The Dallas Cowboys travel to face the Detroit Lions in a pivotal NFC showdown on Thursday Night Football, with both teams jockeying for playoff positioning. The Cowboys, riding a three-game winning streak, sit 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and are pushing for a wild-card berth. The Lions, mired in a 2-3 skid over their last five, have slipped two games back of the Chicago Bears in the NFC North but remain in the hunt for the division crown. This matchup features two of the league’s most explosive offenses, but injuries could tilt the scales toward a defensive battle—or a shootout if key weapons return.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Ford Field, 2000 Brush Street, Detroit, MI 48226. The domed stadium seats 65,000 and is known for its passionate Lions fanbase and prime downtown location near Comerica Park.
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: Prime Video: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung (field reporter)
Westwood One: Kevin Kugler, Ross Tucker
Local radio on 97.1 The Ticket (DAL) and 97.1 The Ticket (DET).
Injury Report
Both teams enter with significant absences, particularly on the Lions’ side, which could blunt their passing attack. Here’s a snapshot of the latest practice reports (as of Tuesday, December 2):
| Team | Player | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Est. Game Status |
| Cowboys | Jadeveon Clowney | OLB | Hamstring | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Questionable; two sacks last week but hamstring limits explosiveness. |
| Tyler Guyton | LT | Ankle | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Out; missed Week 13, Cowboys’ O-line vulnerable without him. | |
| Trevon Diggs | CB | Knee | Limited (Mon/Tue) | Questionable; 21-day window opened, could return for secondary boost. | |
| George Pickens | WR | Calf/Knee | Full (Tue; Limited Mon) | Probable; key deep threat expected to play. | |
| Hakeem Adeniji | G | Knee | Limited | Probable. | |
| Malik Hooker | S | Back | Limited | Probable. | |
| Dante Fowler Jr. | DE | Shoulder | Limited | Probable. | |
| Lions | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | Ankle | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Doubtful/Out; rolled ankle on Thanksgiving, huge loss (73 rec, 1,142 yds, 8 TDs). |
| Kalif Raymond | WR | Ankle | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Out; depth hit in return game. | |
| Taylor Decker | LT | Shoulder/Rest | NP (Tue; LP Mon) | Questionable; rest day could help, but shoulder limits protection. | |
| Penei Sewell | RT | Shoulder | NP (Tue; Not listed Mon) | Questionable; downgraded, critical for Goff’s blindside. | |
| Kerby Joseph | S | Knee | NP (Tue; LP Mon) | Out; seventh straight missed game, weakens run support. | |
| Brock Wright | TE | Neck | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Out; backup TE depth tested. | |
| Shane Zylstra | TE | Knee | NP (Tue; LP Mon) | Questionable. |
The Lions’ offensive line and receiving corps take the biggest hits, potentially forcing more checkdowns from Jared Goff. Dallas’ pass rush could exploit this if Clowney suits up.
Key Player Matchups
This game pits two high-powered passing attacks against leaky secondaries. Here’s a breakdown of the marquee battles:
Dak Prescott (DAL QB) vs. Lions Secondary (minus Terrion Arnold, IR-Shoulder)
Prescott is scorching hot, averaging 331 passing yards over his last three starts with 6 TDs and just 1 INT. Detroit ranks ninth in fantasy points allowed to QBs but has surrendered 237 passing yards/game over the last month. Without Arnold, look for Prescott to target the slot against Brian Branch (toe/ankle, limited).
Jared Goff (DET QB) vs. Cowboys Pass Rush (Clowney? + Quinnen Williams)
Goff boasts a 110.2 passer rating (69.8% comp., 25 TDs) but faces a Dallas front that’s improved since acquiring Williams at the deadline (opponents averaging 69.7 rush yds/game last three). If Clowney plays, Detroit’s O-line woes (Decker/Sewell questionable) could lead to hurried throws.
Javonte Williams (DAL RB) vs. Lions Front Seven
Williams is a bellcow (20.3 touches, 80% snaps last four games), but Detroit’s run D is stout (No. 4 in rush yds allowed). Still, Williams’ 121.8 team rush avg. could grind out 65+ yards if the Lions stack the box against the pass.
