Final2023 Week 17

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys, Week 17 2023

Detroit Lions

Away

19

Dallas Cowboys

HomeWon

20

Scoring by quarter
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Lions307919
Cowboys7031020

DET 19DAL 20 Final

  • Passing leader

    Dak Prescott

    DAL · QB

    21.3PPR pts

    26/38, 345 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT

  • Top fantasy scorer

    CeeDee Lamb

    DAL · WR

    40.2PPR pts

    13 REC, 227 YDS, 1 TD

  • Lions leader

    Amon-Ra St. Brown

    DET · WR

    22.1PPR pts

    6 REC, 90 YDS, 1 TD

  • Defensive playmaker

    Donovan Wilson

    DAL

    1 INT, 11 TKL

Cowboys 20, Lions 19: Dallas holds off Detroit

Dallas led 7–3 at halftime and won 20–19, though Detroit took the second half 16–13. Detroit outgained the Cowboys 420–384.

The Lions went 4-for-13 on third down and committed two turnovers.

Key advantages

  • +19% third-down rate DAL 50% · DET 31%

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Cowboys Won

Dallas won the third-down battle.

Team stats comparison, Lions vs Cowboys
LionsStatCowboys
31%Third-down conversion50%
Other team stats
420Total yards384
6.3Yards per play6.2
67Plays62
2Turnovers2
30:36Time of possession29:24

Scoring Summary

The Cowboys scored two touchdowns and two field goals; the Lions scored two touchdowns and two field goals.

Scoring plays, Lions vs Cowboys
TimeTeamPlayDETDAL
1st quarter
10:46DETMichael Badgley 41-yard FG Takes lead30
3:26DALDak Prescott → CeeDee Lamb, 92-yard TD Takes leadBrandon Aubrey XP37
2nd quarter
No scoring
3rd quarter
4:34DETDavid Montgomery 3-yard TD run Takes leadMichael Badgley XP107
0:23DALBrandon Aubrey 51-yard FG Ties game1010
4th quarter
12:18DETMichael Badgley 30-yard FG Takes lead1310
7:20DALDak Prescott → Brandin Cooks, 8-yard TD Game winnerBrandon Aubrey XP1317
1:41DALBrandon Aubrey 43-yard FG Extends lead1320
0:23DETJared Goff → Amon-Ra St. Brown, 11-yard TD2-pt try failed1920

Fantasy Points: Lions vs Cowboys, Week 17 2023

Fantasy leaders

  1. CeeDee LambDALWR40.2 PTSWR1
  2. Amon-Ra St. BrownDETWR22.1 PTSWR7
  3. Dak PrescottDALQB21.3 PTSQB7
  4. Brandin CooksDALWR17.0 PTSWR18

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
PlayerFPTSFINCMP/ATTPass YDSTDINTRush ATTRush YDSRush TDRateStart/Sit
Dak PrescottDALQB21.3QB726/3834521250103.5Start/Sit →
Jared GoffDETQB12.8QB2419/3427112———67.2Start/Sit →

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
PlayerFPTSFINPOSRush ATTRush YDSRush TDTGTRECRec YDSRec TDStart/Sit
CeeDee LambDALWR40.2WR1WR15017132271Start/Sit →
Amon-Ra St. BrownDETWR22.1WR7WR111086901Start/Sit →
Brandin CooksDALWR17.0WR18WR———85601Start/Sit →
Sam LaPortaDETTE15.4TE5TE———127840Start/Sit →
David MontgomeryDETRB12.5RB22RB146511000Start/Sit →
Jameson WilliamsDETWR9.5WR43WR16032690Start/Sit →
Jake FergusonDALTE7.3TE23TE———64330Start/Sit →
Tony PollardDALRB5.9RB46RB164903100Start/Sit →
Jahmyr GibbsDETRB5.3RB49RB154303100Start/Sit →
Josh ReynoldsDETWR2.3WR88WR———21130
Deuce VaughnDALRB2.2RB64RB22011100
Kalif RaymondDETWR2.1WR91WR———11110Start/Sit →
Jalen TolbertDALWR1.9WR95WR———1190Start/Sit →
Peyton HendershotDALTE1.6TE54TE———1160
James MitchellDETTE1.4TE57TE———1140

Fantasy Usage

Detroit Lions

Snap Share

  1. Amon-Ra St. BrownWR69 snaps100%
  2. Sam LaPortaTE69 snaps100%
  3. Josh ReynoldsWR50 snaps72%
  4. Jameson WilliamsWR44 snaps64%
  5. Jahmyr GibbsRB43 snaps62%

