In a game with huge playoff implications for both teams, the Detroit Lions bounced back in a big way in their win against the Dallas Cowboys to resuscitate their playoff hopes and put the Cowboys’ season on the brink.
Lions Offense Explodes as Cowboys Defense Reverts Back to Early Season Form
After an underwhelming performance by the Lions’ offense on Thanksgiving Day, Detroit was able to regain its offensive rhythm by shredding the newly revamped Cowboys defense. The 44-point outburst was spearheaded by Lions star QB Jared Goff, who finished with an efficient 309 yards passing and 1 touchdown on the night.
Of course, Goff’s output was thanks in part to the return of star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and an all-around gem by running back Jahmyr Gibbs. In his return from an ankle injury he suffered last week, St. Brown made his presence felt throughout the game. The two-time All-Pro finished with 92 receiving yards for the game.
Meanwhile, Gibbs was doing his best Christian McCaffrey impression, as he ran for 43 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also adding in 77 yards receiving to boot.
Cowboys’ Offense Makes Costly Missteps in Loss
When looking at the box score, the Cowboys’ offense looked to have a monster game, but the penalties and turnovers tell a slightly different story. Coming into the game, the Cowboys ranked 3rd in the NFL in penalties against, and that trend continued as Dallas was called for 7 penalties in the loss.
The penalties, combined with two interceptions thrown by Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and a fumble by tight end Jake Ferguson, ultimately doomed Dallas tonight. The game also took another bad turn for the Cowboys, as star receiver CeeDee Lamb exited the game in the third quarter with a concussion and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
The three-time All-Pro had 121 yards receiving before his injury occurred. The Cowboys have not yet commented on the severity of Lamb’s concussion at this time. Lamb had already missed a handful of games for Dallas due to an ankle injury earlier in the season.
Lions Playoff Hopes Soar as Cowboys Playoff Hopes Evaporate
Before tonight’s game kicked off, both teams sat firmly in the playoff hunt with a potential tiebreaker on the line for this game, which would help bolster each team’s respective playoff probabilities. After the win tonight, the Lions’ playoff window is still open, as their overall playoff probability now stands at 55%, with just a handful of games left.
For the Cowboys, the loss tonight dampens their playoff chances significantly, as they now only have 9% chance of making the postseason. However, the clock has not yet struck midnight for Dallas, as a soft schedule to end the season gives them one last gasp at snagging a playoff spot if they win out.
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