Eric WoodyardDec 4, 2025, 06:00 AM ETCloseEric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: “Wasted,” “Ethan’s Talent Search” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story”. He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan.Follow on X
Lions treating matchup with Cowboys as a must-win (0:30)Eric Woodyard breaks down the Lions’ mentality before their matchup with the Cowboys. (0:30)
DETROIT — Two years later, Dan Campbell still gets upset at the thought of how the Detroit Lions’ game at the Dallas Cowboys ended on the night of Dec. 30, 2023.
The controversial prime-time loss remains a triggering moment for the Lions coach. But that night, while never forgotten by the Lions and their fans, was the start of something more for a journeyman offensive lineman who emerged as a cult hero for his role in the contest that now bears his name in Detroit: “The Dan Skipper Game.”
In the days following that loss in Dallas, fans and the Detroit community rallied around Skipper to the point that now, Ford Field erupts every time he reports as eligible as the Lions’ sixth offensive lineman for their jumbo package — an occurrence that will inevitably be the case Thursday night.
Here are must-read and untold quotes from those who witnessed that wild finish in Arlington, Texas two seasons ago.
Dave Birkett, Lions beat writer for Detroit Free Press since 2010: “It was the second to last game of the season and we thought both the Lions and Cowboys were really good teams and thought it might be a playoff showdown.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions wide receiver: “I remember we were trying to get the 1 seed at the time … and if we lost, we would probably get the 3 seed because we really can’t get the 2 seed, so we were going all for the 1 seed.”
Skipper: “I feel like we kind of turned the tables a little bit. We were on a roll. I was thinking ‘just go in there and win one,’ and that would be a big one at the time. They were pretty hot. I was just thinking, ‘How do we win another game?'”
For Skipper, the game also felt personal as he returned to Dallas after being cut by the organization in 2017. Skipper signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Arkansas but failed to make the 53-man roster coming out of training camp, then was signed to the practice squad only to get released on Sept. 20, 2017 before beginning his first stint with the Lions’ practice squad five days later.
Skipper: “I have a lot of personal history with those guys. Anytime someone fires you, you have a little extra hate in your heart. So, yeah, definitely wanted that one. And then going back, just even that [AT&T] stadium … that f—ing place, I’ve got a terrible record in that joint so yeah, just trying to go in there and finally win one. The debacle played out.”
Kalif Raymond, Lions wide receiver: “I wanna say we were even ticked off from the year before we lost to them at the same place. I feel like every time we go into Dallas we had a sour taste. So, we just want to make a statement.”
It was a slow offensive start for both teams, but the Cowboys led 7-3 after two quarters following a 92-yard touchdown reception by Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb on the second possession of the game.
Dallas also inducted two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson into the team’s ring of honor at halftime, so numerous franchise legends were in attendance, including Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.
Penei Sewell, Lions offensive tackle: “It was kind of a rough game offensively at first. They were giving us different looks that we weren’t quite prepared for.”
Skipper: “It’s kind of like every week. You kind of find out early in the week, how it’s gonna be called a little bit. I knew that there were a couple trick-play type things that were jumbo but not a whole lot. I wasn’t expected to play a bunch of snaps.”
Skipper: “Sure enough, it gets called. Going into it, we’d talked and repped it for a while, so we knew what we were getting.”
Officials flagged Lions offensive lineman Taylor Decker after he caught a clean pass after breaking free from the end of the line that appeared to be the potential game-winning 2-point conversion with 23 seconds left. Decker was called for an illegal touching penalty for not reporting as eligible after catching the play-action pass from Goff in the end zone that left the crowd stunned momentarily.
The Lions and the referees gave contradictory accounts afterward, with Detroit saying definitively that Decker reported as an eligible receiver and Skipper did not. Skipper also said afterward that he did not report to an official.
However, in a pool report, NFL referee Brad Allen said the opposite, that Skipper reported to him as eligible and Decker did not.
Sewell: “Emotions were a rollercoaster. It was very high because we caught the game-winning touchdown and then we’re all going to the sideline and the refs said there was a flag on the play and that happened. And we went up again, we’re like ‘all right, cool, whatever, they called it.’ Went over again. They went offsides and we had an incomplete so we’re like, ‘OK, we have another opportunity.’ And then we just went incomplete again.”
