About a month ago, assigning the Dallas Cowboys to the Detroit Lions for Thursday night's Game 14 game looked like a mistake by the NFL.
The Cowboys went 3-5-1 and lost to the Arizona Cardinals. They haven't beaten a decent team all season. The Lions were 6-3, and while they weren't at the level of their 2024 season, they looked like a team capable of turning on and making the playoffs.
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A few weeks later, this match will become one of the most interesting matches of the week. The Cowboys have won three straight, including back-to-back wins over the Eagles and the Eagles. Managersand participate in the NFC playoff discussion. The Lions have lost two of three, with their lone win coming in overtime at home over a 2-11 Giants team.
Thursday night's game now features two teams that would have been eliminated from the playoffs had the season ended before Week 14, but the matchup has become something of an elimination game. With the loss, the Lions' chances of making the playoffs dropped to 19%. according to NFL.com. If they lose, the Cowboys' chances drop to 9%.
The Lions enter the game with troubling injuries. Their offensive line is destroyed. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is unlikely to play due to an ankle injury, and if he does play, his chance will be well below 100%. Cornerback Terrion Arnold went on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, which is bad news for the Lions defense as they prepare to face George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.
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Leos have no time to feel sorry for themselves. They practically need to win on Thursday night. So are the Cowboys.
Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions throws the ball against the Cowboys in a game last season. The Lions won that game 47-9. (Photo by Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
(Cooper Neal via Getty Images)
Who needs it more?
Can't choose. The Cowboys have rallied well to get back into the playoff race, and all that momentum will be wiped out by a loss, leaving them clinging to needing an unlikely series of events to make the playoffs. The Lions entered the season with Super Bowl hopes, and Thursday's loss makes them unlikely to even make the playoffs. Perhaps it can be argued that since the Lions had much higher preseason expectations, they needed this game more. Missing the playoffs altogether would be a devastating blow to a franchise that has endured back-to-back postseason disappointments and is still chasing its first Super Bowl appearance. But let's just say that both of these teams need this game equally and leave it at that.
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Key Players: Lions WR Jameson Williams
Williams has had his fair share of setbacks and setbacks this season, but he has also shared goals with other fantastic players. But with tight end Sam LaPorta out for the game and Amon-Ra St. Brown also questionable for Thursday's game, Williams will be the focal point of the passing game. In that situation against the Packers on Thanksgiving Day, Williams had seven catches for 144 yards. He's capable of making big plays, and this week he'll face a Cowboys defense that has allowed him the third-most passing yards and most passing touchdowns in the NFL this season. The Lions are shorthanded in a near must-win game and desperately need Williams to put in a great performance.
Monitoring the betting market
Some sportsbooks had the odds line for this game at Lions -6, but Lions -3.5 was reopened after the Cowboys upset the Chiefs and the Lions lost to the Packers on Thanksgiving. Sharps has the Cowboys at +3.5, while Detroit has the game at -3. that BetMGM. This is a must-win game for both teams, and the odds are about 50-50. Could the Lions' poor defense slow down the hot Cowboys offense? Amazingly, the Lions only have 3-3 points at home this season… Ben Fox
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Find out more about Ben's work on the website Yahoo Sports Betting Center.
Fireworks are expected at Ford Field with a total of 54.5 for the Lions and Cowboys. Here are three fantastic angles to keep in mind while watching the game.
Will Dak Prescott continue to cook for the Cowboys? Dallas was heavily in the red zone in the first half of the year, but Prescott has steered the ship since then. Prescott has held the QB3, QB3 and QB6 positions over the past three weeks, with Dallas winning every game. The Lions just lost key cornerback Terrion Arnold, so the secondary could work out.
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Is this another hit for Jameson Williams? In recent games, Williams has been successful for the most part, but has also fallen short at times – he has four touchdowns in six starts, but has come up short in the other two games. Williams' busiest day of the year was Thanksgiving (7-144-1), which became a priority immediately after Amon-Ra St. Brown was injured. St. Brown's will likely miss tonight's game.
How long does Jake Ferguson have left? Dallas' passing game features CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and that has held Ferguson back in recent weeks (he's TE23 since Week 8). Fantasy managers likely view Ferguson as a touch-down or bust option, even in a game where points are expected. — Scott Pianowski
Find out more about Scott's work on the website Yahoo Sports Fantasy Center.
