Recap: Lions comeback attempt falls short in 35-27 loss to Dallas

Game summary

Detroit's fourth-quarter comeback attempt against Dallas fell just short on Sunday at Ford Field, as a penalty and sack killed a potential tying drive with just over to minutes remaining in the Lions' 35-27 loss to the Cowboys.

Final leaders

Passing

DET - Jeff Driskel: 15/26, 209 yds., 2 TD

DAL - Dak Prescott: 29/46, 444 yds., 3 TDs

Rushing

DET - Bo Scarbrough: 14 atts., 55 yds., TD

DAL - Ezekiel Elliott: 16 atts., 45 yds.

Receiving

DET - Marvin Jones: 4 recs., 47 yds.

DAL - Michael Gallup: 9 recs., 148 yds.

Cowboys ice game with first down

Ezekiel Elliott is tackled for no gain on first down.

Timeout #2 Detroit (1:54 4th)

Dallas ices the game with a 23-yard completion to Blake Jarwin.

Timeout #3 Detroit (1:33 4th)

Victory formation.

FINAL: Cowboys 35, Lions 27

Penalties, sacks kill Lions' potential tying drive

Detroit takes over at the 14 after a fair catch on the punt by Marvin Hall.

Ty Johnson runs for 5 yards on first down. Jeff Driskel rolls right and throws up a prayer to Kenny Golladay on second down, which is caught for a 34-yard gain. A face-mask penalty on the Cowboys adds 15 yards, giving the Lions a new set of downs at the Dallas 32.

Kenny Wiggins is downfield illegally on the next play, making it first-and-15 at the 37.

Driskel's first-down throw to Golladay is broken up. Driskel is sacked for a loss of 11 on second down. The Cowboys bring the heat on third down, and Driskel isn't able to get off a clean pass. The Lions will line up to punt with 2:07 left in the game.

Two-minute warning

Cowboys 35, Lions 27 (1:58 4th)

Lions defense gives Driskel and Co. new chance at life

Dallas takes over at its 31, thanks to a 24-yard return by Tony Pollard.

Trey Flowers hammers Dak Prescott as he throws on first down, resulting in an incompletion. Prescott throws complete to Michael Gallup for a gain of 6 on second down. Prescott hits Gallup on a crossing route that ends up in a 22-yard gain and a first down for the Cowboys at Detroit's 41.

Ezekiel Elliott is dropped for a gain of 1 on first down. Randall Cobb can't hang on to a throw from Prescott on second down. Mike Daniels takes Prescott to the turf on third down, forcing the Dallas quarterback to throw the ball away to avoid a sack.

Chris Jones' punt is 

Cowboys 35, Lions 27 (3:44 4th)

Lions draw within a score with 5:49 remaining

Jamal Agnew returns Brett Maher's kick to the 25. He was hurt on the play and helped off the field by Detroit's training staff.

Jeff Driskel opens the drive with a 6-yard run, then takes off again on the next play for a gain of 23. 

Driskel throws complete to Ty Johnson on first down for no gain. He escapes from a closing pocket and gets out a throw to Danny Amendola that's caught for a gain of 21, giving the Lions a first down at the Cowboys 25.

Marvin Jones catches a pass from Driskel over the middle, spins out of a tackle, and gets into the end zone for a Lions touchdown. Detroit is going for 2.

They don't convert.

Cowboys 35, Lions 27 (5:49 4th)

Cowboys throw knockout punch with 11-play touchdown drive

Dak Prescott opens the Dallas drive with a 15-yard completion at the right sideline to Amari Cooper. 

Ezekiel Elliott on the next play is wrapped up for a gain of 2. 

Timeout #1 Detroit (12:32 4th)

Prescott throws complete to Jason Witten for a pickup of 5, bringing up third-and-3 at the 38. Witten makes a tough catch with Rashaan Melvin in airtight coverage to move the sticks, a gain of 11.

