Resilient Lions knock out Cowboys with explosive offensive showing and overdue takeaways from defense

Detroit — On the ropes after a rocky November, the Detroit Lions dug deep, showcasing their trademark resiliency.

The Lions came out swinging against the red-hot Dallas Cowboys, responded every time they faced adversity, and kept their playoff hopes alive on Thursday night at Ford Field with a 44-30 victory.

Riding a combination of big plays on offense and a pair of turnovers from a defense that had struggled to find a takeaway in recent weeks, the Lions kept their postseason hopes afloat while putting a massive dent in the resurgent Cowboys’ aspirations with the win.

Detroit (8-5) jumped out to a 20-9 lead at the half behind a pair of touchdown runs and two Jake Bates field goals. And they expanded the advantage after the break, intercepting Dallas (6-6-1) on the first snap of the third quarter and quickly translating the takeaway into a touchdown when quarterback Jared Goff found rookie Isaac TeSlaa for a 12-yard score.

Dallas kept things close with a touchdown and a seemingly effortless 63-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey before the end of the third quarter.

The sides traded touchdowns in the final quarter, with Jahmyr Gibbs’ 10-yard scoring run with a little more than seven minutes remaining a critical response after the Lions had a coverage bust that resulted in a 42-yard touchdown for the Cowboys on the previous drive.

Dallas got it back within a score thanks to a short Aubrey field goal with 3:42 remaining, but Detroit counterpunched again with a quality kickoff return by Tom Kennedy followed by a 37-yard catch-and-run by Amon-Ra St. Brown into the red zone. One snap later, Gibbs was back into the end zone, this time from 13 yards out, putting the game on ice.

Scoring summary

First quarter

● 10:46 — Gibbs accounted for 43 yards on the game’s opening drive, but was tackled for a loss in the red zone, followed by former Lion James Houston beating Penei Sewell on third down to sack Goff. That left the Lions to settle for a 38-yard Jake Bates field goal to snag an early lead. LIONS 3, COWBOYS 0

● 8:07 — Prescott completed a pair of first-down passes, including a 19-yarder to tight end Jake Ferguson across midfield, before the Cowboys stalled out. Aubrey came in and knocked down a 57-yard field goal to tie things up. LIONS 3, COWBOYS 3

● 2:14 — Inheriting a short field after forcing the Cowboys to punt deep from their own territory, the Lions drove 47 yards in five plays for a go-ahead touchdown. Amon-Ra St. Brown provided a 26-yard grab to dig the team out of a second-and-13 hole, and Gibbs punched it in from 1 yard out on second-and-goal. LIONS 10, COWBOYS 3

Second quarter

● 9:23 — After allowing the Cowboys to convert four consecutive third downs on a lengthy march, the Lions tightened up in the red zone. Getting the visitors into third-and-10, Al-Quadin Muhammad broke through for his first sack in a month, leaving the Cowboys to kick another field goal. LIONS 10, COWBOYS 6

● 4:27 — Despite a pair of penalties putting them into a first-and-25 situation, the Lions overcame with a long completion to Jameson Williams and a 35-yard touchdown run by David Montgomery. The back picked up big blocks from the right side of his offensive line and ran through a defender on his way to the end zone. LIONS 17, COWBOYS 6

● 0:50 — Penalties hurt the Cowboys with a holding on the kickoff, an illegal hands to the face negating a long completion to George Pickens, and a face mask committed by Pickens as the final nail in the drive’s coffin. Still, they moved the ball enough to get a 55-yard Aubrey field goal to trim the deficit within a single score. LIONS 17, COWBOYS 9

● 0:50 — Rewarded for conserving clock with two timeouts at the end of the Cowboys’ previous possession, the Lions were able to work into field goal range for a half-ending, 47-yard field goal from Bates. LIONS 20, COWBOYS 9

