
The Detroit Lions face a potential playoff elimination as they clash with the surging Dallas Cowboys in a high-stakes Thursday night showdown. Can Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and a battered Lions secondary find their edge against Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and a Cowboys team eager to prove their turnaround is real?
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Matt Derry
Two teams going in opposite directions meeting up for a huge Thursday night showdown in Detroit. Foreign.
Marcus Moser
You are locked on NFL Crossover part of the Locked on podcast network.
Your team every day.
Matt Derry
All right, here we go everybody. Matt Derry locked on Lions Marcus Moser locked on Cowboys. It is Crossover Thursday indeed as well. We get you set for the Lions and Cowboys at Ford Field Thursday night at 8:20 on the eastern side, 7:20 central and what is all of a sudden looks like possibly a playoff elimination game. Great to have you with us. Thanks for making us your first listen. Checking us out wherever you get your podcast. Crossover Thursday presented by Prize Picks. Download the Prize Picks app today. Use the code LOCKDOWN NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your your first $5 lineup. First off, Marcus, great to see you. Obviously a lot to get into. Biggest storyline in Dallas. Hey, looks like the Cowboys are back, right? There's life again in at Jerry world.
Marcus Moser
I don't know if they're back, but they're playing good football. And for Cowboy fans, that's honestly all we wanted to see after how bad the season started. Just to have them have, you know, start to play better and to have some meaningful games. Matt, I mean, listen, you and I have both been through this where you're covering a team that's playing games into, you know, November and December that just don't matter for anything. And for a Cowboys team that started off the season was 1 and 3 and 1 and 1 point to have a game like this on Thursday Night Football. That's, it's not quite a playoff game, but it's pretty darn close. It's a lot of fun.
Matt Derry
What's been the big, biggest difference? We'll get to the Lions in a second. But, but what's, what's going on that's made this work? Obviously the additions to the D line. I love what the interior's done and it seems like some of your guys that you drafted to, including as a Rock, who are starting to show up.
Marcus Moser
Yeah. Surprising that good players make your defense better. Right. Like it's, it's not a, not a huge surprise when you add someone like Quinn and Williams, suddenly your run defense gets better. You're able to create more pressure on the quarterback. And they've really stumbled into something here with these five man defensive line looks where they get all three of their defensive tackles on the field. Kenny Clark, osa Digizua and then Quinn and Williams. You mentioned Donovan as a raku. He is Pro Football Focus his highest graded rookie so far this year. He only has two sacks and if you look at the box scores, you won't be overly impressed, but really strong run defender, he's, he's creating a bunch of pressure. So you've got this defensive line that's starting to win their individual matchups and they're covering up some of the mistakes on the back end, but you're also getting guys back healthy on defense, including Savon Revelle, their third run pick from East Carolina, Kaylin Carson, who missed the first half of the season. Trayvon Diggs might be playing in this game. It's not a dominating unit by any stretch, but it's a much improved unit compared to what we saw in the first two months of the season.
Matt Derry
Six five and one Cowboys, a seven and five Lions. Big game and a home game here, Marcus, for this team. And I don't really know where to go and what to tell you about storylines here in Detroit and for the Cowboy viewers and listeners here. Unlocked on Cowboys. You're not facing last year's Lions team and you're not facing two years ago's Lions team, but they have the capability on Thursday night to show up, man up. They haven't lost two in a row in three years and win a football game. They must have. And they just aren't sharp, they're not crisp. They're making mistakes, whether it's penalties, been a lot of injuries and I do think they're going to play that card at the end of the year unless they, unless they make a run. But they're just not playing Lions football. It just has not been the same look in the same team. Yet here they are with a chance at home to, to kind of right or wrong from last week on, on Thanksgiving. I know you saw it and you know where the packers really kind of beat him up a little bit. Yes, it was a close game and yes, the Lions made a nice run to, to get it within seven, but you know, they, they couldn't close and they haven't been playing all that well at home. A bad home loss to Minnesota, losing to Green Bay, narrowly escaping against a two win giant team at Ford Field. I'm hoping that this team comes out with, with a purpose and a fervor on Thursday, but I, I just don't know. I'm scratching my head like you probably. You are. Marcus.