Prescott's deep throw to Tavon Austin on the next play is nearly intercepted by Darius Slay, but Austin makes a great effort to force an incompletion.

Timeout #1 Dallas (11:04 4th)

Slay again has a chance at an interception on the next play, but Prescott's throw is placed about an inch above his waiting hands, and Cooper hauls it in for a 16-yard completion.  

Tony Pollard catches a pass on a crossing route and reaches the Detroit 27 for a gain of 8. Ezekiel Elliott moves the chains with a 3-yard run. 

The yardage on a 6-yard completion to Dalton Schultz is supplemented by a 5-yard illegal contact penalty called on Justin Coleman. The Cowboys have a first down at the 19.

Prescott throws complete to Pollard on first down for a gain of 2, but misses on his second-down throw to Elliott, bringing up third-and-8 at the 17. Dallas runs a screen to Elliott that not only moves the sticks, but also moves the scoreboard. The Cowboys have an 18-yard score.

Timeout #2 Dallas (7:56 4th)

The Cowboys' two-point conversion attempt is good.

Cowboys 34, Lions 21 (7:56 4th)

Lions punt in Dallas territory after unorthodox fourth-down conversion

Detroit takes over at the 18 after an 20-yard return by Jamal Agnew.

Bo Scarbrough rushes for a gain of 4 on first down. Jeff Driskel is flushed form the pocket and throws the ball away on second down. Sure-handed Danny Amendola comes through for Driskel on third down, hauling in an 8-yard reception over the middle that gives the Lions a new set of downs at their own 30.

A false start on T.J. Hockenson makes it first-and-15 at the 25.

Driskel keeps and dives forward to the 32 for a 7-yard run on first down. J.D. McKissic catches a screen and nearly makes the line to gain, bringing up third-and-inches. Scarbrough moves the sticks with a very physical 5-yard run up the middle.

Scarbrough's next run goes for only a yard. Driskel again escapes from pressure and is able to manage a 6-yard gain out of what looked to be a doomed play from jump. 

END 3RD: Cowboys 27, Lions 21 

Ty Johnson is stopped on third down for a gain of only 1. The Lions line up to punt, switch into an offensive formation, and get the Cowboys to jump offsides. Nicely done. The Lions have a first down at the Dallas 43. 

Driskel's throw to Kenny Golladay on first down is broken up by Chidoba Awuzie. Driskel on second down throws incomplete to Logan Thomas. Driskel is absolutely leveled by Robert Quinn while letting an incompletion fly to end the drive.

Randall Cobb waives for a fair catch at the 16 on Sam Martin's punt.

Cowboys 27, Lions 21 (13:37 4th)

Cowboys extend lead to 27-21 following Lions touchdown

The Cowboys take over at its 25.

Randall Cobb gets wide open in the middle of the field, catching a pass from Dak Prescott and dashing to the Detroit 42, a gain of 33. 

Ezekiel Elliott rushes for 5 yards on first down. Michael Gallup catches a pass along the sideline and pops out of bounds for a gain of 7. The Cowboys have it first-and-10 at the 30.

Elliott is stopped for a gain of 2 on the next play. Prescott's pass to Jason Witten on second down is caught for a 5-yard gain. Prescott escapes the pocket, outruns some linemen, makes Tavon Wilson miss, and goes out of bounds at the 16. That's a 7-yard gain that'll move the sticks.

Prescott's throw to Amari Cooper in the end zone is overthrown and sails out of bounds. Rashaan Melvin breaks up a second-down throw to Gallup. Prescott overthrows his receiver on third down.

Brett Maher's 33-yard field goal attempt is good.

Cowboys 27, Lions 21 (5:00 3rd)

Lions cut Cowboys lead to 24-21 to open half

Detroit starts the half at its 25.

Jeff Driskel throws a screen to Marvin Jones for a gain of 2. An offsides penalty on DeMarcus Lawrence makes it second-and-3. J.D. McKissic picks up the first down with a 6-yard run.

