The Detroit Lions’ season seemed like it was on life support after a loss to the Green Bay Packers. However, the Lions looked much more like a contender the following Thursday, dumping 44 points on the Dallas Cowboys in an impressive win to keep their postseason dreams alive. Jared Goff finished 309 yards, and Jahmyr Gibbs found the end zone three times to punish a Cowboys defense that looked like they were improving.
It was an up-and-down day for the defense. After holding the Cowboys out of the end zone, they gave up far too many big plays in the second half—and the Cowboys drew within three points late. But the Lions offense would not be denied, and the Lions walked away with a huge NFC win to push their playoff odds near 50/50 again.
Here’s how the Lions picked up their big Thursday night win to move to 8-5 on the season.
First quarter
The Dallas Cowboys won the toss and deferred, giving the ball first to Detroit. The Lions offense got off to an explosive start thanks to Jahmyr Gibbs, who turned a lateral and a catch into gains of 19 and 26 yards.
But when Detroit got into the red zone, Gibbs got stuffed on a run, and Jared Goff was sacked by former Lion James Houston to force a field goal. 3-0 Lions.
The Cowboys responded with a drive basically consisting of two big plays. Dak Prescott found George Pickens for an 11-yard gain, then he hit tight end Jake Ferguson for 18 yards right up the seam.
But the Lions defense stood up nicely from there, with Avonte Maddox notching a pass breakup on third-and-10 and forcing a 57-yard field goal. Brandon Aubrey nailed it to make it 3-3 seven minutes into the game.
Early in the drive, Lions safety Thomas Harper was injured and evaluated for a concussion. He was replaced by Avonte Maddox.
Tom Kennedy returned the kickoff all the way to Detroit’s 47-yard line, giving the offense a nice position to retake the lead. But Detroit quickly went three and out after a short run from David Montgomery and two incomplete passes by Goff—one forced by pressure and the other to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who fell down before the ball arrived.
A good punt and a penalty on the Cowboys forced them to start at their own 4-yard line. Detroit nearly got a safety when Jack Campbell sacked Prescott on third down, but after review, it was determined the ball was just outside the end zone, so Dallas punted. You make the call.
The good news for Detroit is that Kennedy had a nice punt return that set up the Lions at Dallas’ 42-yard line.
The Lions quickly got into the red zone thanks to a crossing route to St. Brown that gained 27 yards down to the Cowboys’ 8-yard line.
Two plays later, Gibbs drove it in from the 2-yard line for a 10-3 Lions lead.
Noteworthy: Rookie Miles Frazier stepped in for Trystan Colon at left guard this drive.
The Cowboys responded on the next drive with a healthy dose of the run. Three runs from Williams went for a collective 12 yards as time expired in the first quarter.
Second quarter
Facing a third-and-5, Prescott kept the drive alive with a short pass to CeeDee Lamb, who broke a tackle attempt by Amik Robertson to pick up the first down. Dallas converted another third down with a toss to Williams, who fought through traffic to move the chains. But once in the red zone, the Cowboys failed to convert a third-and-10 when Al-Quadin Muhammad quickly turned the corner for a sack. Aubrey drilled a field goal from 42 yards out to cut the lead to 10-6 Lions.
The Lions went three-and-out after a bizarre sequence of events. The Lions got into a third-and-2 and appeared to get a free play with the Cowboys jumping offsides, but no flag was thrown, and Goff’s pass to Jameson Williams—who was arguably contacted before the ball arrived—fell incomplete.
The Cowboys immediately hit a deep shot with a 37-yard pass to Lamb. But thanks to pressure from Aidan Hutchinson, Prescott threw a lateral on the next play that went for a 16-yard loss. On the ensuing third-and-21, Prescott checked it down to Ferguson, who got the ball punched out by Jack Campbell, and Brian Branch recovered.
Detroit nearly squandered the good field position with penalties. Dan Skipper was called for holding, then Tate Ratledge false-started. But the Goff hit Jamo for a 25-yard gain down to the Cowboys’ 35-yard line.
Two plays later, David Montgomery busted up the middle for a 35-yard touchdown. 17-6 Lions.
On the ensuing kickoff, kicker Jake Bates was run over hard and went to the locker room. He returned shortly thereafter.
