Cowboys vs. Lions: 4 Takeaways From Detroit’s Win Over Dallas

[ad_1] Per week after Thanksgiving, the 2 NFL groups which are perennial vacation hosts gathered on one other Thursday with a lot on the road.

The Detroit Lions obtained a much-needed win on Thursday evening over the Cowboys, 44-30 at Ford Area. This was a high-leverage recreation, one which would depart the loser with solely a protracted shot at making the playoffs. And it didn’t disappoint, with a back-and-forth slugfest price staying up for.

Listed here are my takeaways:

1. Lions present they are not going away It’s Detroit, it’s a primetime TV recreation, so what higher to remind America that Motown hasn’t gone away than to carry out The Temptations at halftime?

The Lions’ message in a must-win recreation, each earlier than and after the halftime present, was simply understood: Prepare, ‘trigger right here we come.

Had the Lions misplaced to the Cowboys, their playoff probabilities would have dwindled to simply 12% in keeping with The Athletic’s playoff simulator. That’s not fairly eradicated, however it leaves no margin for error and would imply they want plenty of assist to sneak into the playoffs.

As a substitute, after a powerful win over the Cowboys, they’re up at 45% and again to threatening the Bears and Packers on the prime of the NFC North standings. Detroit is 8-5, which implies it’ll be inside a recreation of Sunday’s Bears-Packers loser for second place, the place they may very well be a harmful wild-card staff.

The Lions offense, which averaged 16.5 factors in latest losses to the Eagles and Packers, was again on observe, with Jared Goff avoiding errors and discovering open receivers downfield. Working backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery stay one of many league’s greatest 1-2 combos, with three touchdowns and almost 200 yards between them Thursday.

This was very a lot a loser-goes-home sort elimination recreation, which is uncommon for Week 14. The Lions got here into this season with such greater expectations than the Cowboys, so it’s becoming that they’re those that hold their playoff hopes alive into the ultimate 4 weeks of the season.

2. Dallas wants fewer wonderful discipline objectives, extra touchdowns As amazingly good as Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey is from lengthy distance, you actually don’t wish to see him as a lot as Cowboys followers did Sunday.

Dallas moved the ball effectively within the first half,, until they have been making an attempt to get in the long run zone. Aubrey had discipline objectives of 57 and 55 yards – these are punting conditions for some groups – and one other drive stalled within the crimson zone for a shorter kick. He added a 63-yarder within the second half and is now 9-for-11 on kicks of fifty yards and longer this season.

Detroit obtained touchdowns, Dallas obtained discipline objectives, and that’s why the Cowboys trailed 20-9 on the half. The wild factor is, they’re a greater red-zone offense this 12 months than final – they ranked thirty first within the crimson zone final 12 months, they usually’re as much as thirteenth in 2025. The Cowboys haven’t had issues scoring this 12 months, however you retain up with a potent offense like Detroit’s with sevens, not threes.

Even within the closing minutes, down 10 and going through a fourth-and-3 from the 11 with 3:45 left, Dallas took the straightforward kick to get inside one rating. 5 discipline objectives, 5 missed alternatives.

3. Gibbs is vastly underrated He doesn’t get the identical nationwide love because the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor or the Falcons’ Bijan Robinson, however Gibbs is extremely underappreciated as an elite do-it-all again.

Gibbs already had greater than 1,000 dashing yards earlier than Thursday’s recreation, and his common of 5.8 yards per carry is the very best of all the highest backs. He was everywhere in the discipline Thursday, getting catches of 19 and 26 yards on the opening drive, scoring in a while a one-yard run. Then, when the Cowboys rallied to get inside a discipline objective late, it was Gibbs who burst by way of the center for a 10-yard rating and a much-needed cushion. Then, with 2:19 left within the fourth quarter, Gibbs added a 3rd landing to make it a 14-point recreation.

Gibbs completed the sport with 12 carries for 43 yards and the three touchdowns alongside together with his seven catches for 77 yards.

If Gibbs can maintain that dashing common, it’ll be one of many 10 greatest dashing seasons within the Tremendous Bowl period by way of common with that many carries. Particularly if the Lions make a push and make the playoffs, he ought to be a Professional Bowl choice.

This season, Jahmyr Gibbs has additional cemented himself as one of many NFL's greatest operating backs. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Photographs)

4. Two Jake Ferguson miscues set the Cowboys again It’s exhausting to level a finger at anyone particular person, however Cowboys tight finish Jake Ferguson had two expensive errors in a primary half the place Dallas struggled to search out factors. The primary was a fumble on a third-and-21 play that noticed Ferguson lose the ball as he fought for yards whereas nowhere close to the road to realize. That gave Detroit a brief discipline and arrange a landing for a 17-6 Lions lead.

Simply as expensive was a penalty with 2:32 left within the half. The Cowboys, throwing from midfield, had what would have been a 49-yard defensive go interference penalty that George Pickens drew on the 2-yard line, however Ferguson was flagged for unlawful palms to the face, so the penalties offset, and the Cowboys have been left to accept one other discipline objective.

It’s solely Ferguson’s second misplaced fumble and his fourth penalty of the season, however he’s at a place the place you actually shouldn’t have a lot of both.

Jake Ferguson's fumble within the first half was a key play. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Photographs)

4 ½. What’s subsequent? The Lions can have a good time a giant residence win towards the Cowboys and comprehend it retains them alive with actual playoff hopes, however they’ll shortly shift their focus to an enormous impediment forward: taking part in on the Rams in 11 days on FOX on Dec. 14.

Can Detroit lose there and nonetheless make the playoffs? Certain, however the path is a lot simpler if the Lions can knock off the Rams. Win there, their playoff chance leaps from 45% to 67%, in keeping with The Athletic’s playoff simulator. Lose, and it’s again right down to 35% and nearly needing to win out of their closing three video games.

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade overlaying the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You may observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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