Marcus Moser
Yeah, I mean coaches will always say injuries aren't an excuse, but again, you and I have been covering the league for long enough that we know that it is right. At some point you get to, you know, where you just don't have starting caliber players on the field. It seems like Detroit is there on the offensive line right now with your interior and it seems like they're that way in the secondary right now with Terry on Arnold, he's out for the year with his shoulder injury. Kirby Joseph is dealing with the knee injury. You've got some guys that made some plays including like a Meek Robertson, but they're not Tarryon Arnold and they're not Kirby Joseph. And at some point the lack of talent just starts to, you know, to win out.
Matt Derry
It's interesting you brought up the secondary. I mean, they need Kirby back and we'll see if he can go on Thursday and give it a try with a giant knee brace on Taran. Arnold has been kind of a mystery for two years. First round pick I thought would have a better year this year. Calvin shepherd, the D coordinator, said during camp. There's a guy that's gonna have a breakout year this year. It's been him. It would be him. It really hasn't been. When he's been healthy, he's been better, but he hasn't been healthy. Now you mentioned out for the year. Lions have been able to piece together the secondary with some backups. Rock Yassin and others have played pretty well. Their biggest issue has been getting to the quarterback and in watching you guys on Thanksgiving day and the week before. Heck, everybody watches the Cowboys. They're always on wherever you Are it looks like Dax comfortable and the Chiefs I know tried like crazy to blitz him the other day and man, they picked it up. And.
Marcus Moser
Yeah, it's been one of the best parts of their offense this year is their ability to beat the blitz. And it helps when you've got two receivers like CD Lamb and George Pickens. And that's honestly probably what Detroit was hoping this year with a Monroe St. Brown and you know, Jameson Williams. But with a Monroe dealing with an ankle injury right now, we still don't know if he's going to go in this game. Even if he does, he's going to be severely compromised. It really helps to have these two receivers that can get open at will against man coverage or zone coverage. And one more thing from the cowboy side of things, they privately they've been saying that this is going to be their toughest game of the season and it's, it's easy to understand why you're playing on the road. It's a, it's seven days from Thursday to Thursday but it's still kind of a short week because of, you know, usually you get 10 days off after playing a Thursday game. That's not the case here. It's a Lions team that really their backs up are against the wall. I think we're going to see Dan Campbell be ultra aggressive but if they can win this game and they can get to seven, five and one, that'll mean they've won four straight games. The rest of their schedule is pretty easy including games against the Giants. The commanders, Minnesota, they feel like they could really go on a run but they've got to take care of business against the team that they remember running up the score on them last year. So I, it's going to be a ton of fun to watch.
Matt Derry
Yeah. These two teams have played some wild games the last couple of years. Obviously the, the, the controversial reporting game in Dallas a couple of years ago with Taylor Decker and Dan Skipper Heck Marcus. Every single time they announced that number 70 is eligible at Ford Field just on a regular play with Dan Skipper. The crowd goes nuts. They love it. It's become a bit here and that was two years ago. And then obviously like you said last year, everybody loved the way the Lions just, just, just boat raced the Cowboys. But that was the day Aiden Hutchinson was lost for the year when he broke his fibula and tibia. So it was like yes, you're celebrating a big Lions win against America's team but that was the Aiden injury day. So it's, it's Weird timing now that they're playing now again. I'm not sure Lions fans know what to expect Thursday night. This could be the Lions team that comes out with Jameer Gibbs and Jameson Williams and, and golf has time to throw and boom, they're running it down the field and doing a great job offensively and the defense is stepping up. Or it could be early on something happens, a mistake, a special teams error. You know, CD gets open, Ferguson in the seam and man, all of a sudden it'll get a little quiet in that building. They need a fresh and fast start in this game or else. I mean fans have said, like I said, they sat through a rough one against the Giants. The Vikings home loss was bad and then this past Thursday against the packers was, was not good. So they need, they need to get the crowd into it and they need to start the game pretty quickly.
