Lions-Cowboys game was a ratings coup for the NFL

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But if Caldwell is feeling the heat heading into the winner-take-all affair Sunday night on national TV, his team one game from completing a spectacular collapse – or from eking out its first championship in more than two decades – he isn’t showing it.

Mickey Spagnola said, “So after the Cowboys lost the season opener at home, they’ve won 6 consecutive games at AT&T Stadium”.

No. 4 played all night and was near flawless (148.3 QB rating, 15-20, 212 yards, three TDs). He played in nine games past year but was far from 100 percent for a lot of them and his season numbers (31 catches, 401 yards, three touchdowns) reflected that.

But the real excitement came in the third quarter when offensive coordinator Scott Linehan opened up the playbook on first and goal at the 10.

Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys – Elliott finished with 12 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys are the fourth best scoring defense in the NFL and have second best scoring differential in the league at +129.

The Lions didn’t score a single point after getting to 21 in the second quarter against, again, a team that had nothing to play for. Bryant caught 4-of-5 targets and averaged 17.5 yards per reception to go along with his first career touchdown pass.

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Cowboys are 6-point home favorites versus the Lions while the over/under now sits at 45 points. After gaining 13 first downs on their first three drives, they gained 10 on their final eight.

The coach will still get some raised eyebrows, however, because Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith did suffer a right knee injury and the hindsight police quickly took to Twitter to wonder why Garrett still had him in the game. However, that isn’t what happened.

Matthew Stafford committed two second-half turnovers and the Lions had a series of costly penalties in the third quarter, including a holding penalty on Zenner two plays before Stafford’s interception and a 31-yard pass-interference penalty on Nevin Lawson two plays after the pick.

But maybe he just meant he wanted to do his celebrating in the MNF season finale as he caught two touchdown passes and threw another.

If the Redskins (8-6-1) beat the New York Giants at FedEx Field, they will receive the sixth seed as long as the Lions’ home game against the Green Packers (9-6) on Sunday night doesn’t end in a tie.

It was a rare game where Dan Bailey never had to attempt a field goal, though he hit all six PATs. Luckily, only one of those big returns led to a Lions touchdown drive.

TITANS: Quarterback Marcus Mariota is set to have surgery Wednesday for his broken right leg. Keep in mind that Prescott had this game after hearing all week that another bad performance could force general manager Jerry Jones to make a switch at quarterback to Tony Romo.

Up Next: That game next week is on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Even rookie Ezekiel Elliott got in on the fun.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell speaks with reporters Tuesday after the 42-21 loss to the Cowboys on Monday night.