Week 14 Thursday Night Football: Lions and Cowboys face off in crucial elimination match

After a brief lull in thrilling non-holiday Thursday Night Football action, fans are treated to a high-stakes matchup tonight as the Detroit Lions take on the Dallas Cowboys. The outcome will heavily influence both teams' playoff aspirations.

The Lions enter Week 14 with a 7-5 record, sitting third in the NFC North. Their recent loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day has put their postseason hopes in jeopardy, leaving them 1.5 games behind the San Francisco 49ers for the final NFC playoff spot.

Dallas, conversely, has found momentum, winning three consecutive games and keeping pace with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. This matchup carries immense significance for both franchises.

According to Playoffstatus.com, the Cowboys currently have a 24% chance of making the playoffs, which would drop to 12% with a defeat tonight. A victory would increase their odds to 41%. The Lions face a similar scenario, although their position is more precarious with both the Packers and Bears ahead in their division. A loss would sink Detroits playoff probability to 9%, while a win raises it to 34%.

In essence, tonights loser will not be immediately eliminated but will face a nearly insurmountable path to the postseason, requiring both consecutive wins and favorable outcomes from other teams.

This setup promises an electrifying game for viewers. Tune in to witness which team will gain the upper hand.

Game Details

• Teams: Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) vs. Detroit Lions (7-5)
• Location: Detroit, Michigan
• Date & Time: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 8:15 PM ET
• TV/Streaming: Amazon Prime
• Commentators: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit
• Point Spread: Lions -3
• Over/Under Total: 54.5

Recent Matchups

• Last Meeting: 2024 Week 6 Lions 47, @Cowboys 9
• All-Time Head-to-Head:
• Regular season: Cowboys lead 17-12
• Postseason: Cowboys lead 2-1
• Current Win Streak: Lions 1

Author: Gavin Porter