NFL Week 14 – Thursday Night Football Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys By Sarah Ellison December 3, 2025
DETROIT — The last time these two teams met on a Saturday night in late 2023, the ending was so controversial that the NFL’s rulebook still hasn’t recovered. Fourteen months later, they meet again under the Amazon Prime lights, and the only thing that feels the same is the point spread: Detroit favored by three.
Everything else? Night and day.
Then (Dec. 30, 2023)
- Lions 11-4, fighting for the 1-seed
- Cowboys 10-5, still pretending they were Super Bowl contenders
- Both rosters mostly healthy
Now (Dec. 4, 2025)
- Lions 7-5, coming off back-to-back losses and an injury list longer than the Thanksgiving menu
- Cowboys 6-5, winners of three straight but 1-4 on the road and starting a secondary that looks like it was assembled on NextDoor
- Total combined players on IR or questionable: 19
What to watch
- Can Detroit’s offensive line survive? Taylor Decker (shoulder), Penei Sewell (shoulder), Graham Glasgow (knee), and Kayode Awosika (foot) were all limited or DNP on Tuesday and Wednesday. If even two of them are hobbled or out, Micah Parsons and a suddenly frisky Dallas front could turn Jared Goff into a human piñata. The Lions have allowed 12 sacks in the last three games — their previous nine games combined had only 14.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 50% rule Since Dan Campbell took over, Detroit is 19-4 when St. Brown plays at least half the snaps. They are 3-8 when he doesn’t. He’s officially questionable (ankle) and was in a walking boot Monday. If he’s anything less than 85%, expect a heavy dose of Jameson Williams iso routes and a lot more Jahmyr Gibbs in the passing game.
- Dallas’ road allergy The Cowboys are scoring 31.3 points per game during their three-game win streak — all at home. On the road this season they’ve managed 17.8. Dak Prescott’s QBR drops from 78.4 at AT&T Stadium to 41.2 everywhere else. Ford Field’s closed roof and decibel level won’t feel like Jerry World.
Injury snapshot (as of Wednesday final report) Lions Out: TE Sam LaPorta (back), S Kerby Joseph (knee) Questionable: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle), LT Taylor Decker (shoulder), RT Penei Sewell (shoulder), RG Graham Glasgow (knee), CB Brian Branch (toe)
Cowboys Out: OT Tyler Guyton (ankle) Questionable: DE Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring), S Malik Hooker (back), CB Trevon Diggs (knee – return window opened but not expected)
Bottom line This has the makings of a classic “desperation spot” for Detroit. The Lions have lost two straight by double digits, just got boat-raced on Thanksgiving in their own building, and now face a Cowboys team that can’t win away from Arlington.
See you in the dome. It’s going to be loud.