Target Share31 targets

  1. Sam LaPorta39%, 12 targets
  2. Amon-Ra St. Brown26%, 8 targets
  3. Jameson Williams10%, 3 targets
  4. Jahmyr Gibbs10%, 3 targets
  5. Josh Reynolds6%, 2 targets
  6. Other10%, 3 targets

Carry Share31 carries

  1. Jahmyr Gibbs48%, 15 carries
  2. David Montgomery45%, 14 carries
  3. Amon-Ra St. Brown3%, 1 carries
  4. Jameson Williams3%, 1 carries

Dallas Cowboys

Snap Share

  1. CeeDee LambWR62 snaps95%
  2. Jake FergusonTE58 snaps89%
  3. Tony PollardRB55 snaps85%
  4. Brandin CooksWR51 snaps78%
  5. Jalen TolbertWR25 snaps38%

Target Share37 targets

  1. CeeDee Lamb46%, 17 targets
  2. Brandin Cooks22%, 8 targets
  3. Jake Ferguson16%, 6 targets
  4. Tony Pollard8%, 3 targets
  5. Jalen Tolbert3%, 1 targets
  6. Other5%, 2 targets

Carry Share21 carries

  1. Tony Pollard76%, 16 carries
  2. Dak Prescott10%, 2 carries
  3. Deuce Vaughn10%, 2 carries
  4. CeeDee Lamb5%, 1 carries
View full usage tableHide full usage table
Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
PlayerSNAPSSNAP %TGTTGT %CAR
Amon-Ra St. BrownDETWR69100%826%1
Sam LaPortaDETTE69100%1239%0
CeeDee LambDALWR6295%1746%1
Jake FergusonDALTE5889%616%0
Tony PollardDALRB5585%38%16
Brandin CooksDALWR5178%822%0
Josh ReynoldsDETWR5072%26%0
Jameson WilliamsDETWR4464%310%1
Jahmyr GibbsDETRB4362%310%15
David MontgomeryDETRB2739%13%14
Jalen TolbertDALWR2538%13%0
Michael GallupDALWR2031%00%0
Peyton HendershotDALTE1828%13%0
Kalif RaymondDETWR1928%13%0
James MitchellDETTE1928%13%0
Luke SchoonmakerDALTE1726%00%0
Deuce VaughnDALRB812%13%2
Donovan Peoples-JonesDETWR34%00%0
Jalen BrooksDALWR23%00%0
KaVontae TurpinDALWR12%00%0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

  • Biggest overperformer+11.2CeeDee Lamb40.2 PTS vs 29.0 xFP
  • Biggest underperformer−8.9Tony Pollard5.9 PTS vs 14.8 xFP
  • Highest expected volume29.0 xFPCeeDee Lamb40.2 PTS scored
Usage and expected fantasy points
PlayerPTSxFPvs xFPSnap%UsageRte%Pass attCarCar%TgtTgt%
CeeDee LambDAL · WR40.229.0+11.295%46% tgt—015%1746%
Sam LaPortaDET · TE15.420.0−4.6100%38% tgt—000%1238%
Dak PrescottDAL · QB21.317.2+4.1100%38 att—38210%00%
Tony PollardDAL · RB5.914.8−8.985%76% car—01676%38%
Jared GoffDET · QB12.814.3−1.5100%34 att—3400%00%
Jahmyr GibbsDET · RB5.314.2−8.962%48% car—01548%39%
Amon-Ra St. BrownDET · WR22.114.0+8.1100%25% tgt—013%825%
Brandin CooksDAL · WR17.013.4+3.678%22% tgt—000%822%
David MontgomeryDET · RB12.510.3+2.239%45% car—01445%13%
Jake FergusonDAL · TE7.310.0−2.789%16% tgt—000%616%
Jameson WilliamsDET · WR9.55.6+3.964%9% tgt—013%39%
Josh ReynoldsDET · WR2.33.3−1.072%6% tgt—000%26%
Deuce VaughnDAL · RB2.22.9−0.712%10% car—0210%13%
Jalen TolbertDAL · WR1.91.7+0.238%3% tgt—000%13%
James MitchellDET · TE1.41.7−0.328%3% tgt—000%13%
Kalif RaymondDET · WR2.11.7+0.428%3% tgt—000%13%
Khalil DorseyDET · —4.11.7+2.4—3% tgt—000%13%
Peyton HendershotDAL · TE1.61.7−0.128%3% tgt—000%13%

Team totals: Lions 32 targets and 31 carries; Cowboys 37 targets and 21 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2023 season: 1.67 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.61 per carry and 0.42 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Jared Goff

DET · QB · 12.8 pts on 14.3 expected

19 of 34 passing for 271 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 14.3 expected.