Skipper: “Unfortunately, no one was miked. I think the refs got confused. I’ll go to my grave telling you how it was executed. How it went down and I think there’s two other guys that would back me up on that one and one guy who didn’t see it that way. So, it is what it is, it’s all good.”
Detroit would continue to go for the win in a 2-point conversion fest but was stopped twice after the controversial play. Goff was intercepted on the next attempt, but the Cowboys were flagged for being offside. Then on the final attempt, Goff threw another incomplete pass to tight end James Mitchell that was short of the goal line as the Lions fell short of a comeback victory, losing their sixth straight game to the Cowboys.
St. Brown: “I remember going for the 2-point conversion after that like 3 times so that’s really what stood out to me. In my head I was like, ‘We’re gonna go for it again?’ And then we got the flag, and it’s like ‘We’re going to go for it again?’ That was probably one of the only times since I’ve been here where it was like, ‘I probably would’ve kicked the field goal there.’ But we were rocking with it. It was 1 seed or 3 seed, so that’s what we did. It was a fun game.”
Campbell: “If anything, you get in that situation again, you try to find a way to win that one instead of how do you keep it out of the hands of the officials? That’s really what you’re trying to do. Just leave it out of there, that way it’s just up to you.”
As he entered the postgame news conference, Campbell was visibly frustrated after a controversial penalty negated what would have been the go-ahead 2-point conversion late in the game. Detroit’s loss in Dallas would become a trending topic across the sports world as flashing billboards were spotted in metro Detroit alongside Interstate 75 and I-696 from an anonymous donor that read: “DECKER REPORTED”.
In the aftermath, Campbell said he woke up feeling fine the very next day. The following season, Detroit would use that 2023 experience as motivation when they delivered a 47-9 beatdown against the Cowboys in Dallas to end its losing streak.
Goff: “It was a very sad moment for all of us. But it created some notoriety for (Skipper). It was unfortunate the way that happened at the end and would’ve been a cool story otherwise, but I’m glad it’s made him a culture symbol in our city.”
Campbell: “Skip’s a different breed of man. He’s something else. … He’s reliable, dependable, and he does a lot of jobs for us.”
Detroit thought it had sealed the win. With 23 seconds left and down by a point in a back-and-forth nailbiter between two of the NFL’s top teams, starting left tackle Taylor Decker caught Jared Goff’s two-point conversion attempt to give the Lions a 21-20 lead. But a flag was called on the play alleging Decker had not reported himself as an eligible receiver. Officials said after the game it was Skipper, instead, who had done so. Detroit would go for 2 again, but failed on two more attempts, before ultimately losing the game 20-19.
Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan to ESPN before kickoff in 2023: “(Campbell) has turned that thing around, man. This team has the confidence that he has, they know he believes in them and as you’re gonna see tonight, this thing can be anywhere. Who would’ve ever thought the Detroit Lions would come to play the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas has the record they have, that people would go, ‘We don’t know whose gonna win this game?’ I think that’s all attributed to Dan Campbell and what he’s done with this team.”
Johnson in 2023 on entering the Cowboys Ring of Honor: “Well, I don’t think anybody can ever imagine what this means to me. This was a special time in my life. This was something that paid dividends for me the rest of my life. It’s something that I’m extremely proud of. We took over the worst football team in the NFL…the worst! Three straight losing seasons and a 3-13 record and not only did we win Super Bowls, we were able to put together the team of 90’s. So obviously, I’m very proud of that and I’m proud to have my name up in the stadium.”
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Cowboys took a 17-13 edge after Brandin Cooks’ eight-yard touchdown reception from Dak Prescott. The Cowboys then took a 20-13 edge after a 43-yard field goal from kicker Brandon Aubrey with less than two minutes left as the Lions began their final drive. Lions QB Jared Goff would complete an 11-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown with 23 seconds remaining to cap a nine-play, 1:18 drive as they trailed 20-19, but decided to go for 2 instead of kicking the extra point.
Allen said of Decker in the 2023 pool report: “On this particular play, number 70 (Skipper), who had reported during the game a couple of times, reported to me as eligible. Then he lined up at the tackle position. So, actually, he didn’t have to report at all. Number 68 (Decker), who ended up going downfield and touching the pass, did not report. Therefore, he is an ineligible touching a pass that goes beyond the line, which makes it a foul. So, the issue is, number 70 (Skipper) did report, number 68 (Decker) did not.”