ARLINGTON, Texas — The Detroit Lions ' defense played perhaps its best game of the season Saturday night, but the offense could not close the deal in a heartbreaking 20-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
The Lions (11-5), down a touchdown, drove 75 yards on 12 plays in 1:18 with Amon-Ra St. Brown scoring an 11-yard touchdown with 23 seconds left to get within an extra point, and opted to go for two. Jared Goff connected with Taylor Decker for the score, but he was flagged for being an ineligible receiver.
The Lions, now moved back to the 7-yard line, still went for two, but Dallas jumped offside.
On the third try, Goff threw low to an open James Mitchell in the flat, the balling falling incomplete at the 1-yard line.
Goff was intercepted twice, including with 2:05 remaining on the second play of the drive, but the defense forced a three-and-out field goal.
Dallas' CeeDee Lamb had 227 yards receiving on 13 catches, including a 92-yard touchdown and Dak Prescott threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns with one first-quarter interception to Ifeatu Melifonwu .
The Lions, who clinched the division title last week, conclude the regular season next week at Ford Field vs. the Minnesota Vikings .
They will have a home playoff game in the wild-card round Jan. 13-15, but are now likely the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs , meaning they'll play the No. 6 seed — currently Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams — and barring an upset, would visit the No. 2 seed (NFC East Division winner).
The Cowboys are the No. 5 seed and need a win at Washington next week and a loss by Philadelphia either vs. Arizona or the New York Giants to swipe the division.
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
