Detroit Lions opt for 2-pointer, fail to convert in controversial 20-19 loss to Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Detroit Lions are no longer in control of the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs after one of the wildest endings to an NFL game this season.

Jared Goff led a late touchdown drive Saturday night, capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown with 23 seconds to play, then the Lions failed on the third attempt of at 2-point conversion try – after two previous attempts were negated by penalty – to fall to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, 20-19.

The Cowboys took a 20-13 lead on Brandon Aubrey’s 43-yard field goal with 1:41 to play, after they attempted three straight passes with one incompletion that stopped the clock and gave the Lions enough time to mount a comeback attempt.

The Lions started their final possession at the 25-yard line, and Goff completed two straight passes to Sam LaPorta to get into Cowboys territory. After moving the ball to the 11-yard line with passes to St. Brown and LaPorta, Goff hit an uncovered St. Brown on a short out for an easy touchdown as he dove across the pylon.

The Lions went for the win, and Goff completed a pass to left tackle Taylor Decker, but officials flagged for Decker for illegal touching on the play. Officials announced extra tackle Dan Skipper as the eligible lineman on the play.

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Rather than kick the tying extra point, the Lions went for the 2-pointer again from the 7-yard line. Markquese Bell intercepted Goff, who was hit on his pass attempt, but Micah Parsons was offsides on the play, giving the Lions a third try from the 2-yard line.

James Mitchell could not catch a low Goff pass near the goal line in the left flat on the Lions’ final attempt, and the Cowboys recovered the ensuing onside kick for the win.

At 11-5, the Lions are now tied with the Cowboys for the third-best record in the NFC, behind the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.

The 49ers will be the one seed in the NFC playoffs if they win their final two games, and the Eagles are in control of the two seed. The Lions need the Eagles and Cowboys to lose once or the 49ers to lose twice to get the two seed.

As the three seed, the Lions, who close the regular season against the Minnesota Vikings next week at Ford Field, will be guaranteed at least one home playoff game for the first time since the 1993 season. They would face the No. 6 seed Los Angeles Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford in the wild-card round Jan. 13-15 if the standings hold.

The Lions had won two straight entering Saturday, but couldn’t get their offense on track against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Goff finished 19 of 34 passing for 271 yards, but threw two interceptions, including one on an out to LaPorta with 2:05 to play and down 17-13.

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Dak Prescott was 26 of 38 passing for 345 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for the Cowboys. CeeDee Lamb had a career-high 13 catches for 227 yards and scored on a 92-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, when Derrick Barnes failed to wrap up Prescott for a safety in the end zone.

While Lamb dominated the Lions, Brandin Cooks delivered two of the game’s biggest plays on Dallas’ go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Cooks made an acrobatic catch on third-and-4 for a 21-yard gain midway through the fourth quarter, and scored the go-ahead touchdown five plays later to give the Cowboys a 17-13 lead with 7:20 to play.

St. Brown finished with six catches for 90 yards for the Lions, and LaPorta had seven catches for 84 yards, and set a new franchise record for receiving yards by a tight end.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions opt for 2-pointer, fail in 20-19 loss to Cowboys