The Cowboys mounted their four-minute drill to try to cut into the lead. First, Prescott found Lamb for 21 yards. Then they converted a third-and-4 with a short pass to KaVontae Turpin. A facemask penalty on Pickens put the Cowboys behind the sticks, and they would eventually have to settle for a field goal of 55 yards, which Aubrey made. 17-9 Cowboys.
Detroit burned a couple of timeouts on defense to get a chance at a final possession, so the Lions had 45 seconds and a single timeout to score from their own 26-yard line. A pass to Gibbs for 18 yards got the Lions to midfield, and another nine from St. Brown got them near field goal position. A 14-yard pass interference penalty on the Cowboys left Jake Bates with a 47-yard field goal, and he made it as time expired. 20-9 Lions.
Third quarter
On the very first play, the Lions’ defense came up with a big play. Amik Robertson broke up a pass to George Pickens, and it bounced right into the hands of Derrick Barnes for an interception that put the Lions in the red zone.
It only took the Lions two plays to cash in with a perfectly-laid pass to Isaac TeSlaa for the 12-yard touchdown. 27-9 Lions.
The Cowboys would strike back quickly, though. Prescott connected with Lamb on a 32-yard bomb, then Williams broke a few tackles for an 11-yard run into the red zone. Detroit was able to force a fourth-and-5, but the Cowboys went for it, and Pickens caught an 8-yard pass, fumbled, but it was recovered by Dallas for the first down. Two plays later, Williams ran it in for a 1-yard touchdown. 27-16 Lions.
On the drive, Lamb suffered a concussion and was declared OUT for the remainder of the game.
Despite a -5 yard run to start the drive, the Lions moved into Cowboys territory thanks to a clutch catch-and-run from Gibbs. Goff then found Jameson Williams on a comeback route for 16 yards. On third-and-5, St. Brown and Williams were in the same spot, and Goff’s pass bounced off St. Brown’s arms. Detroit had to settle for a 52-yard field goal attempt, and Bates’ kick was blocked.
Dallas took over at their own 42-yard line. It took just two plays to get into field goal position, as Prescott found Ryan Flournoy for 18 yards. But a holding penalty drawn by Aidan Hutchinson moved Dallas back and forced an eventual third-and-9. The Cowboys appeared to convert, but they were called for offensive pass interference on the pick play. On the ensuing third down, D.J. Reed picked up a great pass breakup, forcing a 63-yard field goal attempt from Aubrey, who drilled it the long field goal. 27-19 Cowboys.
Detroit looked to bleed the clock and score points, and they succeeded early with some David Montgomery. He took three carries for 15 yards, including two first downs. Jameson Williams pitched in a 13-yard catch to move to the Cowboys’ 45-yard line as the third quarter expired.
Fourth quarter
The Lions were driving nicely by continuing to feed Montgomery on a 13-yard pass and a 7-yard run. However, after a Tate Ratledge holding on a deep shot, the Lions found themselves way behind the sticks. Facing a third-and-13, Detroit tried a screen to Williams, who came up well short. Detroit settled for a 46-yard field goal attempt, and this time Bates made it. 30-19 Lions.
Dallas answered in a hurry. After a couple of runs of 11 yards, Flournoy hit Amik Robertson with a double move, and Prescott hit him for an easy 42-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was good, making it 30-27 Lions with 9:52 left.
Another strong return from Kennedy put the Lions on their own 41-yard line to start. Just as it looked like the Lions may go three-and-out, Goff found Jamo for a 29-yard gain, plus a roughing the passer call on top of it.
Two plays later, Gibbs blasted in for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 37-27 Lions with 7:17 left.
Detroit immediately got a sack from Muhammad, but the Cowboys completely erased the loss with a 20-yard pass to Flournoy. After completions to Luke Schoonmaker (12 yards) and Flournoy for another 10, the Cowboys were in the red zone. Then, on a third-and-3, Anzalone got a pass defense, and the Cowboys settled for a field goal. 37-30 Lions
Brian Branch went down on third down and walked very gingerly off the field and was eventually. carted to the locker room. He was listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury.
Tom Kennedy had another electric return, this time to the 49-yard line of the Lions, giving Detroit critically good field goal position. Two plays into the drive, Goff found St. Brown for a huge 37-yard gain down to the 13-yard line. Gibbs took it from there with a 13-yard touchdown, his third of the day. 44-30 Lions.
Dallas would threaten to score again, but D.J. Reed would end the night with an interception to call game.
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