Marcus Moser
Unfortunately, that's where the Cowboys have been really bad against the Eagles was it a week two weeks ago they gave up 21 points in the first quarter. It was a disaster. They had to fight their way all the way back to win that game. And even on Thursday against Kansas City, Cowboys had a interception on the first drive. The Chiefs scored in two plays. After that they were down seven nothing and the first two minutes of that game. So I'm going to be curious to see can the Cowboys get off to a faster start because they believe that the game script is going to be really important here. If you can take a lead and then lean on your running game and make Jared Goff have to be a drop back passer with this pass rush, that's how they can steal this game. It's going to be fun to watch.
Matt Derry
Thursday Crossover brought to you by our friends at Prize Picks. Matt Marcus Whether you Locked on Lions locked on Cowboys we'll get into some matchups coming up next on the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network.
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Matt Derry
Matt Dairy Locked on Lions Marcus Moer Locked on Cowboys Great to see Marcus as always does a great job with his show. Check us out daily here wherever you get your podcast. And of course please subscribe on our Locked on Lions and locked on Cowboys YouTube channels. All right, matchups. Marcus, I gotta ask you and right this is easy one for both of us. Aiden Hutchinson eats for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Backup tackles. He just does. He thrives going against the backups. Here we go with Guyton I think out. Is that correct for Thursday? So what does that mean? And I think that's probably the biggest matchup where I would expect the garden slide over and tight ends are chipping and all of that.
Marcus Moser
Yeah. And the Cowboys Feel very comfortable with Nate Thomas as their, you know, backup tackle. He's played a lot this year. He's not the most powerful player in the run game and that's really where his weakness is at. But they've left him alone on an island against some really good pass rushers this year and they've had some success. I don't think they're going to do that all the time against Aiden Hutchinson because why would you do that? He's their best player. If you can limit him at all, you can score points on this defense. But you're going to see plenty of, you know, plenty of, you know, chances in this game for Hutchinson to go up against Terence Steele and Nate Thomas one on one. It's a matchup that the Cowboys have to limit his dominance because I do think he's going to make plays. He's too good of a player to completely take out of the game, but they can't let him wreck the game like that. He has in the past. Keep an eye on Aiden Hutchinson because he can certainly win this game alone for Detroit.
Matt Derry
What other matchups intrigue you? What are you, what are you seeing while you watch this? This.
Marcus Moser
Intrigued is the wrong word because I'm not. I'm not intrigued to watch Jameer Gibbs against the Cowboys linebackers because that's a matchup that greatly fav. Favors Detroit. I'm not so concerned about their. His ability to run between the tackles because that is where the Cowboys have their strength with Quinn and Williams and Kenny Clark and OSA De Gizu and we should mention Solomon Thomas. Like they've got four defensive tackles they feel really good about. But if I were Dan Campbell in the Lions coaching staff, I would try to be. I would be trying to get Jameer Gibbs in space against these Cowboy linebackers as frequently as possible because Kenneth Murray is too aggressive. He's not disciplined at all. Logan Wilson, who they traded for the Bengals, man, we might be able to beat him in a foot race right now. That's how slow Logan Wilson is. Right. And now Demarvian Overshone is back, but he's still returning from a massive, massive knee injury. He's still not a hundred percent. So if you can get Gibbs out in space either as a receiver, as a runner and really take advantage of those Cowboys linebackers, I think the Lions could have a big day on offense.
