If there’s anyone in the NFL who truly understands what it’s like to line up against the Detroit Lions’ defensive backs, it’s Dallas Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Dallas has met Detroit in the regular season in each of the past three years, and every time Lamb has ended up as the Cowboys’ top pass-catcher:

2022: Lamb posted 4 grabs for 70 yards in a 24–6 victory in Week 7.

2023: He delivered one of the signature performances of his career—13 receptions, 227 yards and a score—in a nail-biting 20–19 win in Week 17.

2024: Detroit finally swung the matchup in its favor, blowing out Dallas 47–9, though Lamb still produced 7 catches for 89 yards.

Now, as the Cowboys prepare to enter a playoff-like atmosphere on Thursday Night Football in Detroit, Lamb is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.

“That’s part of the fun—that’s football,” Lamb said on December 1. “Sometimes the officials let things go, sometimes they don’t. We’ll find out. But physically, I know exactly what to expect.”

Both Teams Teetering on the Edge of the Playoff Race

Neither Detroit nor Dallas would be officially eliminated with a loss Thursday, but the stakes feel every bit as high as an elimination game.

Detroit sits at 7–5, third in the NFC North. Dallas, at 6–5–1, is second in the NFC East. If the postseason started today, both teams would be just outside the bracket.

The Lions, who went 15–2 last year and claimed the No. 1 seed, have watched the Chicago Bears take command of the division in 2025. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have ripped off three straight wins and are playing some of their best football of the season.

Detroit is coming off a Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers, while Dallas defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on the holiday.

Per NFL.com, Detroit holds a 43% playoff probability, while Dallas has far less margin for error at 17%.

Lions Secondary Takes Major Blow

If Dallas has an area where it might be able to exploit Detroit, it’s in the secondary—specifically due to the loss of cornerback Terrion Arnold.

Arnold, Detroit’s first-round pick in 2024, was placed on injured reserve on December 1 and will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. He had already missed games earlier in the year because of a separate shoulder issue in Week 5 and a concussion in Week 10.

One fan, Marcus Burelius, voiced frustration on X, saying the Lions’ training staff has been praised but keeps losing key young players late in the season, adding that repeated shoulder injuries suggest something systemic may be off in player management.

And with Detroit suddenly needing to start a new cornerback, the timing couldn’t be worse: the Lions are preparing to defend not only Lamb, but also fellow star receiver George Pickens.