Lions regain momentum with decisive win over Cowboys
The Lions found early rhythm in rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who delivered three rushing touchdowns in one of his most complete outings of the season. According to The Associated Press, Gibbs’ scoring drives helped Detroit shake off any lingering frustration from their Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay and reestablish control of the NFC playoff race.
Dallas arrived on a three-game tear, but its offense never settled. Reporting from Sky Sports noted that Dak Prescott absorbed constant pressure a combination of sacks, hurried throws and a costly fumble which prevented the Cowboys from sustaining drives and shifted the tone of the game.
Detroit’s win moves the team to 8–5, and updated projections cited by Sky Sports put their playoff odds at around 54 percent with four games left.
Cowboys rely on an unusual source of offense
For long stretches, the Cowboys’ only reliable scoring came from kicker Brandon Aubrey, who turned Ford Field into a showcase of long-distance precision. The Associated Press reported that Aubrey became the first kicker in NFL history to hit three field goals of 55 yards or longer in the same game, drilling kicks from 57, 55 and 63 yards. He added two more to tie his career high.
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It was an extraordinary performance and an illustration of how static the Dallas offense became. Detroit, by contrast, spread the ball cleanly. Jared Goff finished 25 of 34 for 309 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown to rookie Isaac TeSlaa.
“You could see an uptick in urgency from everybody,” Goff said afterward, referring to the sharper execution that had been missing a week earlier.
Detroit counters when it matters
Aubrey’s fifth field goal narrowed Detroit’s lead to three with just under four minutes remaining, briefly tightening the stadium’s energy. But the Lions answered immediately. Tom Kennedy’s return gave Detroit a short field, and Goff quickly found Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 37-yard strike down the right sideline. Moments later, Gibbs punched in his third touchdown to seal the night.
Gibbs finished with 77 receiving yards to go with his ground work. St. Brown, who had been questionable because of an ankle issue, turned in a six-catch, 92-yard performance. Jameson Williams added seven receptions for 96 yards, continuing his recent surge.
Defense complements the offense
Detroit’s defense uneven in recent weeks played with a noticeably higher edge. Al-Quadin Muhammad recorded a career-best three sacks, and linebacker Jack Campbell forced a fumble while adding another. The collective pressure disrupted Dallas’ timing and gave Detroit’s offense room to operate without chasing the game.
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If the Lions were looking for a statement heading into the final month, Thursday night delivered one not with theatrics, but with the balanced, composed football they’ve been trying to recapture.
Sources: AP, Sky Sports.
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