Free Press sports writer Rainer Sabin highlights the best and worst performances from the Detroit Lions’ 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season Thursday, Dec. 4, at Ford Field.
Lions vs Cowboys winners
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
Up until 90 minutes before kickoff, it was uncertain if the Lions’ All-Pro receiver would play. He didn’t practice this week after spraining his ankle during the first quarter of a Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay. But on the Lions’ first play from scrimmage, St. Brown hauled in a 7-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff. The reception was the first of four St. Brown made in the first half, the most consequential a 26-yard catch that set up the Lions’ first touchdown.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) warms up before the Dallas Cowboys game at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.St. Brown crossed the face of the defense on a slant route and then powered his way inside the 10-yard line. Later, he helped draw a critical pass interference penalty in the final minute, when he outmaneuvered rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. along the sideline. The infraction moved Detroit deeper into Dallas territory, and two plays later Jake Bates connected on a 47-yard field goal to give the Lions a 20-9 halftime lead.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn the fourth quarter, St. Brown helped seal the victory on a 37-yard reception. A reeling Dallas defense then surrendered a 13-yard touchdown run to Jahmyr Gibbs on the next play. St. Brown finished with six catches for 92 yards.
LB Jack Campbell
In recent weeks, the Lions' defense regressed. The pass rush went dark. The number of takeaways decreased. The Lions collected only two sacks and forced just one turnover in their past three games.
On Thursday, against one of the top scoring attacks in the NFL, Campbell, the Lions’ third-year middle linebacker, helped lead a defensive revival. Racing in on a blitz through the A-gap, he buried Dak Prescott for an 11-yard loss on the edge of the Cowboys’ end zone in the first quarter. At first, it appeared as if Campbell had caused a safety. But a replay review indicated Prescott had pulled the ball beyond the goal line. Still, Campbell’s sack paid dividends, forcing a punt from the 1-yard line and flipping the field position in favor of Detroit. The Lions began their ensuing drive Dallas-42-yard line. Six plays later, Gibbs scored.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCampbell set up the Lions’ second touchdown when he ripped the ball out of tight end Jake Ferguson’s hands near midfield. Safety Brian Branch recovered the fumble, and less than two minutes later, David Montgomery splintered Dallas’ defense on a 35-yard touchdown run. Campbell had a team-high 12 tackles.
RBs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs
The complexion of the Lions’ rushing attack has changed this year, as they have expanded the role of Gibbs – one of the NFL top emerging playmakers. While Montgomery hasn’t been phased out of the offense, his workload has been reduced.
But on Thursday, the Lions – perhaps more so than in any game this season – found a way to effectively use both players and tap into their strengths. Coach Dan Campbell, now the play-caller, devised plays for Gibbs that allowed him to attack the Cowboys in space. Gibbs made the biggest impact as a receiver, catching seven passes for 77 yards.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMontgomery, meanwhile, did his best work running through the tackles. He surged up the gut, shed a tackle from Revel and ran 35 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. For the first time in a while, Gibbs and Montgomery – the dynamic duo known as Sonic and Knuckles – took turns leading the Lions down the field, and produced 193 yards of offense and four touchdowns.
Lions vs Cowboys losers
DE Aidan Hutchinson
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) warms up before the Dallas Cowboys game at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.On Oct. 29, Hutchinson was paid like an elite pass rusher. But since signing a four-year, $180 million contract extension, he hasn’t performed like one. On Thursday, he once again produced a disappointing stat line. Even though the Cowboys’ top offensive tackle, Tyler Guyton, was out, Hutchinson recorded zero sacks. He has just 2½ in the six games he has played since signing his contract.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHutchinson was outperformed by teammate Al-Quadin Muhammad, who toppled Prescott behind the line of scrimmage three times and had four quarterback hits. The Lions need to get more bang for their buck out of Hutchinson.
Lions secondary
Regardless of the result, it was a rough evening for the secondary. Prescott repeatedly punctured the defense, completing 31 of 47 pass attempts for 376 yards. Until a late interception, cornerback D.J. Reed, the team's top free agent acquisition this offseason, was repeatedly victimized. So was the cornerback opposite him, Amik Robertson.
This depleted sector was further diminished when safety Thomas Harper suffered a head injury on the Cowboys’ second play from scrimmage and was later ruled out for the game.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThen, in the fourth quarter, Brian Branch hurt his right ankle and was carted off the field. Toward the end of the game, both Daniel Thomas and Avonte Maddox were guarding the back end as the last line of defense. It was far from ideal.
Want more Lions updates? Download our app for the latest news, alerts, eNewspaper and more.
Contact Rainer Sabin at [email protected]. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions winners/losers: Amon-Ra St. Brown gutty, Aidan Hutchinson quiet
AdvertisementAdvertisement
