Five takeaways: Cowboys’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread after loss to Lions
The Dallas Cowboys traveled to Ford Field on Thursday night for their biggest game of the season and allowed the Detroit Lions to lead wire-to-wire in a 44-30 victory.
It was a pivotal game on the playoff bubble between two postseason hopefuls, but Dallas saw its hopes slip a bit further down the drain following a commanding Lions win.
The Cowboys are back to .500 at 6-6-1, and four games remain for some sort of magic to ensue to find their way into playing in the second week of January.
Here are five takeaways from the loss, starting with the playoff picture:
Playoff hopes now hang by a thread
It’s not over, but it sure feels that way.
After a loss that drops the Cowboys back down to .500, the playoff odds go from “outside chance” to “in need of a lot of help.” It isn’t quite in “miracle needed” territory, but it could trend that way after this weekend’s NFL action.
Per The Athletic’s playoff odds, the Cowboys could see some life put back into their playoff chances with a Chargers win over the Eagles on Monday night. If that result happens and the Cowboys win the four remaining games on their schedule — four games that they should be favored in — they have a 51% chance of making the postseason.
But, just look at it. That’s a long paragraph. That’s the territory the Cowboys now find themselves in, the ifs-and-buts land.
Defensive improvements stall against electric offense
Remember those stark defensive improvements since the bye week? Well, this felt reminiscent of some of the performances by opposing offenses early in the season.
When the Cowboys’ offense found a spark and cut the Lions’ lead to 30-27 with 9:52 remaining in the game, the unit desperately needed the defense to get a stop. Instead, they allowed a five-play touchdown drive that put the game away.
On the night, the unit allowed 7.2 yards per play and did not force a punt in the second half. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 120 total yards and three touchdowns, and quarterback Jared Goff threw for 309 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought we played hard, we just allowed too many explosives,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “When we needed it, we just couldn’t get a stop. The complementary football was just not what it’s been the last couple of weeks. When you play like that against a good team on the road, it’s tough to come up with a win.”
Back to the drawing board for a unit that has had its fair share of ups and downs all season.
Give Brandon Aubrey a blank check
It’s an evergreen statement, right?
The Cowboys had a chance in the second half of this ballgame, and that can be directly attributed to the right leg of kicker Brandon Aubrey. After multiple Cowboys offensive drives stalled out in the shallow portions of Lions territory, Schottenheimer had decisions on whether to punt, go for it or trot out Aubrey. He went with the latter every time.
On the night, Aubrey nailed field goals from 57 yards, 42 yards, 55 yards, 63 yards and 29 yards that gave the Cowboys a much-needed layer of consistency — although they weren’t able to capitalize on the level of play from their kicker.
“He’s incredible,” Schottenheimer said. “I’m sure he set another record tonight. He’s just an incredible kicker. ... It is a luxury that I’ve never had before. You don’t hesitate at 60 or 55. You don’t hesitate.”
Thursday night was just the fifth instance in NFL history that a kicker made three 50-plus-yard field goals in a game. Aubrey is the first kicker to do it twice (previously done on Dec. 22, 2024, vs. Tampa Bay).
Heading into an offseason where Aubrey is set to be a restricted free agent, he’s earned a deal that should make him one of the top-paid players at the position.
Jake Ferguson mistakes prove costly
In the first half, Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson had two disastrous mistakes that put Dallas in compromising situations.
On a checkdown pass from Prescott on third-and-21, Ferguson tried to play hero ball a bit too much and coughed up the football. The fumble gave Detroit possession at its own 47-yard line, and the Lions capitalized four plays later on a 35-yard rushing touchdown from running back David Montgomery.
On the ensuing drive, a deep ball from Prescott to Pickens appeared to set up Dallas on the goal line after defensive pass interference was called on Lions cornerback D.J. Reed inside the 5-yard line, but a Ferguson illegal hands to the face penalty negated the potential big break. The Cowboys would end up having to settle for a field goal.
Call it a 10-point or four-point swing, the Cowboys were hurt badly by two costly Ferguson mistakes as the Lions built their lead in the first half.
KaVontae Turpin replacing weaponry with lack of discipline
Is it time to consider another punt returning option than KaVontae Turpin?
For the second game in a row, Turpin was whistled for an invalid fair catch signal that sent the Dallas offense backward. On the season, the Cowboys have allowed 16 punts to be downed inside their own 20. And while that’s not a direct indictment on Turpin, eight of those have come in the past three games.
“Turpin knows better than that,” Schottenheimer said. “That’s pretty simple, just don’t do it. If you put the hand up, don’t run.”
When you parlay the invalid fair catch signal penalties and some poor decision-making from Turpin in letting some punts go over his head, it may be time to start looking at some other options in the punt return game.
And if that conversation has to be had, what does that say about the value he brings to the team overall?
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 10:38 PM.
