Cowboys 'not deflated' after loss creates harder path to playoffs - ESPN

DETROIT — For the past month, the Dallas Cowboys have carried with them the burden of losing a teammate and the joy of getting into playoff contention.

On Thursday night, the Cowboys' 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field was their first since the death of Marshawn Kneeland and their first in more than a month, dropping them to 6-6-1 on the season and giving them difficult odds in making the postseason.

«I think guys are pissed off right now,» quarterback Dak Prescott said. «I don't think it's any deflated moment like, oh, hands are up, we're done. No. No. Absolutely not. I think you're going to get a team that's pissed, especially as we talk about a team that's kind of changed since the bye week. This is the first time this group, to an extent, suffered this. So hopefully it pisses people off the right way, we use it as fuel, and I know, starting with myself, I'll make sure we have a great week of prep for the next one.»

The Cowboys' playoff chances dropped to 8% with the defeat, according to ESPN Analytics. The Cowboys would lose head-to-head tiebreakers against the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and Lions.

Their remaining four opponents include three — Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 14), Washington Commanders (Dec. 25) and New York Giants (Jan. 3 or 4) — with a losing record. They play the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) on Dec. 21.

Thursday's game was the fourth in an 18-day span for the Cowboys, following wins over the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in the three games since acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline.

«Really proud of the group,» coach Brian Schottenheimer said. «Four games, [18] days, battled their asses off, proud of them. We knew tonight it was