Bo Scarbrough runs to the 39 for a gain of 1 on first down and goes up the middle for a 6-yard pickup on second down.

Driskel's throw to McKissic on the next play is caught for a gain of 11, giving the Lions another first down at the Dallas 44.

Marvin Jones loses 5 yards on an end-around. Scarbrough gets a yard back on second down. Driskel loads up and throws a 39-yard completion to Marvin Hall, setting up first-and-goal at the 9.

The Cowboys aren't fooled by Driskel's play-action attempt on first down, wrapping him up for a loss of 2. Driskel escapes from a closing pocket on second down and fires complete to Marvin Jones for an 11-yard touchdown pass.

Cowboys 24, Lions 21 (9:15 1st)

Halftime leaders

Passing

DET - Jeff Driskel: 5/10, 51 yds.

DAL - Dak Prescott: 16/25, 274 yds., 2 TD

Rushing

DET - Bo Scarbrough: 8 atts., 38 yds.

DAL - Ezekiel Elliott: 10 atts., 32 yds.

Receiving

DET - J.D. McKissic: 1 rec., 22 yds.

DAL - Michael Gallup: 6 recs., 113 yds.

Hilarity ensues before halftime

Due to the penalty on Rashaan Melvin, plus an unsporstmanlike conduct penalty on A'Shawn Robinson during the PAT, the Cowboys will kick off from Detroit's 35.

DETROIT'S 35.

Brett Maher just squibs it to Kenny Golladay at the 15 with 26 seconds to go in the half. 

A holding penalty on the Lions erases a 25-yard completion to Marvin Jones. The Lions take a knee to end the half.

END 2ND: Cowboys 24, Lions 14 

Cowboys take 24-14 lead before halftime

The Cowboys take over at the 17 after a 52-yard punt by Sam Martin.

Michael Gallup hauls in a throw that's good for 10 yards on first down.

Justin Coleman trips in coverage on the next play, allowing Randall Cobb to get open and run wild down the field once receiving the pass. He gets all the way to Detroit's 24 for a gain of 49.

Witten picks up 5 yards with a first-down reception. Cobb holds onto a throw from Prescott in the end zone despite getting absolutely leveled by Rashaan Melvin, who is dealt a penalty for unnecessary roughness.

Cowboys 24, Lions 14 (0:27 2nd)

Cowboys get home-field advantage at Ford Field

Detroit takes over at its 15 after a holding penalty on the return.

A holding penalty on the drive's first play from scrimmage makes it first-and-17 from the 8. Bo Scarbrough rushes for no gain on first down. J.D. McKissic catches a pass out of the backfield and gets all the way to the Detroit 30 for a gain of 22 that'll move the chains.

Scarbrough is cracked by DeMarcus Lawrence on first down for a loss of 6. Holy smokes was he met quickly by the Pro-Bowl defensive end. Danny Amendola hauls in a reception for 7 yards on second down. "DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!" chants breaking out at Ford Field, again.

Two-minute warning

Robert Quinn makes Taylor Decker look like a traffic cone once again, bursting around the edge and nearly stripping Jeff Driskel. His disruption forces an incomplete throw to Kenny Golladay.

Cowboys 17, Lions 14 (1:48 2nd)

Cowboys regain lead with Elliott's rushing touchdown

Dallas takes the kickoff for a touchback and will start at the 25.

Dak Prescott is run out of bounds after a 9-yard run on first down. Blake Jarwin catches a short pass over the middle and runs to a 15-yard gain, giving the Cowboys a new set of downs at their own 49.

John Atkins breaks free through the middle on first down, but completely whiffs on a sack attempt, allowing Prescott to throw the ball away for minimal damage. Ezekiel Elliott goes up the middle for a gain of 1 on second down.

Michael Gallup makes a miraculous, bobbling catch while being heavily interfered with, a 41-yard catch that gives the Cowboys a first down at the 9.