Matt Derry
Yeah, you know, obviously you mentioned the D tackles and, and getting rid of Micah Parsons and he was an absolute game wrecker in both games this year that the Lions lost to the packers two and a half sacks last week, but Kenny Clark is no slouch and that's, that's where the concern has been. The Lions fought they might have had Frank Ragnow back. And in this game just a couple of last week when, when it was announced that he was returning then tears his hamstring. So that's not happening. So now they got to go back to square one, which I assume is going to be Graham Glasgow at center and Coyote Iwashika at left guard. And it just hasn't worked. The interior of that line just is pushing people into Jared Goff. As you know, if you pressure golf up the middle, he's susceptible. He just hasn't been as sharp and he's had his moments where he's played well. There were times in the Green Bay game that kind of got the offense going. He was finding of all people Tom Kennedy in the slot for a lot of activity there. And Tk85 is kind of a local legendary. He's been cut and released and brought back 50 times. Kind of the. The modern day.
You know, just vagabond. But he's been really good. The Andre flew well in this time, but now you look at it and you go, can they just move the ball? I think it could end up being a shootout this game. And so if they're able to block for golf and like you said, get Gibbs both in the past game and run game, getting out in space, Lions are gonna score. My. I, I'm also concerned that the way the Dallas's offense is playing that Cowboys are going to put up some points too.
Marcus Moser
Yeah, and like Dallas, it's the two receivers, it's C.D. lamb and George Pickens. These guys have kind of had alternating games and that's what you want, right? You want it to be where you know, you know. Against the Chiefs, it was a big CD Lamb game. He had over 100 yards and a touchdown. He drew three pass interference calls. But it was George Pickens late in the game who made two big catches on slants to kind of seal it. Against the Philadelphia, it was George Pickens who had the big day in. CD Lamb had a couple catches late in the game to seal it. The Cowboys think in this matchup with Detroit's cornerbacks who again I, I covered a. Meek Robertson when he was with the Raiders. I. One of my favorite players to cover. Yeah, he's tiny. I mean he, he is maybe 5 foot 8, 180 pounds. DJ Reed also not a big corner. They think that CD Lamb and George Pickens can, you know, they can dominate this matchup. They can, they can go down the field, make big plays. Brian Schottenheimer's talked about throwing the slants to George Pickens over and over again until somebody stops it. I wouldn't be surprised in this game if you see more of these slow goes, you know, the fake slant and then going down the field to try to take advantage of Detroit's aggressiveness in the secondary.
Matt Derry
I think that's where Brian Branch comes in. He's got to have a big game. He is a Scud missile out there and a big hitter. He can kind of put a little fear into the receivers if he, if he can get downfield and smash some people. You mentioned if Kirby Joseph doesn't play, that's where a high point in the ball and picking's going up. And we've, we've seen it this year. Some of the plays that he's made in the air.
Marcus Moser
You think Kirby Joseph plays, by the way?
Matt Derry
I don't know. I, I mean, one minute it's, hey, he's out there at practice, big knee brace. But he's going to try to go in the next minutes. Let's give him a day off. There was a lot of rumors and stuff on Twitter about season ending and career ending, and then he denied that. Then he got off social media. It's been a weird week for Kirby. I, I think he's going to try to give it a go in warm ups. We'll see. I just don't know how good he'll be. You know, Thomas Harper, the backup, Marcus hasn't been terrible, but Kirby Joseph's your ball hawk, your leading interceptor. Heck, he's got the team leading interceptions with three still, and he's missed the last six weeks. So that's where the Lions have got to get a paw up, get a turnover, something and, and change kind of the, the momentum that has gone against the last couple weeks. I mean, this past weekend they got, I mean, two weeks ago, Wandale Robinson lit him up. Last week it was Dontarian Wicks. So if you're not able to guard those guys, what are you gonna do against your big two? That's my concern.
Marcus Moser
And I wouldn't be surprised if Kirby Joseph plays this game if the Cowboys don't try to attack him early just to kind of see what kind of shape he's in, you know, physically, how healthy he is. Cowboys have been pretty aggressive in targeting, you know, either the, the worst defensive back or the least healthy defensive back all season long. And one of the things that I really like about Brian Schottenheimer is once he finds a weak spot in your secondary, he's just going to spam it over and over and over again until you either take that guy off the field or figure out a way to hide him. So, again, if Herby Joseph is in this game, expect the Cowboys to attack him.
