Detroit–like detroit lions Entered Thursday’s game with a 7-5 record, running back Jahmir Gibbs The regular season homestretch has been described as a “must-win game”.
The first challenge against the bounce was big dallas cowboys team, but the Lions were up to the task with a 44–30 victory. According to ESPN Analytics, Detroit’s chances of reaching the playoffs increased from 43% before the game to 56% with the win.
“We need to treat it like a playoff game,” Gibbs previously told ESPN. Gibbs responded with three touchdown runs and 77 receiving yards. His five games with multiple TD runs are tied for the second-most games in a season in Lions history.
Lions also got an edge from WR Amon-Ra Saint BrownJoe suited up after a game time decision due to an ankle injury. St. Brown had six catches for 92 yards.
It was the fifth time this season the Lions scored at least 35 points, the most in the NFL.
Detroit Lions (8-5)
turn: During a key moment, Lions WR jameson williams He provided a third down conversion with a 29-yard catch at 8:26 in the fourth after Dallas pulled within three points. Williams’ big catch helped set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Gibbs on the same drive, putting the Lions ahead 37–27 with 7:17 remaining.
trend of viewing: Lions All-Pro offensive tackle Penny Sewell According to ESPN Research, he has now allowed a sack for the fourth consecutive game, the longest streak of his career. In the opening quarter, his former partner james houston Passed Sewell to deliver sack on QB Jared Goff On third place. Sewell has not recorded sacks since his rookie season in 2021.
Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston share congratulatory messages after Jahmir Gibbs and David Montgomery break their record for TDs by a RB duo in the Super Bowl era.#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/h5ylzn7AL4
– Detroit Lions (@Lions) 5 December 2025
Statistics to know: This is the 15th time that Gibbs and david montgomery Scored any type of touchdown in a single game. This breaks the tie with the Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston for the most by a pair of RB teammates in the Super Bowl era. Smith and Johnson shared congratulatory messages for the Detroit pair via social media after breaking the record. Gibbs has scored 47 career touchdowns, tying Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for most touchdowns in a player’s first three NFL seasons. This season he also had three games with three touchdowns, the most by a Lions player in a season since Cloys Box in 1952. , eric woodyard
Next game: But Los Angeles Rams (Dec. 14, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
dallas cowboys‘ Their playoff chances did not end with their defeat. detroit lionsBut they were drenched. ESPN Analytics puts the Cowboys’ playoff chances at 8% with four games remaining, their first loss since the bye week.
At 6-6-1, the Cowboys lost in a head-to-head tiebreaker against the Lions, carolina panthers And Chicago BearsTheir best chance to make the postseason may come by winning the NFC East, which would require Philadelphia (8-4) to falter,
They can look at turnovers (a fumble, an interception), major penalties, such as the pass interference penalty wiped out in the Lions 4, and several big plays allowed by the defense. With four games to play, the Cowboys will likely need to win all of them to have a chance.
trend of viewing: the night in which javonte williams The run game struggled, averaging over 1,000 yards on the season. Over the course of three quarters, the Cowboys managed one run that topped 10 yards. While the Cowboys rushed for 125 yards and 137 yards in their wins against the Eagles and Chiefs, 109 of those yards came on four carries, including a 43-yard touchdown. malik davis Against Kansas City. The Cowboys haven’t had the consistency they wanted from the run game and need to find it again after playing four games.
stat to know: Struggling to get to the quarterback in recent games with four sacks in his last four games, the Lions were sacked dak prescott Three times in the first half. Prescott had 2.65 seconds to throw in the first half. In their three-game winning streak, they had at least 2.8 seconds to make a throw. Two of the three sacks came on offense. In the first 12 games, he was sacked only six times against the blitz.
turn: Despite not scoring a touchdown in the first half and trailing 20–9, the Cowboys were expected to use the first drive of the second half to establish themselves. Disaster struck in the very first game. Prescott’s Pass – to george pickens — waved in the air and stopped derrick barnesAfter two plays, Jared Goff Kill isaac tesla Ran for a 12-yard touchdown to take the lead to 18 points. It was a terrible 42 seconds for the Cowboys in a night that hurt their playoff chances. , todd archer
Next game: versus minnesota vikings (December 14, 8:20 p.m. NBC)