Elliott pounds his way up the middle to the 1 for a gain of 8, then gets into the end zone on the next play. Cowboys regain the lead.

Cowboys 17, Lions 14 (4:37 2nd)

Big Scarbrough run leads to Lions lead

First down, Lions, at the Dallas 45. Detroit could really use some points after three consecutive three-and-outs. 

Jeff Driskel pulls the handoff from Bo Scarbrough and picks up a new set of downs all by his lonesome with a 10-yard run. 

The Lions will have it first-and-5 at the 30 after an offsides penalty on the Cowboys. Scarbrough is wrapped up for no gain on first down. Driskel is forced out of bounds for no gain on second down, classified as a sack. J.D. McKissic shakes, bakes and spins his way forward to the 25 for a Lions first down.

Timeout #2 Dallas (8:29 2nd)

Scarbrough breaks free up the middle for a 23-yard run, making it first-and-goal for the Lions at the Dallas 2.

Driskel fakes the give to Scarbrough, keeps it, and walks his way into the end zone. 

Lions 14, Cowboys 10 (7:46 2nd)

Agnew gives Detroit great field position after defense gets stop

Dallas takes over at the 15 after a penalty on the punt return.  

Dak Prescott completes a screen pass to Ezekiel Elliott for a gain of 11 on first down.

Elliott gains a yard on the next play. Prescott throws the ball away on second down. Lions could really use a third-down stop, and they get it, as Prescott misfires to Michael Gallup.

Jamal Agnew has plenty of room to run on the return, hits a hole, and is steered out of bounds by one of the Cowboys' last men in coverage at the Dallas 45. Great return.

Cowboys 10, Lions 7 (11:03 2nd)

Lions offense struggling to get anything going

The Lions will start at the 25 after a touchback.

Robert Quinn again beats Taylor Decker on the outside, sacking Jeff Driskel for a loss of 7. J.D. McKissic is blown up by Jaylon Smith for a gain of 2 on second down. McKissic will be feeling that in the morning. Driskel's third-down pass to T.J. Hockenson takes forever to arrive and is broken up by Leighton Vander Esch.

Cowboys 10, Lions 7 (12:19 2nd)

Cowboys take 10-7 lead early in second quarter

Michael Gallup gets wide open with Darius Slay in coverage and pulls in a 23-yard reception while heading out of bounds for a Cowboys first down at the Lions 47.

Tony Pollard rushes for a gain of 7 on the next play. Randall Cobb drops a throw in the flat on second down. Dak Prescott's throw to Cobb on third down is caught for a gain of 14 to the Detroit 26.

END 1ST: Lions 7, Cowboys 3 

Prescott's throw to Amari Cooper in the end zone on first down misses the mark. Tony Pollard goes up the gut for a gain of 5 on second down. Pollard catches a pass over the middle from Prescott on third down, sheds a diving tackle attempt by Tracy Walker, and scoots into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown reception.

Cowboys 10, Lions 7 (14:10 2nd)

Lions go three-and-out for second consecutive possession

Detroit takes over at the 25 after a touchback.

Bo Scarbrough runs for 4 yards on first down. Jeff Driskel's sideline shot to Kenny Golladay is broken up by Anthony Brown. Driskel somehow avoids two Cowboys defenders in the backfield, rolls out, but can't come up with a completion to Marvin Jones.

Sam Martin's punt is fair caught at the 30.

Lions 7, Cowboys 3 (1:21 1st)

Detroit gets goal-line stop, Cowboys get on scoreboard with field goal

Dallas gets it at the 14.

Dak Prescott rolls right and finds Michael Gallup for an easy completion that's good for a gain of 13 to start the drive.

Ezekiel Elliott runs for a gain of 7 on first down. Tony Pollard takes an end-around from Prescott and follows his blocking to the Cowboys 47, a gain of 13.

Jason Witten hauls in a 7-yard completion from Prescott on first down, moving the Cowboys into Lions territory at the 46. Elliott picks up 3 yards on the next play to move the chains.