Matt Derry
I gotta ask you, how's Jerry been lately? What's going on with. With good old Jara?
Marcus Moser
Jerry's been loving this team. The new Hard Knock series just came out over on hbo, and one of the things, for all of Jerry's faults is you could tell that he really loves his team. And I don't know if it's because of all the criticism he got over the last couple months and now they're starting to win, or if he really believes something special is going on here, but there's. There's definitely a. There's something different about this team compared to previous years, Matt, where my entire lifetime, they've lost that Chiefs game, they've lost that Eagles game. They get behind 21 0, they don't come back, they fold. There's a certain toughness about this Cowboys team that they have now, and whether it's because of the Quinn and Williams trade, whether it's because, you know, they're really rallying after the Marshawn Nealon tragedy, I. I don't know. But there's something that feels very different about this team. Even compared to, like, 2023 and 2022, when the Cowboys were winning 12 games every season. I think they're really starting to believe in themselves, and that can be very dangerous in the NFL.
Matt Derry
Yeah, I mean, it's. It's been an unbelievable run for this Lions team with Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell and how well they've played, and to go from three wins to nine wins to 12 to 15. And right now, like we said, I mean, I'm not closing windows or doors. I'm not telling you the season's over today. Now, if they lose Thursday, all bets are off here, and they've got a lot of injuries, and maybe they play the injury card and start shutting guys down for the year, which would suck. But it's. It's a weird spot the Lions are in. Similar to, what, four or five weeks ago when people are like, well, Dallas is done, and all of a sudden now you guys have rallied and made those moves at the deadline. Lions really didn't do much of the deadline, so that was something that fans are upset about. How could Brad Holmes not go out and get an edge rusher or somebody like that? We mentioned as a Rocco before, I loved him. I thought maybe the Lions could take him in the late 20s. They took Ty Leak Williams instead and he's been okay, but as a rock who's probably been better and probably would have been a nice fit here. So we'll see it. Look out.
Marcus Moser
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised as a rock is really coming on. Just for the lockdown Cowboy listeners. The Lions have a very tough schedule the rest of the way. They play the Rams after Dallas and they even play Pittsburgh, who Pittsburgh could be fighting for that division spot in the AFC North. So that's why this is such a big game is you fall behind. You know, you get to seven and six. You know, at this point, it's gonna be really hard to make a climb in the NFC with every team basically having nine wins in the playoff hunt right now.
Matt Derry
Yeah. So it's wild. And the Lions also finished their season in Chicago. So the Ben Johnson revenge game, you know, he wants to avenge week two. All right, when we come back, let's discuss how the Cowboys win this game. Some keys and also the Lions as well on this Thursday crossover, brought to you by Prize Picks.
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Matt Derry
Matt Dairy Locked On Lions Marcus Moser Locked on the Cowboys on the Lockdown Podcast Network the number one sports podcast network. Thursday Night Football once again for These teams as they get, as Marcus said earlier, just a week, then a longer stretch for next week. But the Cowboys are playing good football and looking to make it three straight wins, kind of in this gauntlet that was with Philly Casey and Detroit back to back to back. All right, Marcus, how do the Cowboys win this game? What, what do you see?
