Cowboys' season effectively over as glaring issues reappear vs. Lions Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY December 5, 2025 at 7:40 AM 0 Cowboys' season effectively over as glaring issues reappear vs. Lions So much for running the table. The Dallas Cowboys went to the Motor City and not only saw their hopes for a mad dash to the playoffs likely go up in smoke on Thursday night, they saw the epitome of their season on full display at Ford Field. Lions 44, Cowboys 30. Sure, they had a chance against a team nearly as desperate as they were. There was a lot of resilience.
- - Cowboys' season effectively over as glaring issues reappear vs. Lions
Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY December 5, 2025 at 7:40 AM
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Cowboys' season effectively over as glaring issues reappear vs. Lions
So much for running the table.
The Dallas Cowboys went to the Motor City and not only saw their hopes for a mad dash to the playoffs likely go up in smoke on Thursday night, they saw the epitome of their season on full display at Ford Field.
Lions 44, Cowboys 30.
Sure, they had a chance against a team nearly as desperate as they were. There was a lot of resilience. Dallas (6-6-1) fought back to make it a three-point game early in the fourth quarter – even without CeeDee Lamb, knocked out of the contest with a concussion to abruptly end his six-catch, 121-yard impact.
There was a lot of Brandon Aubrey, too. Typically. The Cowboys' MVP special teamer kicked five field goals and became the first player in NFL history to nail three treys of at least 55 yards in a game. Just brilliant. Where would this team be without him?
More: Winners, losers as Detroit Lions devour Dallas Cowboys' playoff hopes
In the end, though, it turned out to be a big tease. It was so Dallas. The Cowboys were riding a three-game winning streak, including triumphs over the Super Bowl 59 participants, that put them above .500 for the first time all season. Then poof.
According to NextGen Stats, the Cowboys' chances of making the playoffs just sank to 7%. In other words, they probably just had their playoffs – and now they are one and done.
2. New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
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2. New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
">2. New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
" src=https://ift.tt/7DlCb5I class=caas-img>3. New Orleans Saints - Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
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3. New Orleans Saints - Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
">3. New Orleans Saints - Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
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4. Las Vegas Raiders - Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
">4. Las Vegas Raiders - Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
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5. Cleveland Browns - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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6. Washington Commanders - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
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7. New York Jets - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
">7. New York Jets - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
" src=https://ift.tt/NSwUvmT class=caas-img>8. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
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8. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
">8. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
" src=https://ift.tt/0OXfq8R class=caas-img>9. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
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9. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
">9. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
" src=https://ift.tt/VI7WpjJ class=caas-img>10. Cincinnati Bengals - Francis Mauigoa, G/T, Miami (Fla.)
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10. Cincinnati Bengals - Francis Mauigoa, G/T, Miami (Fla.)
">10. Cincinnati Bengals - Francis Mauigoa, G/T, Miami (Fla.)
" src=https://ift.tt/rg0NBzp class=caas-img>11. Minnesota Vikings - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
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11. Minnesota Vikings - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
">11. Minnesota Vikings - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
" src=https://ift.tt/NkbMWG5 class=caas-img>12. Miami Dolphins - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
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12. Miami Dolphins - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
">12. Miami Dolphins - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
" src=https://ift.tt/lr2ojwH class=caas-img>13. Kansas City Chiefs - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
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13. Kansas City Chiefs - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
">13. Kansas City Chiefs - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
" src=https://ift.tt/wd3toTI class=caas-img>14. Pittsburgh Steelers - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
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14. Pittsburgh Steelers - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
">14. Pittsburgh Steelers - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
" src=https://ift.tt/MoUHFL1 class=caas-img>15. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
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15. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
">15. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
" src=https://ift.tt/KWQYTI7 class=caas-img>16. Dallas Cowboys - David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech
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16. Dallas Cowboys - David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech
">16. Dallas Cowboys - David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech
" src=https://ift.tt/DiVRIOb class=caas-img>17. Detroit Lions - T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
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17. Detroit Lions - T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
">17. Detroit Lions - T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
" src=https://ift.tt/H6p1uEh class=caas-img>18. Houston Texans - Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
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18. Houston Texans - Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
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20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
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20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
">20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
" src=https://ift.tt/eWjAtzh class=caas-img>21. Buffalo Bills - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
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21. Buffalo Bills - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
">21. Buffalo Bills - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
" src=https://ift.tt/niT0UWb class=caas-img>22. Philadelphia Eagles - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
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22. Philadelphia Eagles - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
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24. San Francisco 49ers - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
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24. San Francisco 49ers - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
">24. San Francisco 49ers - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
" src=https://ift.tt/y8zDeur class=caas-img>25. Los Angeles Chargers - A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
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25. Los Angeles Chargers - A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
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28. Seattle Seahawks - Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
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28. Seattle Seahawks - Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
">28. Seattle Seahawks - Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
" src=https://ift.tt/dpDVhfn class=caas-img>29. Los Angeles Rams - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
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29. Los Angeles Rams - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
">29. Los Angeles Rams - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
" src=https://ift.tt/xPG0Oos class=caas-img>30. Denver Broncos - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
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30. Denver Broncos - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
">30. Denver Broncos - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
" src=https://ift.tt/pPASMIT class=caas-img>31. Chicago Bears - Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE, Arkansas
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31. Chicago Bears - Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE, Arkansas
">31. Chicago Bears - Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE, Arkansas
" src=https://ift.tt/t4suZ0a class=caas-img>32. New England Patriots - Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
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32. New England Patriots - Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
">32. New England Patriots - Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
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1 / 322026 NFL mock draft: Crazy situation could play out with quarterbacks1. Tennessee Titans – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
What happened?
Too much Amon-Ra St. Brown. Too much Jahmyr Gibbs. Too much heat on Dak Prescott, who gamely threw for 376 yards but was sacked five times and threw two picks.
And on a night when the Cowboys needed George Pickens to step up with Lamb sidelined, the "other" No. 1 receiver went MIA.
St. Brown, on the other hand, was TBD all week (at least publicly) because of an ankle injury. Never mind practice. The gritty Detroit receiver showed up and balled out with a six-catch, 92-yard measure on the stat sheet that was punctuated by his receptions in the clutch and a ton of inspiration.
If any player represents the soul of the Lions (8-5), it has to be St. Brown, who entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2021 and now has two first-team All-Pro selections on his resume. This time, he bounced back from the ankle injury that knocked him out of the Thanksgiving Day loss against Green Bay – just like his team.
The Lions just won an NFL-record-tying 15th consecutive game following a loss.
Now that's some identity. They can take a hit and rebound.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, just had a game that reflected so much about this roller-coaster season. For all of the reasons for hope under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, the big issue that left them stumbling at 3-5-1 a month ago – suspect defense – turned up again when there was little room for error.
No question, the improved-yet-not-complete unit was put in some terrible positions. Prescott's first pass after halftime was intercepted as it bounced off Pickens, setting up a quick Lions touchdown. Before that, tight end Jake Ferguson had the ball punched out for a fumble that gave Detroit a short field for a touchdown drive.
On a night the Cowboys needed complementary football to protect the defense (1 sack, 0 takeaways), they blew that equation. Then, by the end, the defense was worn down by the physical Lions, unable to get the key stop that might have, could have…
Well, never mind.
Rather than run it, the Cowboys were likely pushed off the playoff table.
Contact Jarrett Bell at [email protected] or follow on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys' playoff chances fade as issues reappear vs Lions
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: December 05, 2025 at 09:27AM on Source: ANDY MAG
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