ARLINGTON, Texas – The Detroit Lions found a secret weapon during their dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys but suffered a major injury setback in their Super Bowl hopes.
The Lions advanced to 4-1 on the season after destroying the Cowboys 47-9 on Sunday (Oct. 13) in Arlington. The victory came on a sour note as star Aidan Hutchinson broke his tibia while sacking Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
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NFL sack leader #AidanHutchinson seems to have broken a bone in his leg while sacking quarterback #DakPrescott unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/tuwO2bautG
— Brandon L. Carr (@Carrpediem21) October 13, 2024
With the victory, the Lions snapped a six-game losing streak against Dallas dating back to Jan. 4, 2015, when the Cowboys won 24-20 in an NFC Wild Card game.
The most recent defeat was on Dec. 30, 2023, when the Lions fell 20-19 during the Dan Skipper ineligible play debacle.
Their previous win came in 2013 when Hall of Famer and newly minted Ring of Honor member Calvin Johnson went off for 325 yards receiving inside Ford Field.
| Previous matchup |
|---|
| Cowboys defeat Lions, 20-19, Dec. 30, 2023 |
| Cowboys defeat Lions, 24-6, Oct. 23, 2022 |
| Cowboys defeat Lions, 35-27, Nov. 17, 2019 |
| Cowboys defeat Lions, 26-24, Sept. 30, 2018 |
| Cowboys defeat Lions, 42-21, Dec. 26, 2016 |
| Cowboys defeat Lions, 24-20, Jan. 4, 2015 |
But Sunday’s matchup was different from the rest. The Lions jumped out to a 27-6 lead and didn’t look back, as the run game and their defense, alongside the wizardry of Ben Johnson, were on full display. But it was the introduction to wide receiver Tim Patrick, who caught three passes on three targets for 68 yards in the first half.
His longest reception nearly ended in a house call, but he capped a 42-yard catch and run, leading to a David Montgomery touchdown. It was his eighth consecutive game with a rushing touchdown, the longest streak in the NFL.
Montgomery finished the day toting the rock 12 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs chipped in with 12 carries for 63 yards while also catching three passes for 28 yards.
The Lions have been looking for a third receiver who could spread the field and get separation while having the hands to make contested catches, and with Patrick, they finally got it before it got out of hand.
Patrick, alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown (four receptions, 37 yards, and one touchdown) and Jameson Williams (three receptions, 76 yards, and a touchdown), was a match made in heaven.
Patrick hasn’t played an entire season since 2021, but his presence was felt, especially on Sunday when the 6′4″, 212-pound sure-handed receiver took the field.
During the preseason, Patrick caught five targets for 44 yards and a touchdown, which had Broncos fans questioning whether he would be Bo Nix’s top receiver instead of Courtland Sutton.
First game in two years at @EmpowerField.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 19, 2024
Touchdown. 🥹#GBvsDEN x @Tpstreets pic.twitter.com/JHeiIpTpxQ
The touchdown was a welcoming sight for Patrick, who missed the past two seasons due to injury.
He missed 2022 due to a torn ACL he suffered in training camp. He then tore his Achilles tendon during training camp in 2023.
He recently had stops in Baltimore with the Ravens and in San Francisco with the 49ers in 2017 but was waived by both franchises before showing grit and making it onto the Broncos practice squad and then the main roster from 2018-2022, accumulating 143 catches for 2,009 yards and 12 touchdowns in 55 games in his career.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke about finding a bigger body for quarterback Jared Goff, who completed 18-25 for 315 yards and three touchdowns to target. If he remains healthy, Patrick will fill a much-needed void.
Patrick and the Lions will travel to Minnesota in an NFC North divisional battle, taking on the undefeated Vikings inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m.
