Cowboys beat Colts 27-23 on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, as Dak Prescott led a 65-yard touchdown drive in the final 97 seconds and rookie Caleb Downs sealed the win with his first career interception.
It was a win Dallas nearly gave away twice. The Cowboys outgained Indianapolis 508-271, got 195 receiving yards from CeeDee Lamb and still trailed with 97 seconds left. Then Prescott produced his 20th career game-winning drive, and Downs — playing against his older brother Josh Downs and the Colts — ended it with a leaping interception with 35 seconds on the clock.
Cowboys Beat Colts 27-23: How the Final Two Minutes Unfolded
Indianapolis led 23-20 with 1:37 left after Spencer Shrader’s 50-yard field goal, his second long kick of the fourth quarter. Shrader had tied the game at 20 with a career-long 59-yard field goal with 5:56 to go.
Dallas needed less than 30 seconds to answer. Prescott went deep to Ryan Flournoy for 46 yards on the first play of the drive. Javonte Williams plowed to the 11, a penalty on defensive tackle Grover Stewart set up first-and-goal at the 6, and Williams scored from 1 yard out to give Dallas a 27-23 lead with 1:08 remaining. The four-play, 65-yard drive took only 29 seconds.
The Colts still had time and two timeouts. Daniel Jones drove Indianapolis to its own 26 before an intentional grounding call pushed the Colts back, and on third-and-22 from his own 14, Jones heaved a desperation pass that Downs came down with for the interception.
Lamb and Prescott Carry the Offense
Prescott finished 21 of 34 for 335 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, a 114.2 passer rating. Ten of those completions, 195 of the yards and one of the touchdowns went to Lamb, the second-highest receiving total of his career. Lamb’s 44-yard touchdown catch with 21 seconds left in the second quarter came when the Colts left him wide open down the right side, and it gave Dallas a 17-7 halftime lead.
Williams was the workhorse, carrying 20 times for 101 yards and the winning score. Prescott’s other touchdown went to Jake Ferguson.
Jones finished 20 of 34 for 180 yards with one touchdown and the interception, a 70.7 rating. The Colts’ offense never found a rhythm, but Dallas kept it close with self-inflicted wounds: 14 penalties for 153 yards, a Lamb fumble in the red zone, and a Prescott fumble that set up a short Colts touchdown drive. Inactive linebacker DeMarvion Overshown even drew a 15-yard penalty for coming onto the field during a celebration.
Downs Gets the Better of His Brother
Downs was the best player on the Dallas defense. The rookie had a sack on a second-quarter blitz, two pass breakups and the game-sealing interception on third-and-22. Fifteen members of the Downs family attended the game to watch the brothers face each other for the first time since their Georgia prep days, and there was trash talk between them long before kickoff.
Josh Downs, the older brother, finished with three catches for 24 yards for Indianapolis. On Sunday, the younger brother got the better of the matchup — and the game.
Analysis: A Win Dallas Had to Have
The Cowboys blew a fourth-quarter lead for the second straight week, but this time they recovered. That is the difference between 4-5 and 3-6, and between staying in the NFC East race and falling out of it. As Prescott put it afterward, Dallas “had to have it,” and the offense delivered when the game was on the line.
The concerns have not gone away. A team that outgains its opponent by 237 yards should not need a 29-second drive to win, and 14 penalties for 153 yards is the kind of undisciplined afternoon that loses games against better teams. But the Cowboys survived it, and the defense made the decisive play — something it had not done the week before.
For Indianapolis, the loss is a fifth straight, dropping the Colts to 2-7. With the trade deadline arriving Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, the Colts face decisions on veterans — the Indianapolis Star’s coverage noted Jonathan Taylor among the names drawing trade attention. Baltimore has already made its move before the deadline, acquiring Jacoby Brissett to steady its quarterback room, while Indianapolis is still searching for answers.
Around the NFL on Sunday
Cincinnati beat Atlanta 34-17 in Madrid, with Joe Burrow completing 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score. It was the Bengals’ fourth consecutive victory, leaving Cincinnati and Pittsburgh tied at 6-2 atop the AFC North. Baltimore, which lost 33-10 to Jacksonville on Thursday night, stayed fourth at 4-5.
The New York Giants upset the Philadelphia Eagles 19-11 at Lincoln Financial Field. New Orleans beat Cleveland 23-22 in overtime after the Browns failed a two-point conversion attempt, with Shedeur Sanders throwing for 297 yards and two touchdowns while starting for the injured Deshaun Watson.
Detroit won its fourth straight, beating Miami 19-9 on the road. The Lions (6-2) now head to Munich for next Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. ET. The Los Angeles Rams came back to beat Washington 20-13, with Matthew Stafford finding Puka Nacua for a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Denver beat Carolina 26-21.
Preview: Buccaneers at Bears on Sunday Night Football
This section is a preview and analysis: the game has not been played yet.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) visit the Chicago Bears (6-2) at Soldier Field on Sunday night, kicking off at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Chicago is a 6.5-point favorite, with the total set at 47.5 points.
The Bears arrive as one of the league’s hottest teams. They traded for All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, then beat the defending-champion Seahawks in Seattle on Monday night. Tampa Bay has won two straight, beating Carolina and Atlanta, but Baker Mayfield attempted only 14 passes combined in those two victories — the Buccaneers have been winning on the ground and with defense.
Analysis: Chicago’s home-field edge and its defensive front should be the difference against a Tampa Bay offense that has barely thrown the ball in two weeks. The Bears are the stronger side right now, but the Buccaneers’ running game can keep this close into the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Bears 24, Buccaneers 20.
What Is Next
Dallas (4-5) stays in the NFC East race after a win it could not afford to lose. Indianapolis (2-7) hosts the Miami Dolphins (1-7) next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, with the trade deadline arriving first on Tuesday. Cincinnati hosts Pittsburgh next Sunday night with first place in the AFC North on the line.
Sources: Reuters; AP (via La Nacion); DallasCowboys.com; NBC Sports; IndyStar; Ravens Wire / USA Today; Lions Wire / USA Today; Saints Wire / USA Today; NBC; Action Network.
