After falling short on Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions are back in action for another Thursday game, this time against their fellow Thanksgiving traditionalists, the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive, as they enter play tonight at 7-5, two back in the win column behind both the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears and the team occupying the last playoff spot in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers. We’ll have live updates here throughout the night.
Final: Lions 44, Cowboys 30
Three touchdowns (again) for Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions pick off Dak Prescott twice as Detroit scores a much-needed 44-30 win over the Cowboys to move to 8-5 and move with one game of the 49ers in the Wild Card race and 1.5 of the Bears in the NFC North.
D.J. Reed seals victory with interception
D.J. Reed slams the door on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys with an interception — after Al-Quadin Muhammad recorded his third sack of the night — and the Lions come away with a huge 44-30 victory over the Cowboys to keep their playoff hopes alive at 8-5, while the Cowboys hopes are razor thin, as they fall to 6-6-1.
Gibbs’ hat trick all but ices game, ties Barry Sanders’ record
Jahmyr Gibbs recorded another hat trick Thursday (his 3rd of the season) following his 13-yard touchdown run to all but put the icing on the cake in this one, as the Lions take a 44-30 lead. In addition, that was Gibbs’ 47th career touchdown. That ties Barry Sanders for the most by a player in his first three seasons in the NFL. And Gibbs still has four more games to play.
Safety Brian Branch questionable to return with ankle injury
Lions safety Brian Branch is questionable to return after suffering an ankle injury during the previous defensive series. He was slow to get up and was eventually carted off the field. This late in the game, it’s unlikely Brnach will return.
Lions catch break with questionable OPI call, hold Cowboys to field goal, lead by 7
A 13-play, 56-yard drive for the Cowboys ended with a bit of controversy, as a questionable offensive pass interference call against Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson stopped Dallas in their tracks and brought out kicker Brandon Aubrey for his fourth field goal of the night. This one was a mere 29 yards for Aubrey, who is the first player in NFL history with three field goals of at least 55 yards in a single game. The Lions lead 37-30 with about three minutes left.
Gibbs adds 2nd of night, Lions back up by ten
What a response from the Lions after the busted coverage touchdown. Detroit only needed five plays to go 59 yards, ending with a 10-yard run from Jahmyr Gibbs, his second touchdown of the night. The Lions are back up by ten, 37-27, with 7:17 left.
Busted coverage costs Lions eight points
Communication is paramount on defense. Unfortunately, the Lions seemed to have a miscommunication in the secondary and it cost them. Cornerback Amik Robertson likely thought he had help over the top from safety Brian Branch, as Robertson peeled off to the flat. Branch, instead, was eyeing tight end Luke Schoonmaker, rather than wide receiver Ryan Flournoy, leaving Flournoy wide open for a 42-yard touchdown. Jake Ferguson added the two-point conversion to pull Dallas within three, 30-27.
Jake Bates get Lions back to two-possession lead
With the Cowboys getting back to within one possession early in the fourth quarter, the Lions had to come away with points on their latest possession. Jake Bates to the rescue. Bates hit his third field goal of the night, this time from 46 yards out — he has also hit from 38 and 47 — to give the Lions a 30-19 lead with just under 12 minutes to play.
Brandon Aubrey hits from 63, Lions’ lead down to eight
It is incredible how Brandon Aubrey is making long field goals look so easy. For the third time tonight, Aubrey was successful from at least 55 yards, only this time, he was good from 63. He has four field goals overall, hitting from 55, 42, 57 and 63. The Lions’ lead is down to eight, 27-19.
Bates had field goal attempt blocked, score stays 27-16
The Lions looked to be settling for a 52-yard field goal, but the Cowboys’ defense had other ideas. Jake Bates’ attempt was blocked, keeping the score at 27-16.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb out with concussion
The Cowboys will be without their top wide receiver for the remainders of the game. CeeDee Lamb has been ruled out with a concussion. Lamb suffered the injury when trying to make a one-handed grab early in the third quarter and landed hard on the ground.
Cowboys respond with Javonte Williams touchdown, Lions lead 27-16
The Cowboys needed points bad after giving up a touchdown following the Dak Prescott interception. Javonte Williams delivered from one yard out. The Lions lead, 27-16.
Lions start second half with Prescott interception, TeSlaa touchdown
The Lions wasted no time creating a huge play in the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, linebacker Derrick Barnes stepped in front of a Dak Prescott pass intended for wide receiver George Pickens and returned the interception 23 yards to the Dallas 14. The Lions needed just two plays on offense to find the end zone, as quarterback Jared Goff connected with wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa for a 12-yard touchdown. Lions 27, Cowboys 9.
Halftime box score: Lions 20, Cowboys 9
Lions add three just before halftime, lead 20-9
It looks like kicker Jake Bates is ok. After going to the locker room, Bates returned to the game and has given the Lions three more points heading into the locker room, good from 47 yards out. Lions lead at the half, 20-9.
Brandon Aubrey still has all of Dallas’ points
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey is now 3-for-3 tonight after hitting from 55 yards, to pull the Cowboys to within 17-9.
David Montgomery gets his turn, breaks through for 35-yard score
As has happened on numerous occasions, both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have gotten in on the scoring fun. Montgomery helps the Lions take advantage of a Dak Prescott fumble with a 35-yard touchdown run, a drive that included the Lions converting a first down on 2nd and 17 after facing a 1st and 25 thanks to holding and false start penalties. This marks the 15th time the two running backs have each scored in a game, the most in the Super Bowl era.
Jack Campbell again, this time causing a fumble
The soon-to-be Pro Bowl linebacker Jack Campbell was at it again, this time getting the sack and forced fumble on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. Safety Brian Branch came away with the football to set the Lions up on offense.
S Thomas Harper ruled out with concussion
Lions safety Thomas Harper left the game after taking a hit in the first quarter and was evaluated for a concussion. He has been ruled out of the game. Avonte Maddox is now in the game.
Jahmyr Gibbs scores first touchdown of game
Another week, another touchdown for Jahmyr Gibbs. “Sonic” capped off a six-play, 42-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown that was set up by long catches from both Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Gibbs now has 11 rushing touchdowns on the season. The touchdown also moved Gibbs ahead of Dutch Clark (36) for third-most rushing touchdowns in franchise history. Lions lead, 10-3.
Jack Campbell continues strong season, Lions just miss scoring safety
Linebacker Jack Campbell was the early leader in Pro Bowl voting among inside linebackers. He added another notch under his belt Thursday with a sack of Cowboys QB Dak Prescott that almost resulted in a safety. The original call on the field was a safety, but the replay showed the ball was completely out of the end zone — a replay that wasn’t shown until after the commercial break — preventing the safety, but still forcing a punt. It’s Campbell’s fifth sack of the season.
Lions defense forced Cowboys to long Brandon Aubrey field goal
After settling for a 38-yard field goal on their opening drive, the Lions defense rattled Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, forcing an incomplete pass on third down. Kicker Brandon Aubrey came on for a 57-yard field goal, evening the score at 3-3.
Lions settle for field goal on opening drive
Despite two explosive plays from RB Jahmyr Gibbs on the opening drive, the Lions stalled out in the red zone, as QB Jared Goff was sacked just outside the 20 and the Lions had to settle for a 38-yard field goal from kicker Jake Bates, giving the Lions an early 3-0 lead.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Live updates from Lions’ Thursday night showdown with Cowboys
Reporting by Billy Riccette, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
