The Detroit Lions are gearing up for a crucial NFC North matchup against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings after a stunning Week 6 performance, where they crushed the Cowboys 47-9 in front of a shocked audience in Dallas.

This victory marks a significant milestone in the impressive rebuild orchestrated by fourth-year head coach Dan Campbell, who faced unexpected criticism this week from former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a known Cowboys supporter, who claimed Campbell “lacks class.”

“That’s Dan Campbell. He’s got no class. Never has,” Christie stated on Chris Russo’s “Mad Dog Unleashed” podcast Thursday. “It’s fine. It’s fine. Look, Dan Campbell, that’s the way he is, and what goes around comes around.”

In their previous encounter, the Lions battled the Cowboys closely, attempting a two-point conversion for the lead late in the game. Left tackle Taylor Decker caught a pass from quarterback Jared Goff, but the play was nullified due to an illegal touching call, despite Decker seeming to be an eligible receiver.

In contrast, the Lions dominated the Cowboys this time, racing to a 27-3 lead just before halftime, allowing Decker to redeem himself with a play-action pass attempt during a goal-line situation. Christie criticized this move, arguing that it was a misdirected attempt at revenge for last season’s officiating error.

“I think that it’s misdirected. Dan Campbell’s angry because the referees got a call wrong in the game a year ago,” Christie added. “Then, you know, run that play on Roger Goodell. The Cowboys had nothing to do with that play being called incorrectly… But because of that, you want to take your peak out over that while you’re beating the hell out of these guys and rub it in. I don’t think that’s what pros do.”

Raised in Livingston, New Jersey, Christie has always had diverse sports loyalties, becoming a regular at Citi Field this fall as the Mets aimed for postseason glory. Despite being close to Metlife Stadium, he shunned supporting the Giants due to their long history of underperformance, with the team having only two winning seasons and no playoff wins during his formative years.

“Because the Giants were awful,” Christie explained about his allegiance to the Cowboys. “I watched Super Bowl V, I fell in love with Roger Staubach even though they lost the game and I was a Cowboys fan ever since.”

As the Lions celebrated their decisive victory over the Cowboys, they received troubling news that might overshadow the win: edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, a frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year, fractured his tibia, likely ending his season.

This injury is a significant setback for a Lions team rich in talent but somewhat thin defensively, lacking a viable substitute for Hutchinson, a player who is irreplaceable. Despite the Lions being a strong contender in the NFC, their path forward seems daunting without perhaps their best player, especially given the fierce competition in the NFC North this season.

With the Lions holding the second-best record in the NFC, playoff prospects remain, but questions linger about how far they can advance without Hutchinson. Nevertheless, Campbell has expressed optimism about Hutchinson’s potential return, despite the tough odds.

Campbell mentioned a recovery timeline of four to six months, suggesting Hutchinson could return as early as February 13, just four days post-Super Bowl. If Hutchinson recovers rapidly, there’s a slim chance he could play in the championship game.

However, the Lions would need to reach that stage, and confidence in his readiness after a lengthy absence would be crucial. Campbell believes in Hutchinson’s ability to recover quickly, stating, “If anyone can make it back, it’s him.” Hutchinson’s surgery reportedly went well, marking a vital step towards recovery.

This injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for both Hutchinson and the Lions. After coming tantalizingly close to their first Super Bowl appearance last season, the Lions are in the conversation as the top team in the NFC. Hutchinson, a local hero and fan favorite, has steadily improved and was becoming one of the league’s premier players in just his third season.

Both the player and the team appeared poised for greatness, but that goal may be postponed until next season. Still, if Campbell’s expectations hold true, fans may see a surprising return much sooner than anticipated.