Cowboys not ‘deflated’ as loss creates harder path to playoffs

DETROIT — Over the past month, the Dallas Cowboys have carried with them the burden of losing a teammate and the joy of making the playoffs.

The Cowboys’ 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Thursday night was their first since Marshawn Kneeland’s death and their first in more than a month, dropping them to 6-6-1 on the season and giving them a tough chance to make the playoffs.

“I think guys are pissed right now,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “I don’t think it’s a deflating moment like, oh, hands up, it’s over. No, no. Absolutely not. I think you’re going to have a team that’s pissed off, especially since we’re talking about a team that’s changed a little bit since the bye week. It’s the first time this group, to some extent, has gone through that. So I hope it pisses people off in the right way, we use it as fuel, and I know, starting with myself, I will make sure we have a great week of preparation for the next one.”

The Cowboys’ playoff chances fell to 8 percent with the loss, according to ESPN Analytics. The Cowboys would lose tiebreakers to the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and Lions.

Their four remaining opponents include three teams – the Minnesota Vikings (December 14), Washington Commanders (December 25) and New York Giants (January 3 or 4) – with losing records. They will face the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) on December 21.

Thursday’s game was the fourth in 18 days for the Cowboys, following wins over the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in the three games since acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline.

“Really proud of the group,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “Four matches, [18] days, they fought, proud of themselves. We knew tonight was going to come down to a few things: the ability to take care of the football and win, and we didn’t do a good job of that. Then we had to get to the trenches, and we didn’t really make it. »

The Cowboys lost the turnover battle 3-0, with two interceptions and a lost fumble that the Lions turned into 14 points. They averaged 3.8 yards per carry, with Prescott having the longest run of the night (12 yards) and allowed four rushing touchdowns, including three from Jahmyr Gibbs.

“It was an important game for both teams,” Schottenheimer said, “and they got the better of us.”

Prescott was pressured 20 times, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and was sacked five times. The Cowboys also had a few costly, albeit questionable, offensive pass interference penalties.

Despite all that, twice in the fourth quarter the Cowboys closed the lead to one game after losing Pro Bowl receiver CeeDee Lamb to a concussion in the third quarter. Both times, the Cowboys defense gave up touchdowns on the ensuing drive.

“Complementary football wasn’t what it used to be the last few weeks,” Schottenheimer said.

Their best chance to make the playoffs may be to win the NFC East if the Eagles continue to slide.

“I don’t know if I can say we control our own destiny,” Prescott said. “It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that before. I’m pretty sure if we had won we would have a very good record, with only five defeats and one draw.

“Being 6-6-1 right now with [four] Now, yeah, I’m pretty sure — especially with the way some of the divisions are shaped, the North, the West — we’re going to need some things to happen for us. I don’t think it’s in our control at this point. But what we can control is how we approach the game. I think it’s just a matter of pride and love that you have for this game, for your teammates, for the organization, for 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.”