CeeDee Lamb/George Pickens (DAL WRs) vs. Lions CBs (37.3% press coverage rate)
Lamb (league-leading targets) and Pickens (best vs. press: 432 yds on 39 targets) thrive in man coverage. Detroit presses often (2nd-most in NFL), but without Joseph in the box, big plays loom.
Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery (DET RBs) vs. Cowboys DL
The duo combines for explosive runs, but Dallas has halved opponents’ rush totals post-Williams trade. Gibbs (68.1% anytime TD prob.) could feast if Detroit leans run-heavy without St. Brown.
Team Records and Standings Context
Cowboys: 6-5-1 (2nd NFC East, .542 win%). Tied for 6th in NFC wild-card hunt. Offense: No. 1 passing yds (271.3/g), No. 2 pts scored (29.3/g). Defense: No. 31 pts allowed (28.5/g).
Lions: 7-5 (3rd NFC North, .583 win%). 5th in NFC wild-card. Offense: No. 7 passing (238.2/g), No. 4 rushing (138.1/g), T-3rd pts (29.2/g). Defense: No. 15 pts allowed (22.8/g).
Recent Team FormsBoth squads have shown volatility, but Dallas is surging while Detroit cools.
Cowboys Last 5 Games (3-2):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov. 27 | vs. KC | W 31-28 | Prescott: 320 yds, 2 TD; Williams: 59 yds. |
| Nov. 23 | vs. PHI | W 24-21 | Defense holds late; Lamb: 112 yds. |
| Nov. 17 | @ LV | W 33-16 | Prescott: 3 TD passes; run game dominates. |
| Nov. 3 | vs. ARI | L 17-27 | Turnovers doom; secondary exposed. |
| Oct. 26 | @ DEN | L 24-44 | Pass rush absent; 44 pts allowed. |
Lions Last 5 Games (2-3):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov. 27 | vs. GB | L 24-31 | Goff: 256 yds, 2 TD; Gibbs: 68 yds. |
| Nov. 23 | vs. NYG | W 34-27 (OT) | Gibbs: 219 yds, 2 TD; OT thriller. |
| Nov. 17 | @ PHI | L 9-16 | Offense stifled; 1 TD total. |
| Nov. 9 | @ WAS | W 44-22 | Goff: 320 yds, 3 TD; blowout win. |
| Nov. 2 | vs. MIN | L 24-27 | Close loss; Montgomery: 40 yds. |
Dallas’ wins have come via balanced attack and late-game D; Detroit struggles when rushing <100 yds (0-4 this year).
Series History
The Cowboys hold a historical edge, but recent meetings favor Detroit’s resurgence. All-time: Dallas leads 19-13 (including playoffs). Last 5 meetings:
Oct. 13, 2024: Lions 47, Cowboys 9 (DET).
Dec. 30, 2023: Cowboys 20, Lions 19 (DAL).
Oct. 23, 2022: Lions 24, Cowboys 6 (DET).
Jan. 30, 2022 (Playoff): Cowboys 31, Lions 30 (DAL).
Oct. 11, 2021: Lions 31, Cowboys 29 (DET).
Dallas is 2-3 SU in last 5 but covers in high-scoring affairs (avg. 45.4 total pts).
Betting Trends
Spread: Lions 6-6 ATS; Cowboys 7-5 ATS. DET 4-2 ATS at home; DAL 2-4 ATS on road.
Total: Over in 8 of DAL’s 12 games (67%); 7 of DET’s 12 (58%). TNF overs hit 60% this season.
Key Trends: Lions 0-4 when <100 rush yds; Cowboys 5-1 when Prescott >300 yds. H2H: 4/5 overs since 2021.
