Jahmyr Gibbs scored three rushing touchdowns and the host Detroit Lions won a pivotal NFC game, downing the Dallas Cowboys 44-30 on Thursday.
Gibbs, who also caught seven passes for 77 yards, gained 43 yards on 12 carries. Jared Goff produced 309 yards and a touchdown on 25-of-34 passing for the Lions (8-5) in a matchup of teams fighting for a playoff spot.
Detroit’s David Montgomery rushed six times for 60 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown. Jameson Williams had seven catches for 96 yards, while Amon-Ra St. Brown made six receptions for 92 yards.
Dak Prescott passed for 376 yards and one touchdown but was also intercepted twice for the Cowboys (6-6-1). He completed 31 of 47 passes.
Dallas’ Ryan Flournoy caught nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Javonte Williams rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts.
Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb was ruled out of the game during the third quarter after sustaining a concussion. He caught six passes for 121 yards.
Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey kicked five field goals and became the first player in NFL history to have three field goals of 55 yards or more in a single game.
The Lions led 20-9 at halftime and extended the margin early in the second half.
Derrick Barnes picked off a Prescott pass on the first play from scrimmage and Detroit cashed in two plays later on Goff’s 12-yard touchdown toss to Isaac TeSlaa.
The Cowboys clawed back with Williams scoring on a 1-yard run to cap a nine-play, 65-yard drive. After Detroit’s Jake Bates had a 52-yard field-goal attempt blocked, Aubrey blasted a 63-yardrt later in the third to make it 27-19.
Bates made a 46-yard field goal with 11:50 remaining to give the Lions an 11-point advantage.
A busted coverage allowed Flournoy to get wide open on a 42-yard scoring pass from Prescott. Jake Ferguson then caught a two-yard conversion pass to cut the Lions’ lead to 30-27.
Gibbs scored on a 10-yard run with 7:17 left to give Detroit some breathing room. Aubrey’s 29-yard field goal with 3:42 left pulled Dallas within 37-30.
Gibbs’ 13-yard scoring run with 2:19 remaining clinched Detroit’s victory.
