Monday night will feature a pair of teams with 21 wins combined, and one of them is worried about making the playoffs. The Cowboys (clinched at 12 wins) are good to go. The Lions (unclinched at nine wins, 80 percent to make the postseason at the moment) still have a lot riding on this game.
Detroit is somehow teetering on a danger zone of not making the playoffs. That sounds crazy, but consider the situation they're in with their schedule. First, they have the Cowboys on the road. This is, as you can see from the spread, a really difficult game to win. Dallas is a touchdown-plus favorite, according to SportsLine.
Then they get the Packers at home on Jan. 1, which, if they lose to Dallas, is a heads-up game for the division. In fact, regardless of what they do in Dallas, it might very well be a title game -- if the Packers beat the Vikings on Saturday, they're just a half game back of the Lions. Beating Detroit in Week 17 would guarantee the Packers the division title in that scenario because of a head-to-head sweep.
Losing both games would send the Lions playoff chances careening, with the Upshot simulator at the New York Times giving them just 36 percent with two losses. Detroit would be at the mercy of other NFC contenders to hang on for a wild card spot.
They would still be in solid shape even if they lose out, which is the nature of a team with nine wins heading into Week 16.
But Matthew Stafford has a hurt finger and the Cowboys are a dominant offensive team that has beaten up on just about everyone other than the Giants.
The Lions are a desperate team despite leading the division. It's a fascinating place to be, making Monday night's primetime matchup in Dallas even more enticing.
How to Watch
- What: Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys
- When: Monday, Dec. 26, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: WatchESPN
- Online: NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)
- Odds: The Cowboys are 7.5-point favorites, according to SportsLine
Injury Report
Cowboys
- WR Dez Bryant (Back) -- Questionable
- SS Barry Church (Forearm) -- Questionable
- CB Morris Claiborne (Groin) -- Out
- DE Jack Crawford (Foot) -- Questionable
- DE Tyrone Crawford (Foot) -- Doubtful
- LB Justin Durant (Elbow) -- Out
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (Back) -- Out
- G Ronald Leary (Back) -- Questionable
- OLB Sean Lee (Knee) -- Questionable
- OL Tyron Smith (Back, knee) -- Questionable
- DT Cedric Thornton (Ankle) -- Out
- SS J.J. Wilcox (Thigh) -- Questionable
Lions
- LB DeAndre Levy (Knee) -- Questionable
- RB Theo Riddick (Wrist) -- Doubtful
- CB Darius Slay (Hamstring) -- Doubtful
- OL Travis Swanson (Concussion) -- Out
Prisco's Pick
This is a tough turnaround for the Lions. They lost on the road to the Giants and now must go play the NFC's top team in their place. That's brutal. They will keep it close, but Dallas is too good. In the end, Ezekiel Elliott is the difference.
Pick: Cowboys 27, Lions 21