On 4th and 3 from the DAL 7, PENALTY on DET, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 7 - No Play.

FIELD GOAL LIONS: Badgley is good from 30 for a 13-10 lead over the Cowboys with 12:18 left in the game. The drive goes 63 yards in seven plays and takes 3:05 off the clock. 

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.

Cowboys LG Tyler Smith is QUESTIONABLE to return with a foot injury.

Dak passes short left to Lamb for 11.

Dak finds Lamb again for five, then Pollard runs for no gain. On 3rd and 5 from the DAL 41 Dak finds Cooks for 21 yards to the DET 38 and a first down.

Dak scrambles right for five, then hits Tolbert for nine to the DET 24 for a first down.

Pollard runs off right guard for 10. 

Pollard runs off left guard for six.

TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS: On 2nd and 4 from the DET 8, Dak passes to Cooks in the corner of the end zone for a 17-13 lead over the Lions with 7:20 left in the game. The drive goes 75 yards in nine plays and takes 4:58 off the clock.

.@dak dropping dimes to @brandincooks 🪙

📺: ABC/ESPN & NFL+ → https://t.co/yLMhJNTZjs pic.twitter.com/1FYbJ4bqiU

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 31, 2023

The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.

Goff hits Mitchell for four, then Montgomery runs for one. On 3rd and 5, Goff passes incomplete to St. Brown. The punt goes 43 yards to the DAl 27, fair caught by Turpin.

Pollard runs up the middle for a loss of one, then Dak passes incomplete to no one deep down the right sideline. PENALTY on DET-K.Vildor, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 26 - No Play. 

Pollard runs off right end for no gain, then Dak misses Pollard across the middle. On 3rd and 10 from the DAL 31, Dak connects with Lamb for 22 to the DET 47. 

Lamb carries off left end for five, then Dak throws incomplete to Ferguson. On 3rd and 5 from the DET 42, Dak is sacked for a loss of eight. Dak FUMBLES recovered by Steele at the 50.

Timeout #1 by DET at 2:39

Anger punts 39 yards to the DET 11.

Goff completes across the middle to LaPorta for 15. 

INTERCEPTION COWBOYS: Goff throws to the left sideline for LaPorta, INTERCEPTED by Donovan Wilson at the DET 31. 

Pollard carries off left end for seven, PENALTY on DAL-P.Hendershot, Tripping, 15 yards, enforced at DET 29 - No Play. On 1st and 25 from the DET 44, 

-TWO-MINUTE WARNING-

Dak connects with Lamb for 11, then Prescott passes deep out of bounds incomplete. On 3rd and 14 from the DET 33, Dak hits Ferguson for eight. 

Timeout #3 by DET at 1:45

Timeout #1 by DAL at 1:45

FIELD GOAL COWBOYS: Aubrey is good from 43 for a 20-13 lead over the Lions with 1:41 left in the game. The drive goes four yards in four plays and takes :24 off the clock. 

The kick goes into the end zone for a touchback. 

Goff hits LaPorta for 10.

Goff hits LaPorta for 25.

Goff spikes the ball to stop the clock at 1:03, then Goff hits St. Brown for 14 to the DAL 26. 

Goff spikes the ball again to stop the clock at :49, then Goff passes incomplete to St. Brown. Goff hits LaPorta for 16 to the DAL 11. 

Goff spikes the ball to stop the clock at :27.

TOUCHDOWN LIONS: J.Goff pass short right to A.St. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Timeout #2 by DAL at 00:23. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Goff pass to T.Decker is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. PENALTY on DET-T.Decker, Illegal Touch Pass, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 2 - No Play. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Goff pass is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS. PENALTY on DAL-M.Parsons, Defensive Offside, 4 yards, enforced at DAL 7 - No Play. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Goff pass to J.Mitchell is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS.

The kickoff goes i10 yards to the DET 45, caught by Lamb. 

Dak kneels to end the game. 

END OF GAME