Start/Sit: Jared Goff →

Dak Prescott

DAL · QB · 21.3 pts on 17.2 expected

26 of 38 passing for 345 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception; 2 carries for 5 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 17.2 expected.

Start/Sit: Dak Prescott →

Sam LaPorta Volume, no payoff

DET · TE · 15.4 pts on 20.0 expected

12 targets (38% of the team's), 7 catches for 84 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 20.0 expected.

Start/Sit: Sam LaPorta →

Jahmyr Gibbs Unlucky

DET · RB · 5.3 pts on 14.2 expected

3 targets (9% of the team's), 1 catch for 0 yards; 15 carries (48% of the team's) for 43 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 14.2 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Jahmyr Gibbs →

CeeDee Lamb Ran hot

DAL · WR · 40.2 pts on 29.0 expected

17 targets (46% of the team's), 13 catches for 227 yards and 1 touchdown; 1 carry (5% of the team's) for 5 yards.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 29.0 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Start/Sit: CeeDee Lamb →

Tony Pollard Volume, no payoff

DAL · RB · 5.9 pts on 14.8 expected

3 targets (8% of the team's), 1 catch for 0 yards; 16 carries (76% of the team's) for 49 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 14.8 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Tony Pollard →

Amon-Ra St. Brown Ran hot

DET · WR · 22.1 pts on 14.0 expected

8 targets (25% of the team's), 6 catches for 90 yards and 1 touchdown; 1 carry (3% of the team's) for 11 yards.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 14.0 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Start/Sit: Amon-Ra St. Brown →

James Mitchell

DET · TE · 1.4 pts on 1.7 expected

1 target (3% of the team's), 1 catch for 4 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 1.7 expected.

Stock Up, Stock Down

Detroit Lions

  • Stock up: Sam LaPorta played 100% of the snaps, up from a 84% season average.
  • Stock up: James Mitchell played 28% of the snaps, up from a 11% season average.

Dallas Cowboys

  • Stock up: Jake Ferguson played 89% of the snaps, up from a 74% season average.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2023 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Lions defense and Cowboys defense
Points allowed toLions DCowboys D
QBs19.415.1
RBs14.619.0
WRs39.727.6
TEs13.410.1

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Dallas opened at 50% win probability and passed 98% in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Cowboys win probability

Cowboys win probability by game minuteCowboys started at 50%, stood at 66% at halftime and finished at 100%, across 8 scoring plays.Q1Q2Q3Q4100%50%0%

Key Swings

  1. +23Prescott → Lamb, 92-yd TD40% → 63%Q1 3:26
  2. −35Montgomery 3-yd TD run70% → 35%Q3 4:34
  3. −19Badgley 30-yd FG50% → 31%Q4 12:18
  4. +54Prescott → Cooks, 8-yd TD26% → 80%Q4 7:20
  5. −18Goff → Brown, 11-yd TD>99% → 82%Q4 0:23

Swing in Cowboys win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Lions vs Cowboys
Detroit LionsMeasureDallas Cowboys
67Plays62
54%Pass rate66%
8.2Yds / dropback7.9
4.0Yds / carry2.9
4/13Third downs7/14

Efficiency edge Dallas ran 5 fewer plays than Detroit.

  • Top targets
  • DET LaPorta 38% · Brown 25% · Gibbs 9%
  • DAL Lamb 46% · Cooks 22% · Ferguson 16%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Lions vs Cowboys
ResultDETDAL
Touchdowns22
Field goals22
Punts44
Turnovers22
Turnovers on downs10
  • The Lions opened the scoring on their first possession, a 11-play, 52-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
  • The Cowboys drained the clock with two second-half drives of four to five minutes.
All 23 possessions, drive by drive
Drive chart
TeamStartPlaysYardsTimeResult
DETQ1 15:0011524:14Field goal
DALQ1 10:466432:47Interception
DETQ1 7:595103:31Punt
DALQ1 4:283891:02Touchdown
DETQ1 3:26352:19Punt
DALQ1 1:073-51:18Punt
DETQ2 14:492200:45Interception
DALQ2 14:046533:26Fumble
DETQ2 10:3811764:59Downs
DALQ2 5:397313:59Punt
DETQ2 1:40351:03Punt
DALQ2 0:37200:37End of half
DALQ3 15:00693:00Punt
DETQ3 12:0013747:26Touchdown
DALQ3 4:3410424:11Field goal
DETQ3 0:237633:05Field goal
DALQ4 12:189754:58Touchdown
DETQ4 7:20351:28Punt
DALQ4 5:527233:19Punt
DETQ4 2:332150:28Interception
DALQ4 2:05440:24Field goal
DETQ4 1:419751:18Touchdown
DALQ4 0:23100:23End of game
About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Lions vs Cowboys Head-to-Head

