Cowboys grind past Lions, 17–13, snapping skid on Thursday night

DETROIT, MI - For the second straight week, the Cowboys and Lions found themselves under the Thursday night lights, both looking to rebound from Thanksgiving disappointment. Dallas entered Week 14 coming off a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, while Detroit was trying to shake off a home defeat against the Green Bay Packers. This time, the response came from the visitors, as the Cowboys leaned on a disciplined defensive effort and timely execution to hold off the Lions 17-13 in a primetime battle, snapping a two-game losing streak and improving to 9-3.

"It wasn't pretty, but it was the kind of win we needed," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. "Short week, tough environment - you take it any way you can."

Lions surge, Cowboys respond

Detroit finally broke through in the third quarter when Jahmyr Gibbs burst through the line for a 20-yard touchdown run, briefly swinging momentum and giving the Lions their first lead of the night.

The Cowboys didn't panic.

Early in the fourth quarter, Dallas leaned on its run game, finishing a methodical drive with Miles Sanders punching in a two-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead for good.

"That drive was everything," Cowboys head coach Andres Perez said. "That's situational football. That's how you win in December."

Closing it out

From there, Dallas' defense took over. The Cowboys clamped down on Detroit's passing game, forced long-yardage situations, and bled the clock whenever they touched the ball.

Detroit had chances late but couldn't flip the script, finishing the night with more frustration than points.

"We've been close," Gibbs said. "But close doesn't count. We've got to finish."

What it means

For Dallas, the win halts a skid at the perfect time, keeping the Cowboys firmly in the NFC playoff picture despite back-to-back disappointments.

For Detroit, the loss deepens a difficult stretch. The Lions are now 1-4 in their last five games and 2-5 over their last seven, struggling to build momentum as December begins.

Up Next

The Cowboys return home in Week 15 for a Sunday Night Primetime matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, looking to build momentum after snapping their two-game skid on Thursday night.

The Lions hit the road in Week 15 to face the Los Angeles Rams, aiming to regroup and stop their recent slide as December football ramps up.