NFL Thursday: Cowboys-Lions kicks off Week 14 with playoffs at stake. Our pick
GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 14 THURSDAY PICK
COWBOYS (6-5-1) at LIONS (7-5)
Line: DET by 3.
Cote’s pick: DET, 34-30.
TV: 8:15 p.m., Prime Video.
What is this, Thanksgiving leftovers? The two annual Bird Day hosts are back rested for the Precarious Bowl, with Detroit and Dallas opening Week 14 sitting eighth and ninth in the jockeying for seven NFC playoff spots. Cowboys are only a half-game back in the pecking order after three straight wins, but it’s Lions in an extended 3-4 lull who feel a bit needier here. Boys may be a trendy upset pick, but give me the more desperate team that’s also the home team. I’d feel better, granted, if DET star WR Amon-ra St. Brown (ankle) wasn’t iffy to play; still, Jerry’s World is only 2-4 on the road, Motown has won 15 of past 20 at home, and I like Jahmyr Gibbs to cook against a middling Dallas run D. Speaking of defense ... don’t expect a lot of it Thursday night. This is season’s highest points over/under (54 1/2) with cause. Teams combine for 58 1/2 points on average, and QBs Dak Prescott and Jared Goff already have totaled 50 touchdown passes. First to 30 points wins?
Betting line courtesy DraftKings as of Wednesday afternoon.
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 4:05 PM.
