Dallas Cowboys @ Detroit Lions
Final Score: Lions 44, Cowboys 30
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
We had a matchup between two playoff hopefuls as the Lions and Cowboys faced off, and turnovers played a big part in deciding this game. Detroit easily won that turnover battle, capitalizing on Dallas’ mistakes and securing a crucial victory. The Lions’ offense looked explosive, generating big plays from their three primary playmakers and repeatedly taking advantage of short-field situations created by the Cowboys’ miscues.
Dallas committed two costly turnovers in the first half, putting themselves in an early hole they struggled to climb out of. The offense functioned best when Dak Prescott attacked the middle of the field and targeted his slot options, but losing CeeDee Lamb for the entire second half further reduced their ability to sustain drives. In the end, Detroit’s big plays and turnover advantage proved too much for the Cowboys to overcome.
Four Up
- Jahmyr Gibbs – Dominated as a receiver against the Cowboys and was able to find the end zone three times.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown – After looking like a long shot to play, St. Brown had a solid 92 yards on 6 receptions.
- Jameson Williams – Many Williams owners may have gotten scared seeing St. Brown with a late active, but he ended up having a big game still, with over 90 receiving yards, and led the team in targets
- Ryan Flournoy – The Cowboys receiver would step up for an injured CeeDee Lamb and lead this team in targets and score a touchdown.
Two Down
- George Pickens – struggled to get things going with Lamb on the field, but failed to step up as the WR1 as he had done in weeks past.
- CeeDee Lamb Injury – Despite having a great game, seeing a star suffer a kinda scary injury is not ideal.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: 34/47 376 Yards, TD, 2 INTs | 3 Carries, 14 Yards
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott piled up yardage against the Lions’ secondary, but his overall performance fell short. His lone touchdown came on a broken play that left his receiver wide open for an easy score. Prescott also threw two interceptions—one clearly his fault, and another that deflected off his receiver’s hands into a defender’s arms.
Prescott had strong moments, especially when he had time in the pocket or rolled out to extend plays. He zipped the ball all over the field and frequently carved through Detroit’s coverage when operating on schedule.
However, whenever pressure got to him, the mistakes followed. Prescott delivered several poor throws under duress, nearly took a safety, and contributed to costly turnovers that swung momentum away from Dallas. The Cowboys fell behind early, and Prescott wasn’t able to do enough to engineer a full comeback.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: 17 Carries, 67 Yards, TD | 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 0 Yards
Javonte Williams continued to lead the Cowboys backfield in touches, but he faced a tough challenge against a strong Lions run defense—and it showed early. Williams struggled to find running lanes in the first half, with most of his carries going for fewer than five yards as Detroit consistently won at the line of scrimmage.
It wasn’t until the third quarter that Williams finally broke off a run of 10+ yards. He found a bit more success in the second half overall, mixing in steadier gains, though none longer than 11 yards. His involvement in the passing game was respectable with four targets, but he wasn’t able to turn those opportunities into meaningful yardage.
Williams did manage to punch in a short rushing touchdown midway through the third quarter, helping salvage his fantasy day. Considering the difficulty of the matchup, he ultimately delivered a solid performance even if the efficiency never fully clicked.
Malik Davis: 3 Carries, 6 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
George Pickens: 9 Targets, 5 Receptions, 37 Yards
This was one of George Pickens’ worst nights in a Cowboys uniform. His target volume dipped early as CeeDee Lamb operated as the clear WR1, and once Lamb left in the second half, Pickens still failed to step up. He finished with just three receptions for 22 yards, despite a negative game script that should have provided additional opportunities.
Detroit’s secondary played him aggressively, frequently bracketing him after Lamb exited. They were physical at the catch point, disrupting multiple routes and forcing several breakups. Pickens did see a few deep shots, but none were remotely catchable due to Prescott’s placement.
To make matters worse, Pickens contributed to a turnover when a pass bounced off his hands and into the arms of a Lions defender. Overall, it was a frustrating and ineffective night for the veteran receiver. If Lamb misses Week 15, we could see a return to vintage Cowboys Pickens as the offense redistributes targets—but this performance was one to forget.
CeeDee Lamb: 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 121 Yards
CeeDee Lamb started the game slowly, not recording his first catch until late in the first quarter. But once the second quarter began, it was all CeeDee. He completely took over, dominating the Lions’ secondary and looking virtually unstoppable. His route running created consistent separation, and he hauled in the majority of his targets during that one explosive quarter.
Lamb even had a chance for an even bigger day. Midway through the second quarter, he beat his man down the sideline on what could have been a long touchdown, but Dak Prescott placed the ball outside instead of inside, missing a potential game-breaking play.
Early in the third quarter, Lamb suffered an injury on a wild contested catch attempt in the end zone. The way his body reacted initially looked like a potential concussion, but he was able to get up quickly. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the game. Had this injury occurred on a Sunday slate, I’d be shocked if he suited up for Week 15, but with the extended rest, he’ll at least have a chance to return next week.
Jake Ferguson: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 58 Yards, FUM (Lost)
Tight end Jake Ferguson delivered another one of his steady floor performances, operating as Dak Prescott’s primary short-area and over-the-middle target. Ferguson made several strong, contested catches throughout the game, once again showcasing the physical style he brings to the tight end position.
However, his biggest mistake proved costly. On a short dump-off reception, Ferguson lost the ball on a fumble, resulting in a turnover that became a major turning point in the game for Dallas.
