With the month of December underway, we’re one step closer to postseason football. Speaking of which, Week 14 kicks off with a contest that should carry significant implications regarding the playoff picture.
Thursday Night Football’s Cowboys vs. Lions bout (8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video) features a pair of powerhouse offenses. A clash between franchises on the outside looking in at the NFC playoffs could deliver fireworks.
Below, we’ll break down our Cowboys vs. Lions prediction and Thursday Night Football picks to consider. Use PrizePicks NFL to monitor player projections and make picks for real rewards if you’re right.
Cowboys vs. Lions Prediction, Preview for Week 14
Thursday marks the 33rd time the Cowboys and Lions will meet in their series history. Dallas owns a 19-13 lead, including six wins in the last seven matchups.
As expected, neither side comes into Week 14 at 100%. For the Cowboys, CB Trevon Diggs (knee) and OT Tyler Guyton (ankle) are out. WR George Pickens (calf/knee) is good to go, though. On the other side, a multitude of Lions are out. The headliner, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, didn’t practice all week and carries a questionable designation into the outing.
The Cowboys enter Thursday’s game as 3.5-point road underdogs, returning a 2.22x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Lions are home favorites with a 1.58x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Detroit Lions -3.5
- Total: 54.5
- Game Winner Payout: Cowboys 2.22x | Lions 1.58
All payouts listed are at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Dallas Cowboys Preview vs. Lions
Last season was a lost one for the Cowboys, seeing them go 7-10 with QB Dak Prescott missing half the campaign due to injury. That led to now-former head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract not being renewed.
The Brian Schottenheimer era got off to a bumpy start, as Dallas began the season 3-5-1. Thanks to three consecutive wins after the bye, they’re now above .500 for the first time all year.
One thing the Cowboys can do is score in bunches. Their offense ranks first in total yards and sits second in overall scoring in 2025.
Defense is where Dallas struggles. They’re dead last in points per drive and 29th in yards per possession.
Detroit Lions Preview vs. Cowboys
Last year saw the Lions set a franchise record with 15 regular-season wins. Unfortunately for head coach Dan Campbell, his crew lost in the divisional round of the postseason.
Unlike Dallas, Detroit came out of its bye week flat. The team is 2-3 in its last five outings, alternating defeats and triumphs dating back to Week 9.
The Lions’ offense does its work quickly. Despite being 17th in time and 21st in plays per drive, they’re third in overall yardage and scoring.
Detroit’s defense is mostly a middle-of-the-pack unit, slotting in at 16th in points per drive and 14th in total yards.
Cowboys vs. Lions Thursday Night Football Picks
Here are three Cowboys vs. Lions picks for NFL Week 14 on Thursday Night Football. Some top same-game PrizePicks projections to consider include WR George Pickens, RB Javonte Williams, and QB Jared Goff.
Cowboys WR George Pickens vs. Lions Projection: 78.5 Rec Yards
- Pickens is averaging a career-high 95.2 receiving yards per game. He’s also posting personal bests for success rate (67.6%), catch rate (69.5%), and yards per target (10.9).
- The former Pittsburgh Steelers standout boasts a healthy 24.19% target share, good for 21st among all WRs and just one spot behind teammate CeeDee Lamb (24.25%).
- Since Lamb returned to the lineup in Week 7, Pickens has posted 78+ receiving yards in every game. He’s averaging 102.8 yards per game in that stretch.
- Only the Giants and Cowboys have allowed more fantasy production to WRs than the Lions.
Cowboys RB Javonte Williams vs. Lions Projection: 66.5 Rush Yards
- Dating back to Week 7, Williams averages 79.8 rushing yards per game. He’s gone for 80+ yards four times in that six-game stretch.
- Out of 38 RBs with 100+ carries, Williams’ 44.44% rush success rate ranks 12th, according to SumerSports.
- In that same crop of players, the former second-round pick is 14th with a breakaway run clip of 26.9%, via Pro Football Focus.
- Per NFL Pro, Williams has the fifth-most rushing yards after contact in the NFL at 779. The Lions rank 22nd with a stuffed run percentage of just 15.3.
Lions QB Jared Goff vs. Cowboys Projection: 254.5 Pass Yards
- Goff averages 252.1 passing yards per game this year. In his last five contests, that number is up to 278.8.
- A trend-based matchup to watch is yards after catch. Goff has the third-highest split of passing yards from YAC (59.4%, via NFL Pro), and the Cowboys’ defense has yielded the fifth-highest YAC total (1,611 yards).
- Dallas’ defense has allowed more passing TDs than any team, in addition to more passing yards than all but two clubs.
- The Cowboys rank 29th in EPA/pass allowed at 0.15.
Make Cowboys vs. Lions Picks on PrizePicks
When Dallas and Detroit duke it out, there will be plenty of opportunities for Cowboys vs. Lions Thursday Night Football picks. The NFL Week 14 slate also leaves the door open for several other player projections and much more.
Just pick players, predict More or Less for their projected stats, and win real money if you’re right.
Keep it locked in here with PrizePicks and the Playbook for picks and analysis all year.