Projected Score: Detroit Lions 28, Dallas Cowboys 25
COWBOYS NOTES:
• QB DAK PRESCOTT passed for 320 yards, 2 TDs & 100.4 rating in Week 13, his 4th-career Thanksgiving game with 300+ pass yards, tied-most in NFL history (Matthew Stafford & Tony Romo). Aims for 3rd in row with 300+ pass yards & 4th in row with 2+ TD passes. Ranks 1st with 303 comp. & 2nd with 3,261 pass yards & tied-2nd with 25 TD passes this season. Has 8 TD passes in his last 3 primetime games. Ranks 3rd in pass yards (10,500) & TD passes (72) on primetime since 2016. • RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS had 80 scrimmage yards & TD catch last week. Aims for 4th in row with 80+ scrimmage yards. • RB MALIK DAVIS recorded 1st rush TD in 2025 last week. • WR CEEDEE LAMB had team-high 7 receptions for 112 yards & TD in Week 13, his 13th career game with 100+ rec. yards & rec. TD, tied-4th most in Cowboys history. Has 7,083 career rec. yards, 5th-most rec. yards by any player age 26-or-younger. Aims for 3rd in row with 75+ rec. yards. • WR GEORGE PICKENS had 88 rec. yards in Week 13 & has 7 straight games with 75+ rec. yards, the longest active streak in NFL this season. • TE JAKE FERGUSON has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 on road. • LB JADEVEON CLOWNEY had season-high 2 sacks in Week 13. • LB DEMARVION OVERSHOWN co-led team with 6 tackles last week. Had FF in last meeting. Aims for 100th career tackle (99). • DT QUINNEN WILLIAMS has TFL in 2 of his past 3. • DT OSA ODIGHIZUWA has sack in 2 of his past 3. • DE DANTE FOWLER had 3rd sack of season last week. • CB SHAVON REVEL co-led team with season-high 6 tackles in Week 13. • CB DARON BLAND aims for 3rd in row on primetime with 10+ tackles & PD. • S DONOVAN WILSON had 5 tackles & FF in Week 13. Has 6+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 on road.
LIONS NOTES:
• QB JARED GOFF passed for 256 yards & 2 TDs with 132.9 rating in Week 13. Ranks tied-2nd with 25 TD passes this season. Ranks 5th with 9,148 pass yards on primetime since 2016. Has TD pass in 18 consecutive games, longest active streak in NFL. Passed for 315 yards & 3 TDs with a 153.8 rating in last meeting. • RB JAHMYR GIBBS has recorded 1,019 rush yards in 2025, his 2nd career season with 1,000+ rush yards since 2023. Ranks 4th in NFL with 1,019 rush yards & tied-4th with 10 rush TDs this season. Has 1,416 scrimmage yards & 13 TDs this season & is the 5th RB since 1990 with 1,200+ scrimmage yards & 10+ TDs in each of his 1st 3 seasons. Aims for 5th in row with 85+ scrimmage yards. • RB DAVID MONTGOMERY had 6th rush TD in 2025 last week. Had 2 rush TDs in last meeting & has rush TD in 3 of his past 4 home primetime games. • WR JAMESON WILLIAMS led team with 7 receptions for 144 yards & TD in Week 13. Has rec. TD in 4 of his past 5. • WR ISAAC TESLAA (rookie) recorded 3rd TD catch this season last week. • WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN has 505 career receptions since entering NFL in 2021 & can surpass Michael Thomas (510) for most receptions through 1st 5 career seasons in NFL history. • LB JACK CAMPBELL had 8 tackles in Week 13. Has 5+ tackles in every game this season. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 on primetime. Aims for 5th in row on primetime with 8+ tackles. • LB ALEX ANZALONE aims for 6th in row with 5+ tackles. • DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON had 6 tackles in Week 13. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 at home. Had sack in last meeting. Tied-2nd in NFL with 4 FFs this season. • CB AMIK ROBERTSON tied career-high 3 PD in Week 13. • DB BRIAN BRANCH had team-high 10 tackles & 2 PD in Week 13. Aims for 7th in row with 6+ tackles. Had FF & 2 INTs in last meeting.
Game Odds
Dallas Cowboys 54.5
Detroit Lions – 3
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Wednesday, December 3, 2025
