Detroit kept its postseason hopes alive in Week 14 by overpowering the Dallas Cowboys 44–30, a convincing victory that kept the Lions within striking distance in the NFC North standings.

The win came at an important moment for Detroit, serving as a strong response to their narrow 31–24 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving just one week earlier.

While most of the roster had reason to celebrate following the Dallas game, one Lions defender walked away with unwanted attention from the league office.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone found himself at the center of controversy late in the fourth quarter after making contact with Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson on a third-and-short play. Officials called offensive pass interference on Ferguson, a ruling that sparked heavy debate online, with many believing Anzalone should have been flagged instead.

Although that moment drew widespread discussion after the game, it wasn’t the play that led to league discipline. Anzalone was instead fined $17,968 for an incident in the second quarter involving striking, tripping, or kneeing an opponent. The action occurred away from the ball on a Dallas offensive snap that eventually ended with Ferguson losing a fumble.

The fine, announced Saturday, was the largest handed out to any player in Week 14 and Anzalone was the lone Lions player penalized financially by the NFL.

This marks the second fine of the season for the 31-year-old linebacker. Earlier in the year, he was penalized $12,172 in Week 6 for tripping a Kansas City Chiefs player. After filing an appeal, that fine was reduced to $9,738.

On the field, Anzalone remains a key contributor to Detroit’s defense. He ranks second on the team in tackles with 79, trailing only rookie Jack Campbell. In addition, he has seven pass breakups, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one interception through 13 games. The nine-year veteran has been one of the league’s most productive tacklers in recent seasons, surpassing 125 stops in both 2022 and 2023, and he is currently on track to finish 2025 with just over 100 tackles.

Detroit now shifts its focus to Sunday’s road test against the 10–3 Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, a matchup that could have major implications for NFC playoff positioning.