Jahmyr Gibbs Scores 3 TDs in Lions 44-30 Victory over Cowboys/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for three touchdowns to lead the Detroit Lions to a crucial 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions’ defense stepped up with five sacks and three takeaways, halting Dallas’ playoff surge. With the win, Detroit improved to 8-5 and kept their postseason hopes alive.
Jahmyr Gibbs Leads Lions to Key Win Over Cowboys: Quick Looks
- Jahmyr Gibbs rushes for 3 TDs, including game-sealing score
- Lions snap back from loss with dominant 44-30 win
- Detroit defense records 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery
- Jared Goff throws for 309 yards and a touchdown
- Rookie Isaac TeSlaa scores first career TD
- Al-Quadin Muhammad leads defense with career-high 3 sacks
- Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams shine in receiving game
- CeeDee Lamb exits with concussion after 121-yard first half
- Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey sets NFL record for long FGs
- Lions improve to 8-5; Cowboys fall to 6-6-1
Gibbs Scores Three Touchdowns as Lions Beat Cowboys 44–30 to Stay in Playoff Hunt
Deep Look
DETROIT — Jahmyr Gibbs exploded for three touchdowns and the Detroit Lions defense came alive in a critical moment, helping the team keep its playoff dreams intact with a 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.
With postseason pressure mounting, Gibbs’ performance was exactly what the Lions needed. The rookie running back not only scored twice in the second half but sealed the game with a 13-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left.
“We needed this,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “And we played our best game of the year when it mattered most.”
Lions Defense Finally Delivers
After a dismal showing against Green Bay last week where they failed to register a single sack, Detroit’s defense bounced back with a vengeance. They sacked Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott five times and forced three turnovers — including two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Al-Quadin Muhammad led the charge with a career-high three sacks, while rookie Jack Campbell added a sack and a forced fumble.
“You could feel the urgency from everyone,” said quarterback Jared Goff, who had a sharp night with 309 passing yards, completing 25 of 34 attempts.
Goff Steady, Receivers Step Up
Goff connected early with rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa for a 12-yard touchdown, helping Detroit build a 27-9 lead in the third quarter. Though Dallas would rally, the Lions offense made key plays down the stretch.
Jameson Williams continued his late-season surge with seven catches for 96 yards, while Amon-Ra St. Brown, playing through an ankle injury, caught six passes for 92 yards, including a pivotal 37-yard reception on the final drive that set up Gibbs’ third touchdown.
“He wasn’t coming out,” Campbell said of St. Brown. “He was going, and nobody was going to talk him out of it.”
Cowboys Rally Falls Short
Dallas entered the game on a three-game win streak, fueled by its top-ranked offense and stingy defense. But on Thursday, the Cowboys were outmatched by Detroit’s intensity.
Prescott finished with 376 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, completing 31 of 47 passes. However, constant pressure derailed Dallas’ rhythm, and the loss of star receiver CeeDee Lamb to a concussion in the third quarter hurt their comeback chances. Lamb had six receptions for 121 yards before exiting.
Backup receiver George Pickens was largely ineffective, catching just five of nine targets for 37 yards.
“It felt like every time we got momentum, they hit us with a big play,” said Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Aubrey Makes NFL History
One of Dallas’ few bright spots was kicker Brandon Aubrey, who tied his career high with five field goals, including makes from 63, 57, and 55 yards. According to Sportradar, he became the first player in NFL history to hit three field goals of 55 yards or longer in a single game.
But while Aubrey’s leg kept Dallas in the game, the offense’s failure to convert drives into touchdowns proved costly.
“These guys aren’t deflated,” Prescott said after the game. “They’re (ticked) off — and we need to use that as fuel going forward.”
Playoff Picture Shifts
With the win, Detroit improved to 8-5 and significantly improved its postseason outlook. The NFL now gives the Lions a 54% chance to make the playoffs.
Dallas, now 6-6-1, saw its odds drop to 7% after the loss, a major blow after surging back into contention over the past month.
“We’re not out of it,” Schottenheimer said. “But we made things harder for ourselves tonight.”
Injury Updates
Cowboys:
- CeeDee Lamb left with a concussion in the third quarter.
- Jadeveon Clowney, Trevon Diggs, and Tyler Guyton were inactive.
Lions:
- Brian Branch left with an ankle injury late in the game.
- Thomas Harper exited early with a concussion.
- Kalif Raymond, Kerby Joseph, and Brock Wright (IR) did not play.
What’s Next
Cowboys: Return home to face the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 14 in prime time.
Lions: Travel west to meet the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 14, another key test for Detroit’s playoff hopes.
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