The Lions and Cowboys first met in 1960 and have played 33 times since.

All-time series
19–14Cowboys lead, 33 meetings since 1960
Postseason
2–1Cowboys won in 1970 and 2014; Lions won in 1991
Largest Lions win
47–92024
Largest Cowboys win
59–131968

Since 2021

2–2 Series tied

4 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. L = Lions win, C = Cowboys win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2023 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Lions vs Cowboys
LionsStatCowboys
12-5Record12-5
27.1Points per game29.9
394.8Yards per game371.6
5.9Yards per play5.6
23.2Points allowed per game18.5
336.1Yards allowed per game299.7

Lions and Cowboys in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Lion or a Cowboy, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2023 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Lions vs Cowboys Game FAQ

Who won the 2023 Lions vs Cowboys Week 17 game?

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions 20–19 in Week 17 of the 2023 season. The game was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, on December 30, 2023. See the Cowboys' 2023 schedule.

What was the final score of Lions vs Cowboys?

The final score was Cowboys 20, Lions 19. The Cowboys led 7–3 at halftime, and the second half went Lions 16, Cowboys 13.

What happened in the Lions vs Cowboys game?

Dallas led 7–3 at halftime and won 20–19, though Detroit took the second half 16–13. Detroit outgained the Cowboys 420–384. CeeDee Lamb led all players with 13 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown, plus a carry for 5 rushing yards.

What was the game-winning score in Lions vs Cowboys?

Dak Prescott's 8-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks with 7:20 left in the fourth quarter gave the Cowboys a 17–13 lead they never gave up.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Lions vs Cowboys?

CeeDee Lamb led the game with 40.2 PPR fantasy points, the WR1 of Week 17, on 13 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown, plus a carry for 5 rushing yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown was next with 22.1 (WR7). See CeeDee Lamb's 2023 game log.

Who led Lions vs Cowboys in passing, rushing and receiving?

Dak Prescott (DAL) led all passers with 26 of 38 for 345 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. David Montgomery (DET) led in rushing with 14 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb (DAL) led in receiving with 13 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown.

How many fantasy points did CeeDee Lamb score against the Lions?

CeeDee Lamb scored 40.2 points in PPR leagues, 33.7 in half-PPR and 27.2 in standard scoring against the Lions in Week 17 of the 2023 season, on 13 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown, plus a carry for 5 rushing yards. He drew 46% of his team's targets.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Lions vs Cowboys?

CeeDee Lamb outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 40.2 PPR points on 29.0 xFP (+11.2). Tony Pollard fell furthest short, with 5.9 points on 14.8 xFP (−8.9). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

Who had the highest expected fantasy points in Lions vs Cowboys?

CeeDee Lamb had the most fantasy opportunity in the game, worth 29.0 expected PPR points (xFP) at league-average rates, and scored 40.2. Expected points measure the volume of a player's pass attempts, carries and targets, not how well he used them.

What was the turning point of Lions vs Cowboys?

Dak Prescott's 8-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks with 7:20 left in the fourth quarter was the biggest swing of the game, moving the Cowboys' win probability from 26% to 80%.

What is the all-time Lions vs Cowboys record?

The Cowboys lead the all-time series 19–14 across 33 meetings since 1960, including a 2–1 record in the postseason.

When did the Lions and Cowboys last play before this game?

Before Week 17 of 2023, they last met in the 2022 season on October 23, 2022, when the Cowboys beat the Lions 24–6.

Have the Lions and Cowboys met in the playoffs?

Yes, 3 times, most recently in the 2014 playoffs. The Lions are 1–2 against the Cowboys in the postseason.

What is the Lions vs Cowboys record since 2021?

The series is tied 2–2 across 4 meetings since the 2021 season, including this game.