The Detroit Lions returned to Ford Field just one week after their divisional loss on Thanksgiving Day, this time prepared to play the hot-handed Dallas Cowboys.
This was a well-rounded game for the Lions, with huge plays coming from the offense, defense, and special teams units. Jared Goff threw for over 300 yards, the Lions won the turnover battle with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, and Jahmyr Gibbs ran in three touchdowns. If I were Dan Campbell, just about every player on the team would get a game ball for their performances against Dallas.
But if only one could be awarded, the game ball deserves to go to an under-the-radar player for Detroit’s defense.
Game ball: Al-Quadin Muhammad
Muhammad may not have started this game, but he sure did what he needed to do to help finish it.
Muhammad joined the Lions in October of the 2024 season—two months after he was let go by the Dallas Cowboys. As a fill-in starter due to injuries, Muhammad did enough to earn a second contract in Detroit.
This season, he’s continued that momentum, going into this game with six sacks over 12 games. Though not a starter, he still plays an important role on defense as a rotational pass-rusher. Against his former team, he put up a hat trick, sacking Dak Prescott three times.
His first sack came five minutes into the second quarter. Dallas had driven 55 yards down the field over 14 plays up to this point. At Detroit’s 15-yard line, Prescott dropped back for a pass. Two seconds later, he was on the ground. Muhammad, lined up against reserve left tackle Nate Thomas, beat him from the get-go, as Thomas got caught looking inside when Muhammad got around his outside shoulder and took Prescott down.
Because of this play, Dallas was forced to kick a field goal and the Lions were able to maintain their lead.
Muhammad’s second sack of the night happened halfway through the fourth quarter. It was a joint effort from the entire defensive line to make this play happen. Tyleik Williams blew up the left guard, pushing him several yards back and forcing Prescott to move out of the way. Hutchinson beat the left tackle and ran through the lane opened by Williams. The combination of those two pressures allowed Muhammad to then get around the right tackle and chase Prescott down for another sack.
His final sack of the night occurred in the second-to-last play of the game. Dallas, down 14 points with about a minute and a half left in regulation, was attempting to mount their comeback. This time, it was all on him, as he beat the right tackle once again with excellent use of hands. The very next play, the Cowboys’ quarterback threw a pass that was picked off by the Lions to ice the game.
Muhammad hopefully played himself into a larger role moving forward. His performance against Dallas is deserving of a game ball, not only for helping the team secure a win, but also as a personal accolade. Muhammad set career-highs for sacks in a game and for a single season with his heroics versus the Cowboys.
Honorable mention: Tom Kennedy
Despite being the fourth-longest tenured player on the current Detroit Lions roster, wide receiver Tom Kennedy is still a relative unknown to most. A former professional lacrosse player, Kennedy went undrafted to the Lions in 2019 and has floated between the practice squad and active roster year after year.
This season, he’s finally been given the opportunity to have a role on game days, and he has made the most of it. With Kalif Raymond out due to injury, Kennedy has taken over as Detroit’s kick and punt returner. He’s had a few reps in this role over the years, but this season has been his best look by far.
Kennedy returned three kickoffs in this matchup for a total of 120 yards, with a long of 42. He isn’t the fastest of players, but he has some shiftiness to his game and relies on his vision to find lanes on his returns. Thanks to Kennedy, Detroit started their drives on their own 47, 41, and 49 yard lines following his three kick returns.
Kennedy also brought back a 21-yard punt return in the second quarter, setting up the Lions for a six-play, 42-yard touchdown drive.
There’s a reason that Kennedy has survived on this team through seven seasons and two head coaches. His hard work throughout training camp, preseason, and practice has finally paid off and allowed him to make plays in primetime games for Detroit.
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