Well, it means Lions fans should be rooting for the Packers to sweep the Bears and beat them again in two weeks to bolster their playoff odds.

Christian Booher: The loss of Brian Branch is a brutal one for Detroit’s defense. Because of the timing and severity of the injury, there’s a chance he misses time next year and that would be a big loss for the Lions. Branch is one of the most versatile defenders in the league at his best, and will not be easily replaced.

The Detroit Lions are right back in the thick of things in the NFC playoff picture, and the Dallas Cowboys are hanging on by a thread. Jahmyr Gibbs scored three touchdowns, Jared Goff threw for 309 yards and a touchdown, and the Detroit defense forced three turnovers in a crucial 44-30 win.

This former Lions draft pick competed at Ford Field for the first time since a release from the organization in 2024.

Jahmyr Gibbs ran three touchdowns, the last a 13-yarder with 2:19 left that sealed the Detroit Lions' much-needed 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

After a huge kick return by Tom Kennedy, Detroit took just three plays to get back in the end zone on a 13-yard scamper by Jahmyr Gibbs to extend the lead to 44-30. D.J. Reed came up with an interception on the Cowboys’ next drive to seal the win for Detroit. Detroit improved to 8-5, while Dallas fell to 6-6-1.

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles, according to reports.

Head coach Dan Campbell asked for a takeaway at halftime, and the Detroit Lions' Derrick Barnes delivered instantly.

Through two games, Kennedy has two 21-yard punt returns and 201 yards on six kickoff returns, with four catches for 46 yards.