Elliott goes up the middle for a gain of 6. Dallas' running game starting to get rolling now. Prescott's second-down throw to Witten is overthrown and sails out of bounds. Prescott hits Amari Cooper on third down for a gain of 7 that gives the Cowboys a first down at the 30. 

The Cowboys are then flagged for having 12 men in the huddle, bringing up first-and-15 at the 35. 

Timeout #1 Dallas (5:17 1st)

Prescott throws to Gallup for a gain of 12 on first down, then goes back to Gallup on the next play for a 14-yard completion. It's first-and-goal at the 9.

Elliott dives forward for a gain of 2 on first down. Prescott has all day to throw but can't find an open receiver, scrambling to his right and eventually diving out of bounds at the 2 for a gain of 5. Devon Kennard explodes through the line and sacks Prescott for a 10-yard loss on third down. What a huge play.

Brett Maher's field goal try is good from 30 yards.

Lions 7, Cowboys 3 (2:18 1st)

Lions' offense hurt by penalties

The special teams penalty backs the Lions up about 20 yards from where Jamal Agnew returned Chris Jones' punt. They'll start at the 28.

T.J. Hockenson catches a pass over the middle for a 6-yard pickup on first down. A false start penalty on Taylor Decker makes it second-and-9. Scarbrough levels a would-be tackler on his way to a 5-yard gain on second down. Robert Quinn gets around the edge untouched and levels Jef Driskel has he throws the ball away.

Tavon Austin returns Sam Martin's punt 2 yards to the Dallas 14.

Lions 7, Cowboys 0 (9:49 1st)

Lions force three-and-out after taking early lead

Dallas takes over at the 14 after an 18-yard return by Tony Pollard.

Ezekiel Elliott is swallowed by Damon Harrison for a gain of 1 on first down. The pocket around Dak Prescott on second down collapses in a hurry, resulting in an incompletion. Darius Slay makes another great play to break up a throw to Amari Cooper. Slay is fired up.

The Lions will get it at their 28-yard-line after a penalty on the punt return.

Lions 7, Cowboys 0 (11:27 1st)

Scarbrough gives Lions 7-0 lead in NFL debut

Bo Scarbrough, making his first start for the Lions, runs for a gain of 2 on first down. Jeff Driskel fires complete to Marvin Jones on second down for a gain of 5. Danny Amendola runs an out-route and catches a throw from Driskel that's good for 11 yards and a new set of downs at the 10.

Scarbrough runs to the 5 for a gain of 5 on first down. Scarbrough punches his way into the end zone on second down. The Lions have taken an early lead, just like we all expected.

Lions 7, Cowboys 0 (12:33 1st)

Flowers forces fumble on opening drive

Detroit wins the toss and will defer to the second half. Sam Martin's kickoff goes for a touchback. Dallas gets it at the 25.

Darius Slay makes a nice play to break up Dak Prescott's first-down throw to Amari Cooper. Trey Flowers absolutely levels Ezekiel Elliott as he hits the hole on second down, forcing a fumble that's recovered by Jarrad Davis at the Dallas 28.

Lions 0, Cowboys 0 (14:49 1st)

Pregame

The Detroit Lions take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ford Field. You can follow the action with live updates by Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.

Inactives

Lions: QB Matthew Stafford, CB Michael Jackson, G Beau Benzschawel, OTs Dan Skipper and Rick Wagner, DL Da'Shawn Hand and Romeo Okwara are inactive for Detroit.

Cowboys: WRs Cedrick Wilson and Devin Smith, S Jeff Heath, G Connor Williams, DE Joe Jackson, LB Luke Gifford and DT Trysten Hill are inactive for Dallas.

LIONS AT COWBOYS

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday, Ford Field

TV/radio: Fox/760 AM

Records: Lions 3-5-1, Cowboys 5-4

Line: Cowboys by 6.5

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