Jared Goff delivered an impressive performance by passing for 315 yards and securing three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions achieved a dominant victory over the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 47-9 on Sunday. This defeat marks the fourth straight heavy loss for the Cowboys at home.
The Lions, currently at 4-1, saw David Montgomery contribute significantly with two rushing touchdowns. However, the game took a concerning turn in the third quarter when the Lions lost their key pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, due to a serious injury to his left leg.
Dak Prescott struggled throughout the game, throwing two interceptions, which contributed to what is now recorded as the worst home defeat for the Cowboys since 1988. The Cowboys, now sitting at 3-3, have made history by becoming the first team since 2000 to find themselves trailing by 14 or more points at halftime for four consecutive matches played at home. Remarkably, Dallas’s performance reflects a contrast, with a record of 0-3 at home but 3-0 while playing on the road.
By halftime, Detroit was in control leading 27-6, which pushes the total score of the Cowboys’ halftime deficits at AT&T Stadium to 110-35 since a wild-card playoff loss against Green Bay in January. This recent downfall comes after the Cowboys enjoyed a remarkable 16-game home winning streak, which stands as the second-longest in the organization’s history. Furthermore, the 167 points allowed by Dallas in the past four home games rank as the third-highest in NFL history during such a stretch.
Goff had previously set a remarkable NFL record by going 18 of 18 in completions during the Lions’ victory over Seattle before their bye week. His streak of consecutive completions ultimately reached 19 before it was interrupted when he couldn’t connect with running back Jahmyr Gibbs on the second play of the game.
In a somewhat pointed moment, Lions coach Dan Campbell referenced an incident from last December’s game against the Cowboys, where a critical 2-point conversion pass was nullified by a penalty. At the start of the game, Dan Skipper was reported as eligible, running for a straightforward 5-yard gain by Montgomery. This was the same player who had been noted as eligible in the previous controversial play involving Taylor Decker.
The day saw Decker again declared eligible during a first-and-goal situation from the 2-yard line in the third quarter, but Goff’s pass intended for him fell incomplete.
Facing a Cowboys defense depleted of key players, including the two-time All-Pro Micah Parsons and a starting linebacker and cornerback, Goff finished the day 18 for 25 with a flawless passer rating of 153.8. One standout moment was a 52-yard touchdown reception by Sam LaPorta, achieved through a trick play that left him wide open.
Montgomery’s initial touchdown came from a challenging 16-yard run, marking the moment Detroit took the lead for good at 7-3. Unfortunately, Hutchinson, who started the game as the NFL’s leading sack artist, suffered a severe injury while tackling Prescott, resulting in a cart-off scenario that lasted around 10 minutes. Hutchinson, who entered the match with 6.5 sacks, had his injury echoed by concerned teammates forming a protective circle around him.
On the opposite side, Prescott’s performance was far from his best, completing 17 out of 33 passes without a touchdown, earning him a dismal passer rating of 42.2—the second-lowest of his professional career.
In addition to Hutchinson, the Lions also lost defensive tackle Kyle Peko to a pectoral injury during the first quarter, and he did not return for the remainder of the game.
Looking ahead, the Lions are set to face the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday, while the Cowboys will have a weekend off following this tough matchup.