Cowboys crushed by Lions in fourth straight home loss

The Dallas Cowboys were walloped at home Sunday, getting blown out to the tune of 47-9 by the Detroit Lions — the Cowboys’ fourth straight loss at home dating to last postseason.

It was a revenge game for the Lions, who lost 20-19 to Dallas late last season after a procedural penalty wiped out a potential game-winning two-point conversion. 

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff was incredibly efficient, completing 18 of 25 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He was buoyed by a rushing attack that added 184 yards and two scores.

The game was effectively over by halftime. The Lions had a 27-6 lead after two quarters — continuing a disturbing trend for the Cowboys. In Dallas’ last four home games, it has been outscored 110-35 in the first half. The Cowboys were 8-0 at home last regular season but have been on a home slide since they lost in the divisional round to the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit took advantage of a wounded Dallas defense and especially gashed the Cowboys on the ground. Before the Lions’ final offensive possession, they were averaging more than 5 yards per carry on 32 rushing attempts and nearly 8 yards per play total.

Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs were an unstoppable one-two punch on the ground, rushing a combined 24 times for 143 yards. Montgomery’s physicality was impressive, as on Detroit’s first score of the game, when he dragged a defender en route to the end zone.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott struggled, throwing for only 178 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions before he was pulled in the fourth quarter. He was also sacked four times. 

It was Prescott’s third game this season in which he threw two picks. In three home games this season, Prescott has only three touchdowns, compared with four interceptions. 

The loss dropped the Cowboys to third place in the NFC East, behind the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders.

The Lions improved to 4-1 but are still behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. They also lost star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to an injury in the second half, when he appeared to break his leg during a sack. 

The Lions and the Vikings will play each other in Week 7. 

Dallas has a bye next week before an Oct. 27 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

After the game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked if he was contemplating a coaching change.

“I haven’t even considered that,” Jones said of potentially moving on from Mike McCarthy. “I’m not considering that, so you’re clear.”