Detroit Lions pull away from the Dallas Cowboys on a special night for Jahmyr Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs took a simple swing pass, juking and spinning his way to a 19-yard gain early against the Dallas Cowboys.

The electric play was just a taste of things to come on a special Thursday night for the Detroit Lions’ dynamic running back who wound up with 43 yards rushing and three touchdowns, driving his career total to 47. That ties him with Hall of Famer and Lions’ legend Barry Sanders for the most TDs before turning 24 years old in NFL history. (Gibbs also hauled in seven catches for 77 receiving yards).

Gibbs’ efforts and Detroit’s pass rush provided all the roar needed for the Lions to pull away with a 44-30 home win over the Cowboys at Ford Field under the spotlight of Thursday Night Football.

The win keeps the Lions (8-5) strong in the hunt for a playoff spot as their odds to reach the postseason increased by 55 percent. The playoff chances for the Cowboys (6-6-1) fell to nine percent as they also loss star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a concussion suffered in the third quarter.

The Lions did not waste time pouncing on the Cowboys on Thursday night. After each team scored a field goal to start the game, the big NFC matchup took a turn when the Lions sacked Dak Prescott in the end zone for a safety which was later reversed by a replay official review. The Cowboys punted deep from their own territory instead and the Lions took advantage of a short field with a six-play, 42-yard drive ending with Gibbs punching in a goal-line touchdown for a 10-3 lead in the first quarter.

Though the Cowboys would manage a field goal to pull within 10-6, the home squad would respond in a grand way by taking advantage of a forced fumble and recovery to set up a four-play, 53-yard drive resulting in David Montgomery breaking tackles straight up the gut and through the Cowboys’ defense for a 36-yard TD rush.

Both teams would trade field goals with under a minute remaining in the second quarter to put the Lions ahead, 20-9, at halftime.

On the Cowboys’ first play of the second half, Prescott’s pass was tipped up into the air and intercepted by the Lions who scored two plays later on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Isaac TeSlaa, extending the Detroit’s lead to 27-9 early in the third quarter.

The Cowboys would get within striking distance via a 42-yard TD pass from Prescott to Ryan Flournoy on a blown coverage and subsequent two-point conversion to pull within 30-27 in the fourth quarter. But the Lions responded by building a five-play, 59-yard drive. It resulted in a 10-yard touchdown rush from Gibbs to make it a two-score lead with 7:17 left.

Brandon Aubrey kicked his fifth field goal through the upright with under four minutes remaining but the Lions once again responded with Gibbs who plowed in a 13-yard touchdown with 2:19 left, giving Detroit a 44-30 edge, which stood.

The Lions then intercepted Prescott for the second time to close out the game on a frustrating evening for the Cowboys’ QB who was also sacked five times.

The loss snapped the Cowboys' winning streak at three games as they face a must-win matchup next Sunday night at home against the Minnesota Vikings.

Gibbs and the Lions will visit the Los Angeles Rams in another huge NFC tilt for Week 15.