Marcus Moser
Cowboys win this game on offense. Like that's, that's just the way that they're going to have to do it. They're going to have to score 30 plus points to win and they can do it. Like, we've seen them get some really good defenses this year, score, you know, 30, 35. I think the best example is they played the Packers. I think it was in week five. They were without three starting offensive linemen, they were without CD Lamb, and they scored 40 points. Now, again, that's early in the season as everybody's kind of adjusting. But I think this is a game where if the Cowboys want to win, 31 points needs to be the target. And for the, for them to do that, they're going to have to protect Dak Prescott. And I don't know if it's going to be more six and seven man protections where you're leaving Javante Williams in. You're leaving a tight end into Chip Aiden Hutchinson. That's the number one thing here. If the Cowboys can protect Dak Prescott, they should have wide receivers running open against the secondary. But I think Detroit's going to be aggressive. They're going to send blitzes, they're going to stunt, they're going to do everything possible to try to disrupt him. We'll see if the Cowboys protection plan is ready to go.
Matt Derry
Yeah, you just said it. Kelvin Shepard, the Lions D coordinator, said this week that they're going to change some things up in order to get to the quarterback. Jameis Winston was on vacation in the backfield two weeks ago against the Lions for the Giants, was not touched in that game until the last play of the game when he finally got sacked on that fourth down and the Lions converted it in overtime. And then last week, Jordan Love again. Two, two straight times the Lions have played Green Bay this year, Love has had all day to throw. I think the Lions have four sacks in the last four games and that's not enough.
Marcus Moser
No.
Matt Derry
And it's not all about sacks getting a precious hurries and all that. But like I'm with you, I think Calvin Shepard empties the tank here in terms of what he's going to do to get Dak Prescott Rattled. That's going to be a big key. And I think the Lions have to get pressure on. They got to, they got to also protect Jared Goff. And I really think the first five to ten minutes of this game, whether it's clock minutes or just, you know, our watches, blinds it to come out with a purpose. If this is another clunker start like they've had recently at home, natives are going to get restless. I was at the Giants game. They're booing. Lions go three and out. Boobirds were coming down. This fan base has been. And I love these fans. They're great fans and they've waited for a good team for a long time, but they've been a bit spoiled by how good this franchise has been the last three years and they expect better. And they just. To me, if the Lions come out and play well and grab a quick lead and up seven nothing and the crowd gets into it, that's a big. I know it's only the first five minutes, you got to play 60, but I think getting off to a good start so important for them.
Marcus Moser
For Dallas, it's the same thing. They cannot get behind early in these games because once Detroit gets a lead, they can run the ball. They can, they can be aggressive on offense. You want them to be in a position like they were against Philadelphia a couple weeks ago where you're having to throw the ball on every single down and you're having to get back into this drop back game. I think Detroit's going to come out extremely fired up and aggressive early on. And I, I agree with you, Landon and I said in our preview show that the first 10 minutes of like real action, of real time action are going to decide this game because if the Cowboys get down 7 nothing, 14 nothing, it could really turn. But if you can kind of survive that initial onslaught, I think you're going to be okay.
Matt Derry
Lions really miss Sam laporta too. Marcus. So if there's no Saint Brown and no laporta, obviously he's already out. It's just. And Brock Wright, their second tight end, is also out. So they really don't know what they're going to do at tight end this week. Some guys they have on the practice squad they might elevate. But like you said with the linebackers, if there's some misdirection and golf's rolling and hitting the tight end, that wouldn't be bad. I just don't know how much, how much confidence he has in Ross Dwelly or Zach Horton or Anthony Fergser. Or any of these guys that right now are, are a part of the roster. Which is too bad because like you said, picking on that cowboy linebacking room might not be a bad idea.
Marcus Moser
And I. I'm sure Matt Eberflutz knows that. I think you're going to see a lot of COVID three in this game, which is basically designed for teams to try to throw the ball down the middle of the field to the tight ends. And that can be a dangerous spot. Right. If you, if you overthrow the ball just a little bit, you're talking about the, you know, an interception and the ball going the other way. You've got to be on time and be accurate. And with, you know, your third and fourth string tight ends in the game, that's where it could be a problem. So I, I'm fascinated by what Dan Campbell is going to do in this game. I don't think he had a particularly good game coaching against Green Bay. I think he was a little too run heavy, especially on third and fourth downs when maybe they should have been more aggressive throwing the ball. I wouldn't be surprised to see him change it up a little bit in this contest.