Third quarter

● 14:14 — Following a Derrick Barnes interception to open the second half, the Lions needed two plays to convert the takeaway into points as Goff connected with TeSlaa for a 12-yard score. LIONS 27, COWBOYS 9

● 10:41 — At risk of the game getting away from them, Dallas came up with a needed response, driving 65 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Ceedee Lamb got the series started with a 32-yard grab while working against DJ Reed, and Pickens hauled in a contested fourth-down slant just shy of the goal line, setting up a short, scoring run for Javonte Williams. LIONS 27, COWBOYS 16

● 2:49 — Despite gaining just 13 yards after blocking a Lions field goal, Dallas called upon Aubrey to attempt a 63-yard try. The Cowboys kicker delivered an impressive make, getting his team back within a score. LIONS 27, COWBOYS 19

Fourth quarter

● 11:50 — After having his previous effort blocked, Bates rebounded with a critical 46-yard field goal. Montgomery provided 23 rushing yards on the 40-yard drive. LIONS 30, COWBOYS 19

● 9:52 — Not going down without a fight, Dallas delivered a quick-strike score when Amik Robertson and Brian Branch combined for a coverage bust, allowing receiver Ryan Flournoy to get wide open down the right sideline for a 42-yard touchdown. Prescott then found Ferguson for a two-point conversion, putting the Cowboys within a field goal. LIONS 30, COWBOYS 27

● 7:17 — Needing an answer, the Lions found one. Williams delivered a 29-yard catch on third down to move the chains, and Gibbs did the rest with a 10-yard touchdown run. LIONS 37, COWBOYS 27

● 3:42 — A 13-play response for Dallas stalled in the red zone, but a short Aubrey field goal got the Cowboys back within a score with plenty of time remaining. LIONS 37, COWBOYS 30

● 2:25 — Forget running clock. The Lions hit back with a three-play scoring drive, capped by Gibbs’ third touchdown run of the night. LIONS 44, COWBOYS 30

Turnovers

● On a third-and-21 snap in the second quarter, Dallas completed a short pass to Ferguson, only for Jack Campbell to punch it out. Brian Branch recovered the loose ball for the Lions.

● On the first snap of the second half, Robertson knocked away a slant intended for Pickens, while Barnes corralled the deflection.

● Cornerback DJ Reed ripped a pass out of the arms of Flournoy with a little more than a minute remaining, sealing the victory.

Injuries

● Safety Thomas Harper left the game with a concussion after making a tackle on Detroit’s second defensive snap of the game. He was replaced in the lineup by Avonte Maddox.

● Lamb was lost to a concussion early in the third quarter.

● Safety Brian Branch had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury after breaking up a pass in the end zone during the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. He was eventually carted to the locker room.

Key stats

● Goff completed 25-of-34 for 309 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.

● Montgomery led the Lions with 60 yards on six carries, headlined by his 35-yard score. Gibbs, meanwhile, found paydirt three times despite gaining just 43 yards on 12 carries.

Gibbs added 77 more yards with seven receptions.

● Williams led the Lions with seven grabs for 96 yards, while St. Brown was close behind with six for 92.

● Jack Campbell led the Lions with 12 tackles and a sack, while Al-Quadian Muhammad had 3.0 sacks. Alim McNeill also added a sack.

Notable

● Initially awarded a safety when Jack Campbell sacked Prescott on a third-down snap from the Cowboys’ 10-yard line, the defensive score was overturned after officials ruled the ball was fully out of the end zone when Prescott was first contacted by the defender.

● The Lions rotated Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier at left guard.

● Bates had a 50-yard field goal attempt blocked by Sam Williams in the third quarter.

Inactives

The Lions made the following players inactive for the contest: Safety Kerby Joseph, guard Kayode Awosika, defensive lineman Tyler Lacy, wide receiver Kalif Raymond, defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo and tight end Hayden Rucci.

Joseph, Awosika and Raymond were previously ruled out with injuries. The other three were healthy scratches.

Next game

The Lions hit the road to play the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday at 4:25 p.m.