Cowboys vs Lions Week 17: What Detroit Loss, Dallas Win Mean for NFL Playoff Race
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-point conversion play against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won 20-19. Decker caught a pass for the score on the play, but the score was annulled because he did not check in as an eligible receiver with officials prior to the play. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)” src=”https://media.bleacherreport.com/image/upload/w_40,h_27,c_fill/v1704001436/iderh9506ofje4nqz3gu.jpg” itemprop=”contentUrl”/>
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Was Taylor Decker eligible?
It will forever be one of life’s great unsolved mysteries, along with why Easter Island has giant stone heads all over the place, who framed Roger Rabbit and why in the year 2023 we still can’t invent cereal that stays crispy in milk.
Discover the controversial call that handed the Dallas Cowboys a one-point win, impacting the playoffs in the NFC. Both teams are 11-5 and in the playoffs, bringing us closer to the postseason brackets.
So, let’s all take a breath and examine what this game means for the Lions and Cowboys and what the playoff situation looks like headed into what should be a wild Sunday slate.
The Lions Lost a Game They Could Have Won, But All Is Not Lost
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Cooper Neill/Getty Images
For the Detroit Lions, Saturday’s loss was a gut-punch. Not only did the Lions drive the field for a late touchdown that could have tied the game, but when offensive tackle Taylor Decker caught a two-point conversion, it appeared that the Lions were going to end the Cowboys’ home winning streak and keep their chances of being the NFC’s No. 1 seed alive.
However, things took a turn, and it now appears the Lions will have to hope the third seed in the NFC is. Barring some serious weirdness this week and next, that’s the position the NFC North champions will be in as they head into the postseason.
The game was the Lions’ season in a nutshell—for better or worse. Detroit ran the ball well behind one of the league’s best offensive lines. Jared Goff was great on the final drive but inconsistent overall, throwing a pair of bad interceptions. Campbell’s aggressiveness was both a blessing and curse for Detroit.
Detroit’s defense allowed only 20 points to a Dallas offense that has been a juggernaut at home, though, and the team’s postseason hopes hinge largely on how well that sometimes shaky defense holds up.
