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todd archer
Detroit–Since last month, dallas cowboys They bring with them the burden of losing a teammate and the joy of being in the playoff race.
Thursday night, the Cowboys lost 44-30 detroit lions It was their first performance at Ford Field since the death of Marshon Neyland and their first in more than a month, dropping them to 6-6-1 on the season and giving them a tough time making the postseason.
“I think people are angry right now,” the quarterback dak prescott Said. “I don’t think it’s a frustrating moment like, oh, hands up, we’re done. No. No. Not at all. I think you’ll get a team that’s angry, especially when we talk about a team that has kind of changed since the bye week. This is the first time this group has gone through that to some extent. So hopefully it rubs people off the right path, we use it as fuel, and I know, Starting with myself, I will make sure we have a good week of preparation for next week.”
According to ESPN Analytics, the Cowboys’ playoff chances dropped 8% with the loss. Will lose head-to-head tiebreaker against Cowboys Chicago Bears, carolina panthers And lion.
His remaining four opponents include three — minnesota vikings (14 December), Washington Commanders (25 December) and New York Giants (January 3 or 4) — with a losing record. they play los angeles chargers (8-4) on December 21.
Thursday’s game was the fourth in an 18-day period for the Cowboys, following a win over las vegas raiders, philadelphia eagles And kansas city chiefs In three games since receiving the defensive tackle quinnan williams At the trade deadline.
“Really proud of the group,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “Four games, [18] For many days, fought with his donkey, proud of him. We knew it was going to take some things tonight – the ability to take care of the football and take it away, and we didn’t do a good job of that. Then we needed to win in the trenches, and we really didn’t do that.”
The Cowboys lost the turnover battle 3–0, with the Lions turning in 14 points with two interceptions and a fumble. They averaged only 3.8 yards per rush, with Prescott having the longest run of the night (12 yards), and allowed four rushing touchdowns, including three byes. Jahmir Gibbs,
“It was an important game for both teams and they brought the best out of us,” Schottenheimer said.
Prescott was pressured 20 times, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and was sacked five times. The Cowboys also had some costly, if questionable, offensive pass interference penalties.
Despite all this, the Cowboys narrowed the margin to a one-score game after losing the Pro Bowl wide receiver twice in the fourth quarter cd lamb For a blow in the third quarter. Both times, the Cowboys’ defense allowed touchdowns on the ensuing drives,
“Supplemental football just wasn’t what it was for the last several weeks,” Schottenheimer said.
If the Eagles’ decline continues, perhaps their best chance to make the playoffs is to win the NFC East.
“I don’t know if I can say that we control our own destiny,” Prescott said. “First of all, it’s not an exaggeration to say this. Pretty sure if we had won, our record would have been quite good, with only five losses and one tie.
“Right now I’m on 6-6-1 [four] Now left, yes, I’m sure, especially the way some of the divisions have shaped up, North, West, we will need some things for ourselves. I don’t think it’s under our control at this point. But what we can control is how we approach the game. I think it’s about the pride and love you have for the game, the teammates, the organization, having the opportunity to play this game. That will be my message to the players, and I think if we do that, we’ll still give ourselves a chance.”
