NFL Wild Card Weekend Results: Dallas Cowboys Top Detroit Lions, 24-20 In Controversy-Marred Game

The Dallas Cowboys pulled off the comeback victory at home against the visiting Detroit Lions on Sunday winning the wild card game, 24-20 behind Tony Romo who had two touchdown passes and 293 passing yards on 19-of-31 completions. This was Dallas’s first playoff game in five seasons and just the second postseason victory since 1996.

The Lions were in control after the first half, 17-7 and still had the lead at the end of the third quarter, 20-14 but the Cowboys dominated the fourth quarter, 10-0 highlighted by Romo’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams with under three minutes to go in the game. Williams finished with 92 yards on just 3 receptions while Jason Witten and Cole Beasley had 63 receiving yards apiece.

With over eight minutes to go, there was a controversial call for the Cowboys that would have given the Lions the needed advantage at that point. Dallas’s rookie Anthony Hitchens was flagged for pass interference while defending Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew at the Dallas 46. The initial call was overturned and the Lions eventually punted rather than get the first down at that point.

The much talked about reversal of call dominated the social media especially from Lions’ fans criticising the NFL and the referees in the game. Bad call or not, the Cowboys will advance to the NFC Divisional Round Playoffs to face the Green Bay Packers in the highly-anticipated Romo vs. Aaron Rodgers match-up. The other NFC divisional round game will pit the Carolina Panthers against the Seattle Seahawks.

"The back judge threw his flag for defensive pass interference," Morelli said in an ESPN report. "We got other information from another official from a different angle that thought the contact was minimal and didn't warrant pass interference. He thought it was face guarding."
Romo’s counterpart, Matthew Stafford had 323 passing yards on 28-of-42 passes with a touchdown and an interception. The Lions suffered their eight straight loss in the postseason. Golden Tate had 89 yards on 6 catches while Calvin Johnson had 85 yards on 5 catches.

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