The Detroit Lions snapped the Dallas Cowboys’ three-game winning streak in a wild 44-30 shootout on Thursday night - but the win didn’t come without controversy. While Detroit came out on top, a pivotal fourth-quarter penalty has Cowboys fans - and players - questioning the officiating.
Let’s set the scene: Dallas was mounting a furious comeback after trailing 27-9 in the third quarter. With just under four minutes left in the game and the Cowboys down 37-30, Dak Prescott and the offense were deep in Lions territory, facing a 3rd-and-3 from the Detroit 11-yard line. That’s when the flags flew.
Tight end Jake Ferguson was called for offensive pass interference, a decision that raised plenty of eyebrows - especially considering the replay showed Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone appearing to grab a handful of Ferguson’s jersey. After a quick huddle among the officials, the call stood: OPI on Ferguson.
Drive stalled. Momentum gone.
It was a gut punch for a Dallas team that had clawed its way back into the game. After being down 18 points in the second half, the Cowboys had stormed back to take a 30-27 lead. But the Lions responded with a touchdown to go up 37-30, and the controversial call on Ferguson helped seal the deal.
After the game, Dak Prescott didn’t hold back.
“Do I get fined for talking about this? … I’m sorry, that was bad,” Prescott said.
“I got to look at the film, maybe I can see it from their vantage point. I know I talked to the ref after, he said [Ferguson] aggressively pulled through.
I’ve never seen a call like that.”
You could feel the frustration in Prescott’s voice - and understandably so. This wasn’t just a routine third-down play.
This was a critical moment in a one-possession game, deep in the red zone, with the clock winding down. A touchdown there could’ve tied things up or even given Dallas the lead, depending on how they handled the extra point or a potential two-point try.
Prescott finished the night with 376 passing yards, completing 31 of 47 attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions. It was a mixed bag for the veteran QB - plenty of production, but also a couple of costly turnovers. Still, he gave his team a chance to win late, and that’s all you can ask for in a game like this.
But while the officiating stole the headlines, Dallas’ defense didn’t exactly help their cause. The Lions put up 17 points on three straight offensive drives in the second half, capitalizing on a defense that struggled to get stops when it mattered most.
For Detroit, this was a statement win - not just because they beat a playoff-caliber team, but because they did it by responding to adversity. After surrendering a big lead, they regrouped, punched back, and closed the game with authority.
As for Dallas, they’ll have to regroup quickly. The loss stings, no doubt, especially with the playoff picture tightening up.
But if there’s one thing this team has shown, it’s resilience. Whether they can channel that frustration into fuel for the stretch run - that’s the next big question.