Matt Derry
God, I suck, man. I didn't even realize. Do you know the last time Matt Eber flues was at Ford Field? Do you remember that?
Marcus Moser
Yeah, it was Thanksgiving game.
Matt Derry
He got fired.
Marcus Moser
Yeah.
Matt Derry
I mean, that was the disastrous. Clock runs down, Bears have no clue what they're doing. And some of that was Caleb Williams too. But I just forgot. Matt Eberflu is coming back to the place that ended his head coaching career.
Marcus Moser
So maybe we'll see. Matt Eber flu's revenge game. Who knows? Well, I will say this, this. This is one advantage that the Cowboys do have is Matt Eberfluous knows this Lions team well.
Matt Derry
Yeah, he does.
Marcus Moser
Coaching in this division for a while.
Matt Derry
Yeah.
Marcus Moser
Now does. Does that matter when it comes to game day? Does it matter with this roster? We'll see. But it's not like they're completely unfamiliar with each other.
Matt Derry
No, not at all. Not at all. All right. Marcus, you want to do a prediction?
Marcus Moser
Sure.
Matt Derry
Are we staying out of that action?
Marcus Moser
No, no, I'll give. I'll give you mine. You're feel. Feel free to give you yours. I think the Lions do win this game. I think it's a. Like a 34 to 31 type of game where both teams are going up and down the field.
Matt Derry
That's what I was gonna say. Yeah.
Marcus Moser
Detroit is very banged up. There's no, there's no doubt. But this is a kitchen sink game for them where they have to have this game if they want to have even any, you know, any shot of making the postseason. I think the Cowboys are still figuring out how to win on the road. I'll take Detroit here.
Matt Derry
Yeah, I like that score a lot. I think it is going to be a shootout. Someone's going to have to make a play on defense, some sort of a turnover, a takeaway to give him a short field. They've had long fields now the last couple of weeks and I'm with you. I think the Lions salvage this. I'm not so sure what it's going to lead to. I'm hoping they could go on a run. You mentioned the schedule, but I mean next week they got 10 days to prepare, but they got to go play Matthew Stafford in, in la. So that's always intriguing. But Marcus, great to see you and let's, let's have a good game on Thursday night.
Marcus Moser
Absolutely.
Matt Derry
Marcus Moser Locked on Cowboys Matt Derry Locked on Lions the Thursday crossover brought to you by Prize Picks Stay with us daily here on Locked On Lions and Locked On Cowboys on the Lockdown Podcast Network the number one sports podcast network.
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Episode Date: December 4, 2025
Hosts: Marcus Mosher (Locked On Cowboys), Matt Derry (Locked On Lions)
This episode of "Locked On Cowboys" is a special "Crossover Thursday" in collaboration with "Locked On Lions," focusing on the massive Week 14 showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions. Both teams are fighting to keep playoff hopes alive in what the hosts frame as a near-elimination game. Marcus Mosher and Matt Derry break down the state of both franchises, key matchups and player injuries, potential game scripts, and offer predictions for Thursday Night Football in Detroit.
Dallas Cowboys:
Detroit Lions:
Cowboys' Defensive Improvements:
Lions' Struggles with Injuries:
Aidan Hutchinson vs. Cowboys’ Tackles
Jameer Gibbs vs. Cowboys’ Linebackers
Cowboys Receivers vs. Lions Secondary
Importance of Fast Starts
Lions’ Offensive Game Plan Complications
Coaching Angles & X-Factors
Both hosts foresee a shootout.
Summary:
A compelling and in-depth breakdown of two desperate playoff hopefuls set for a critical Thursday Night Football faceoff, this episode highlights the stakes, key mismatches, injury pitfalls, and strategic chess match likely to decide Cowboys-Lions. Both hosts agree: expect offense, drama, and, in classic Lions and Cowboys fashion, the unexpected.