In a game Detroit had to have at home to keep pace in the NFC North standings and the NFC playoff picture, the Lions got a complementary performance from all three phases in defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 44-30.
Detroit’s defense forced three turnovers on a Jack Campbell forced fumble recovered by Brian Branch, a Derrick Barnes interception on a pass defended and tipped in the air by Amik Robertson, and a D.J. Reed interception to ice it. Detroit’s offense turned the first two into touchdowns by David Montgomery (35-yard run) and Isaac TeSlaa (12-yard reception) and the later helped seal the game for Detroit late in the fourth quarter.
Detroit also got three touchdown runs from Jahmyr Gibbs to give him 13 total touchdowns on the season and 47 for his career, which ties Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for the most by a player in his first three seasons in NFL history.
Lions kicker Jake Bates made three field goals and five extra point tries and Detroit’s return and coverage units on teams were good all night against dynamic Cowboys returner KaVontae Turpin. Lions wide receiver/returner Tom Kennedy had a 21-yard punt return and three kickoff returns totaling 120 yards for a 40-yard average.
The win improves the Lions’ record to 8-5 on the season as they currently remain the No. 8 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
Wide receivers Jameson Williams (7 catches, 96 yards) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (6 catches, 92 yards) also had really nice games for the Lions.