Cowboys’ playoff hopes in jeopardy after loss to Lions and costly late-game mistakes

The Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-30 connected Thursday Night Football, cementing themselves arsenic the apical challenger for the last effect successful the NFC playoffs.

Dallas entered the crippled riding a three-game winning streak to ascent backmost into the playoff hunt. But the nonaccomplishment drops the Cowboys to 6-6 and into the 10th seed, 2 and a fractional games down the San Francisco 49ers for the last NFC playoff spot.

Detroit improved to 8-5, putting the Lions firmly backmost into the contention conscionable 1 crippled down San Francisco.

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Detroit Lions moving backmost David Montgomery (5) runs against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (34) during the archetypal fractional astatine Ford Field successful Detroit connected Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Thursday's crippled was besides the taxable of disapproval against referees connected societal media. 

Two calls successful peculiar were wide scrutinized: erstwhile Prescott was seemingly tackled successful his ain extremity portion successful the archetypal quarter, but referees did not telephone a safety, and successful the 4th fourth erstwhile violative walk interference was called connected Cowboys choky extremity Jake Ferguson during a important red-zone 3rd down — adjacent arsenic galore argued Lions defender Alex Anzalone committed the infraction.

DAK PRESCOTT, CEEDEE LAMB LEAD COWBOYS PAST CHIEFS IN THANKSGIVING THRILLER

Detroit Lions fans clasp up signs during the archetypal fractional against the Dallas Cowboys astatine Ford Field. (Lon Horwedel/Imagn Images)

Detroit's moving backs led the mode successful the reddish zone, arsenic Jahmyr Gibbs scored 3 touchdowns and David Montgomery added another. Lions backmost Jared Goff threw for 309 yards. 

Cowboys backmost Dak Prescott threw for 376 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. His archetypal interception ended Dallas’ opening possession of the 2nd fractional and acceptable up a Lions touchdown to widen the pb to 27-9. His 2nd interception ended the Cowboys’ last thrust arsenic they attempted to rally late.

Prescott has present thrown 8 interceptions this season. He was considered an MVP contender earlier successful the year, but nary subordinate has ever won the grant without reaching the postseason.

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Dec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Dallas Cowboys backmost Dak Prescott (4) hands disconnected to moving backmost Javonte Williams (33) during the archetypal fractional against the Detroit Lions astatine Ford Field.  (Lon Horwedel/Imagn Images)

Dallas present has conscionable an estimated 8% accidental of making the playoffs.

If the Cowboys autumn short, it volition people their 30th consecutive play without a Super Bowl title.

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