The Cowboys couldn't get out of their own way in a performance that saw old warts rear their ugly heads at the worst time possible.
The Dallas Cowboys' magic didn't last as they fell to a 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on "Thursday Night Football.''
There will be plenty of blame to go around, as the defense reverted to its early-season form, while Dak Prescott and the offense couldn't get out of their own way with penalties and turnovers, and the special teams unit had an absolute nightmare.
The Cowboys never gave themselves a shot, and while they made it a one-score game late, the defense was wafer-thin and easily gave up a touchdown to end the game.
We appreciate (kinda) coach Brian Schottenheimer's upbeat postgame take. Said Schotty of the possibility that his Cowboys will now be totally deflated down the stretch, even though at 6-6-1 their chances for the playoffs are down to 9 percent:
“Special group of guys. They’re not gonna let that happen. … We’ll pick ourselves up and go back to work.”
OK. But for now?
Before the game, we highlighted five things the Cowboys had to do if they were to beat the Lions, let's see how they did.
1 - Stop Jahmyr Gibbs and the run game - Grade F
As a runner, Dallas held Gibbs to just 43 yards on 12 carries, but he had three touchdowns while also having 77 yards on seven carries as a receiver.
Matt Eberflus had no answer to the star back as he ripped Dallas' hearts out, mostly as a receiver this time, but his game-sealing 13-yard touchdown was the final dagger.
A horror show, folks, but credit to Gibbs, he's special.
2 - Continue third-down dominance - Grade C
The Cowboys would go 6 of 15 on third down, while the Lions went 3 of 8.
The biggest problem was, the Lions, when backed up, didn't even get to third down sometimes.
Facing a 1st-and-20, Detroit picked up the first down in two plays, and that was a common theme of the night.
The other issue was that four failed third down attempts came in Detroit territory. So, the Cowboys were moving the ball, but shot themselves in the foot too many times.
3 - Attack Detroit's secondary - Grade B
I would have loved to see Lamb finish the game, because he was cooking, totaling 121 yards from six catches before exiting the game with a concussion.
Offensively, Dallas shot itself in the foot with costly penalties (Ferguson OPI, Pickens' facemask), Dak's interception on the first play of the second half, along with a Jake Ferguson fumble, as the tight end didn't have a great night.
Pickens (5 rec, 37 yards) had a dirty night as his effort looked well off what we have seen recently, leaving Ryan Flournoy to have a sensation game (9 rec, 115 yards, one touchdown).
Lamb was the only one cooking Detroit's secondary, and when he left the game, the offense didn't look the same.
4 - Seize the early momentum - Grade C
The defense allowed a Lions field goal on the opening drive, and the Cowboys responded with Brandon Aubrey converting a field goal. Both teams then punted before the Lions scored a touchdown to end the first quarter, as Dallas didn't get blown away.
But the second quarter?
Ferguson's fumble was a killer as Dallas went into half time down 20-9 and still in the game. The Cowboys had chances to put the pressure on the Lions, but couldn't get out of their own way.
Dallas didn't seize it, it handed it to the Lions.
5 - Red-zone dominance - Grade F
Touchdowns, not field goals was the only item on the menu, and the Cowboys were 1 of 3 in the redzone, while the Lions were four of five.
Aubrey was five of five on field goals, but two of them were in the redzone, with a horrendous fourth quarter offensive pass interference flag on Ferguson near the end zone, which stalled the drive.
You could have made the case for going for it on the ensuing fourth-and-three, but Schottenheimer took the points.