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NFL Thursday Night Football Fans Respond To Detroit Lions Earning Must-Win Over Dallas Cowboys

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NFL Thursday Night Football Fans Respond To Detroit Lions Earning Must-Win Over Dallas Cowboys

Explosive NFL plays and running back Jahmyr Gibbs helped save the Detroit Lions’ season. 

For now. 

Gibbs scored three touchdowns, including two in the final 7:17 of the fourth quarter, as the Lions withstood the Dallas Cowboys, 44-30, on Thursday Night Football at Ford Field.  

Improving to 8-5, the Lions rank No. 8 in the playoff field. They rebounded from a Thanksgiving Day loss to win for a league-best 15th straight time following a defeat.   

“We don’t like losing,” Gibbs told Prime. “That taste in our mouth, we want to get it out.” 

They did. 

With teammate David Montgomery also scoring, the duo established an NFL record by both scoring in their 12th game over the past three seasons.  

Entering the game, the Lions had a 55 percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs with a win and nine percent if they lost. 

What else helped save the Lions’ season? The offense produced six plays of 25 or more yards. 

X (Twitter) fans responded to NFL Thursday Night Football in Detroit …

Lions’ royalty displaying loyalty …

There’s more to being a quality team ambassador. It’s about trying to be a good human being …

The Cowboys entered with a tribute …

Gibbs’ catch and run, while breaking tackles – and a few ankles – advanced the Lions into field-goal range on their opening drive. Jake Bates connected on a 38-yard attempt. The Cowboys countered with a field goal on their initial drive …

How was this not a safety by Lions LB Jack Campbell? NFL officials ruled the ball was entirely out of the end zone. Campbell joined Chris Spielman as the only franchise linebackers to record at least 110 tackles and five sacks in a season …

The Lions had two points taken away, but Gibbs scored on the Lions’ next possession …

Lions defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad sacked Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on third down, setting up the Cowboys’ second first-half field goal, cutting the Lions’ lead to 10-6 at 9:23 of the second quarter …

Campbell created another play, forcing a fumble to set up the Lions’ next first-half score. Despite two offensive penalties, the Lions scored four plays later on Montgomery’s tackle-breaking, 35-yard run …

The teams exchanged field goals over the final 50 seconds of the first half. Halftime score: Lions 20, Cowboys 9 …

Set up by Derrick Barnes’ interception on the first play of the second half, Lions rookie Isaac TeSlaa scored off a 12-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff, lifting the Lions to a 27-9 lead 34 seconds into the third quarter …

Brandon Aubrey, who became the first placekicker in league history to hit three fields of at least 55 yards during the same game, connected on a 63-yarder, sparking the Cowboys’ comeback. He finished with four field goals …

Cowboys continued their second-half charge on Ryan Flournoy’s 42-yard touchdown reception …

Gibbs scored what proved to be the game-winning – and season-saving – scoring scamper from 10 yards out …

Is this a $40 million effort? …

Final score: Lions 44, Cowboys 30 …

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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