The Detroit Lions proved one thing in a 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys: they still have some fight in them.
As much as a Week 14 game can be considered a “must-win,” the Lions’ matchup with the Cowboys was exactly that.
With playoff hopes slowly dwindling after trading wins and losses since a 4-1 start, the Lions reached a tipping point in Week 14 — a loss would be devastating, and a win inspiring.
With a win over the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, the Lions’ playoff chances would be over 50 percent — with a loss, they’d fall to under 15 percent, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
The Cowboys came in red-hot, fresh off a Thanksgiving Day win over the Chiefs and an upset over the Eagles the week prior, posing a tall task for the Lions, especially considering Detroit’s injuries.
But with the weight of Detroit on their shoulders, the Lions rallied and got the job done — and in impressive fashion, for what felt like the first time in ages.
Offense
The offense proved that it has not lost its ability to be multidimensional.
Amon-Ra St. Brown was expected to miss the matchup after tweaking his ankle on Thanksgiving.
Head coach Dan Campbell said the injury could sideline St. Brown “a week or two, maybe, if we’re lucky.”
St. Brown fought through the pain and not only suited up but continued to show how versatile and valuable he is. The All-Pro receiver recorded 92 yards on six receptions — and added a gallery of blocking rep masterpieces.
Jameson Williams looked as comfortable as ever out wide, continuing to come into his own. He hauled in seven receptions on nine targets for 96 yards. If Williams continues the trajectory he’s been on since Campbell took over play-calling duties, he could assert himself as one of the league’s premier second receivers.
Jahmyr Gibbs added 77 yards through the air. He struggled to get going in terms of rushing yardage, only notching 43 yards on 12 carries. That said, he punched in three impressive touchdowns, which tied Barry Sanders for the most career touchdowns before a player’s 24th birthday, with 47. Gibbs does not turn 24 until the offseason, so he should independently own that record soon.
David Montgomery, the other half of the Lions’ two-headed backfield monster, rushed for 60 yards despite only carrying the ball six times — largely thanks to an aggressive 35-yard touchdown rush.
Jared Goff looked comfortable for the first time in weeks, completing 25 of 34 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown to Isaac TeSlaa, who has managed to score on a whopping 50 percent of his receptions. Goff spread the ball to seven different receivers.
Defense
The defense held its own against a scorching Cowboys offense led by MVP candidate Dak Prescott.
Kelvin Sheppard’s unit allowed 376 yards to Prescott’s right arm but limited him to one touchdown and forced two interceptions — one to open the second half by Derrick Barnes, and one to seal the win by DJ Reed.
Al-Quadin Muhammed tallied his second three-sack game of the year, putting him at a team-high nine on the season. Detroit is poised to have two players finish with double-digit sacks for the first time since 2010.
Jack Campbell continued to earn his stripes as one of the league’s best linebackers with a fantastic game. He punched out a ball to force a fumble that set up the Montgomery touchdown, and he sacked Prescott for what was nearly a safety.
The Lions played complementary football. Offense, defense. And, finally, special teams.
Special teams has been a calling card of the Lions for the entirety of the Dan Campbell era. The unit has uncharacteristically struggled as of late, but Thursday was redeeming.
The coverage units largely bottled up KaVontae Turpin, the Cowboys’ electric return man.
Jake Bates was nearly perfect on the night, making 5-for-5 extra points and field goal attempts of 38, 47 and 46 yards. His lone miss was blocked by the Cowboys.
Perennial practice squad Lion Tom Kennedy provided a spark in the return game for Detroit. He had three kick returns, all at least 39 yards — the league average return is 26 yards. Kennedy tallied 21 yards on his sole punt return as well.
Looking forward
Moving forward, all three units will need to continue to complement each other in order to make the playoffs.
Since the NFL expanded its playoffs to seven teams per conference in 2020, only two 10-win teams have missed the playoffs. If the Lions finish 10-7, they would almost certainly become the third.
The Lions sit at 8-5 with four games to play. They’ll likely need to win at least three of those games, and sweeping the slate is their only way to get into the playoffs without relying on other teams to lose — and they’ll have to do it without Brian Branch, who tore his Achilles tendon against Dallas.
On Sunday, Dec. 14, the Lions will head west for a date with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL. Matthew Stafford could be leading the MVP race, and he has an arsenal of weapons to throw to. LA’s defense is also dangerous — young, fast and talented.
A week later, the Pittsburgh Steelers will come to Ford Field. The Steelers started hot, but they’re slowly falling apart. Detroit must capitalize and win this game to have any level of confidence moving forward.
Detroit’s penultimate matchup of the regular season will come against the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota gave Detroit fits in their first matchup, and the Lions will have to do a better job of picking up the Vikings’ blitzes and exploiting the weak spots they inevitably create in the defense. Defensively, the Lions should hope and expect that JJ McCarthy looks less like he did in their first matchup and more like he has every other time he’s taken a professional football field.
It could all come down to a Week 18 battle in Chicago. The Bears might be positioned to try to play spoiler for the Lions, or the matchup could be a direct fight for a playoff spot. Regardless, it will almost certainly be a game the Lions have to win. They’ll have to make Caleb Williams uncomfortable and dominate at the point of attack in what should be a physical matchup on a presumably cold January day.
The Cowboys game was a statement. Now comes the real test — Rams, Steelers, Vikings, Bears. Four weeks to prove they belong.