Despite Lamb leaving early in the third quarter, Ferguson did not see a significant increase in targets or usage. His role remained mostly unchanged, limiting any potential spike in production.
Ryan Flournoy: 13 Targets, 9 Receptions, 115 Yards, TD
Ryan Flournoy was arguably the biggest winner for the Cowboys in this game outside of CeeDee Lamb’s early production. In the first half, Flournoy looked like a non-factor with just 4 targets and 2 catches for 5 yards—hardly enough to warrant a write-up. But everything changed once Lamb exited with his injury. Flournoy slid directly into Lamb’s slot role and immediately became a focal point of the offense.
He exploded in the second half, finishing the game with 9 targets, 7 receptions, 110 yards, and a touchdown. Flournoy consistently separated all over the field, and Dak Prescott leaned on him heavily—especially over the middle, where Detroit’s defense struggled throughout the night.
His touchdown came on a broken play in which he found himself wide open for a 42-yard score. Flournoy played extremely well and once again flashed the ability to step up whenever Lamb isn’t on the field.
KaVontae Turpin: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards | 1 Carry, 4 Yards
Brevyn Spann-Ford: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Luke Schoonmaker: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
Jonathan Mingo: 1 Target
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
Jared Goff: 25/34, 309 Yards, TD, 2 Carries, -2 Yards
Lions quarterback Jared Goff delivered another steady, game-manager performance. Early on, Goff struggled when pressure came directly into his face, forcing him into some off-platform and rushed throws. The Lions leaned on quick-game concepts in the first half—screens, dump-offs, and short slants—allowing Goff to settle in with high-percentage passes, though he did make a few questionable decisions during this stretch.
After halftime, Goff found his rhythm. He pushed the ball downfield more effectively in the second half, an area where he had trouble earlier. His best throw of the night came in the third quarter: a perfectly placed touchdown strike to Isaac TeSlaa. Overall, Goff avoided turnovers, managed the offense efficiently, and gave Detroit exactly what it needed to secure the win.
Running Back
Jahmyr Gibbs: 12 Carries, 43 Yards, 2 TDs | 7 Targets, 7 Receptions, 77 Yards, TD
Lions star running back Jahmyr Gibbs delivered a huge performance on Thursday Night Football, scoring three total touchdowns. While he didn’t produce massive yardage on the ground—finishing with just 43 rushing yards—Gibbs made his impact in the red zone, punching in two rushing scores. He handled the majority of the backfield work, with David Montgomery functioning mostly as a change-of-pace option.
As a receiver, Gibbs was as dangerous as ever against the Cowboys. He saw steady involvement early, drawing at least four targets in the first half alone. Detroit used him in a variety of ways—screens, dump-offs, and designed routes to get him in space. His best play came in the first quarter on a 26-yard catch-and-run, showcasing his elite acceleration and open-field ability.
Overall, Gibbs put up an elite fantasy performance and played a major role in helping the Lions’ offense find its rhythm again.
David Mongtomery: 6 Carries, 60 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
David Montgomery rotated in on roughly every other drive, functioning more as a breather back while Gibbs handled the majority of the snaps. Even in the reduced role, Montgomery delivered a strong performance on the ground.
His highlight came in the second quarter when he ripped off a 35-yard touchdown run, bursting up the middle and breaking multiple tackles on his way to the end zone. Montgomery also saw a single target late in the fourth quarter during a drive primarily featuring him.
While he’s no longer operating as the 1B in this backfield, Montgomery remains a touchdown-dependent fantasy option—capable of solid production when he finds the end zone but carrying limited volume outside of that.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 92 Yards
Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caused stress for fantasy managers all week after not practicing, but he was ultimately active—and he looked every bit like himself. Despite the late-week uncertainty, St. Brown showed no signs of being limited. He led the team in targets and finished around his season average with 92 receiving yards. Detroit fed him early and often, and he responded with his usual combination of sharp route running, toughness, and reliable hands.
St. Brown didn’t look slowed or less than 100% at any point. He displayed his trademark burst out of breaks and created multiple chunk YAC plays. Whenever Jared Goff needed a quick, safe outlet over the middle or toward the sideline, St. Brown was there as his security blanket. He started the game just 1-for-3 on his early targets but closed strong, catching 5 of his final 6 looks. St. Brown remains an elite fantasy option moving forward.
Jameson Williams: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 96 Yards
Jameson Williams’ first touch didn’t come until late in the first quarter on a jet sweep, where he came within one yard of scoring. His first target didn’t arrive until the middle of the second quarter, but from that point on, Williams became a focal point of the offense.
For the rest of the game, he was targeted frequently and dominated the Cowboys’ secondary. Williams consistently used his elite speed to separate against both man and zone coverage, giving Jared Goff easy throwing windows. He did have a couple of missed opportunities—two potential big plays where Goff overthrew him—but the process was strong throughout.
Williams looked explosive, confident, and dangerous at every level of the field, finishing with a big performance that showcased exactly why his speed is such a problem for defenses.
Isaac TeSlaa: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards, TD
Rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa didn’t have many chances to step up with Amon-Ra St. Brown active, but he continued to shine in scoring situations. TeSlaa remained a reliable red-zone target, hauling in a strong 12-yard touchdown on a well-contested grab, catching the defender off guard and securing the ball over the top. Despite seeing only three targets in the game, he made the most of his limited opportunities.
He also could have had a second touchdown in the second quarter, but Jared Goff—under heavy pressure—missed him on what would have been a wide-open score.
Ross Dwelley: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Anthony Firkser: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Malik Cunningham: 1 Carry, 1 Yard