Lions vs Cowboys game prediction, key matchups, who has the edge

Lions vs Cowboys game prediction, key matchups, who has the edge

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Story byDetroit Free PressChristian Romo, Detroit Free PressThu, December 4, 2025 at 10:10 AM UTC·6 min read

Free Press sports writer Christian Romo previews the Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys game on Thursday Night Football to start Week 14 in the NFL. Both teams are on the outside of the NFC playoff picture, with the Lions eighth and Cowboys ninth.

The Lions (7-5) are coming off a 31-24 loss to Green Bay on Thanksgiving, their third loss in five games.

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The Cowboys (6-5-1) have won three straight, including a Thanksgiving victory over Kansas City, 31-28, and are 8-1 in their past nine Thursday games going back to December 2021.

The Lions crushed the Cowboys in Week 6 last season on the road, 47-9. This is Dallas' first trip to Ford Field in Detroit since November 2019, a 35-27 Cowboys win.

Here's our breakdown of Cowboys-Lions, with fast facts, a scouting report and game score prediction.

Detroit Lions (7-5) vs Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)

Fast Facts

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET; Thursday, Dec. 4; Ford Field, Detroit.

TV: Prime Video, WJBK-TV (Ch. 2 in metro Detroit only).

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Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1).

Line: Lions by 3.

The coaches: Lions: – Dan Campbell (51-40-1 overall, 46-33-1 with Lions); Cowboys – Brian Schottenheimer (6-5-1, all with Cowboys).

Last meeting: Oct. 13, 2024, Lions won 47-9.

Lions vs Cowboys key matchups

DE Aidan Hutchinson vs QB Dak Prescott

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) reacts to a play during the second half against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is having a career year while leading the league in completions (303), passing yards (3,261) and QBR (75.3). The Lions have a relatively healthy secondary, but can only do so much to contain Prescott's top targets in receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the latter of whom being just one of three receivers currently with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

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The best way the Lions can contain Prescott and the rest of Dallas' passing attack is via the pass rush, especially with star defender Aidan Hutchinson, who has recorded just 1½ sacks over his past four games.

He had a season-high six quarterback pressures against the New York Giants two games ago, but only converted one into a sack, demonstrating an alarming trend for Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.

"Being close isn't good enough. You have to make the play," Sheppard said before practice Monday.

Opposing teams have been scheming for Hutchinson, making sure the Pro Bowler doesn't get sack-happy in the backfield. But with defensive tackles Alim McNeill and D.J. Reader doing their best to bring interior pressure, it'll be up to edge rushers, notably Hutchinson, to disrupt Prescott like the league's most decorated defenders are paid to do.

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WR Jameson Williams vs Cowboys secondary

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) runs the ball during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2025.

Most teams would be in trouble in their passing attack if they lost players of the caliber of tight end Sam LaPorta and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. But most teams aren't the Lions, who have a No. 1 receiver ready to step up in St. Brown's place.

Jameson Williams recorded a career-high 144 receiving yards against the Packers in Week 13 and has now scored a touchdown in four of his last five games. He should once again be quarterback Jared Goff's top target, as he has shown his ability to find space up the middle the same way St. Brown and LaPorta did earlier in the season.

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This isn't the Cowboys secondary that gave up over 400 passing yards to Russell Wilson in Week 2, but this unit is still a weakness the Lions can take advantage of. Philadelphia's A.J. Brown put up 110 yards and a touchdown against Dallas, and Kansas City's Rashee Rice had 92 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. With Williams likely getting another 10-plus targets Thursday, expect at least one deep reception and another 100-yard game for the fourth-year receiver.

Lions vs Cowboys scouting report

Lions offense vs Cowboys defense

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs celebrates his touchdown with guard Tate Ratledge in overtime against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.

With the Cowboys and Lions second and third in the NFL in points per game, respectively, this feels like a shootout in the making.

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The Lions offense wasn't nearly as crisp against the Packers as it had been for most of the season, but there were still a few drives where quarterback Jared Goff looked like an MVP candidate, completing nearly 77% of his passes and averaging nearly 10 yards per attempt. That is what happens when the offensive line gives Goff enough time.

But if the offensive line isn't doing its job, it can look ugly. Goff has taken at least two sacks in five of his past six games, and the line continues to deal with inconsistencies that have allowed more and more defenders to knock Goff off his game. And with the Cowboys now employing trade-deadline acquisition Quinnen Williams on their defensive line, interior pressure may be a factor once again.

Expect the Lions to find space outside for running back Jahmyr Gibbs and for receiver Jameson Williams to become a primary target on short-to-medium yardage situations. And if the offensive line can find just a few seconds more for Goff to make his reads than it has the past few weeks, the passing attack will regain its explosiveness. Edge: Lions.

Lions defense vs Cowboys offense

Nov 27, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb celebrates after a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium.

Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard explained the key to a dominant defense in the NFL before practice on Monday:

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"There's no dominant defensive secondary in this league without a good pass rush. There's no good pass rush without some type of coverage happening on the back end."

Translation: the Lions defense is going to have to step up in every facet to take on a top offense.

The Cowboys are averaging 393 total yards per game, paced by a passing offense averaging 314 yards per game over its past three. The secondary, which will be missing cornerback Terrion Arnold, is going to have to blanket star wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. That also means the pass rush has to convert quarterback pressures into sacks. A turnover or two would help (safety Brian Branch provided two interceptions against the Cowboys last year), especially if two high-powered offenses turn this into a one-possession game by the end.

The Lions have the personnel to make this happen, with their performance coming down to whether they can execute better than they have recently. Or, as Sheppard put it, whether they will be ready "to bite somebody's ass." Edge: Cowboys.

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Lions vs Cowboys prediction, pick

The Lions are a seven-win team playing for their playoff lives. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are a six-win team that nobody in the NFL wants to face right now. How does that compute?

The vibes around Detroit may be as low as they have been in a while, but the Cowboys can testify to the power of winning as rally medicine; Dallas has beaten the two defending conference champions in back-to-back weeks to overcome a 3-5-1 start.

But with the Lions at home and even more desperate for a win, they'll find a way to squeak it out in prime-time. And though the Lions will (probably) eventually lose two games in a row, it's not going to happen this week. The pick: Lions 28, Cowboys 27.

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You can reach Christian at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions vs Cowboys pick, scouting report for Thursday Night Football

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