Lions vs. Cowboys NFL Week 6 Picks: Expect a High-Octane Showdown in Dallas

Lions Put on a Show Against Seahawks 

Jared Goff delivered a flawless performance, setting an NFL record by completing all 18 of his passes as the Detroit Lions outpaced the Seattle Seahawks 42-29 on September 30.

In addition to his sharp passing, Goff caught his first career touchdown on a throw from Amon-Ra St. Brown, who also snagged one of Goff’s two touchdown tosses. With that exchange, Goff and St. Brown became just the eighth quarterback-receiver duo in NFL history to throw and catch a touchdown pass to each other.

The trick play saw St. Brown loft a seven-yard pass to Goff in the third quarter, and later in the fourth, the All-Pro receiver caught an eight-yard strike from the quarterback.

Goff, who finished with 292 yards through the air, had already set a personal milestone by completing his first 14 throws in Detroit’s previous victory over Arizona—a mark that stood for just over a week. He also connected with Jameson Williams on a 70-yard touchdown over the middle in the third quarter, with Williams sprinting past Seattle’s defenders for the score.

Seattle’s injury-plagued defense struggled to contain Detroit’s balanced attack, both on the ground and in the air. Jahmyr Gibbs punched in two touchdowns in the second quarter, finishing with 78 yards rushing.

David Montgomery kicked off Detroit’s scoring with a one-yard plunge to cap a 10-play, 93-yard drive that drained over seven minutes off the clock in the first quarter, and racked up 80 total yards from scrimmage.

Cowboys Survive in Pittsburgh

Meanwhile, Dak Prescott stepped up when it mattered most, guiding the Dallas Cowboys to a thrilling 20-17 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Prescott had a roller coaster night, mixing moments of brilliance with costly mistakes, including two interceptions and a fumble that nearly kept the sluggish Steelers in the game.

But when Dallas took over down four with just under five minutes to play, Prescott calmly led a 70-yard, 15-play drive. He even recovered a critical fumble by teammate Rico Dowdle as Dowdle tried to leap into the end zone, giving the Cowboys two more chances to score.

After an incomplete pass, Prescott capped his 352-yard performance by threading a game-winning throw to Jalen Tolbert with 20 seconds left, securing a second consecutive win for Dallas.

Dowdle provided a spark for the league’s worst rushing attack, racking up 87 yards on the ground and adding a 22-yard sliding touchdown catch on a 16-play, 90-yard drive early in the fourth that put the Cowboys ahead 13-10.

Despite playing behind a depleted offensive line and without defensive cornerstone Micah Parsons, Dallas relied on Prescott’s resilience to grind out a hard-fought victory, keeping the team’s momentum on track.

Key Matchups

The Lions come in riding the momentum of Goff’s record-setting accuracy and a dynamic offense, while the Cowboys, led by Prescott, are looking to build on a gritty win that showcased their resilience. Expect a back-and-forth affair with each team leaning on their strengths and scheming to exploit the other’s weaknesses.

Jared Goff vs. Dallas’ Pass Rush

Goff’s ability to get the ball out quickly has been a hallmark of Detroit’s success, but he’ll face one of his toughest challenges yet against the Cowboys’ relentless pass rush.

If Dallas can generate consistent pressure without blitzing, it will be a long day for Goff. However, Detroit’s offensive line has been stout, and if they can hold up, Goff has the weapons to dissect Dallas’ secondary, especially on quick-hitting routes to St. Brown.

Cowboys Receivers vs. Lions Secondary

Prescott has been relying heavily on CeeDee Lamb and emerging threat Tolbert, and this game will be no different. The Lions’ secondary, which has been up-and-down this season, will need to stay disciplined and avoid giving up big plays.

Safety Brian Branch will be key in trying to disrupt Prescott’s rhythm. If Dallas can stretch the field and open up the middle for shorter passes, it will keep the Lions’ defense on its heels.

Lions’ Rushing Attack vs. Cowboys’ Run Defense

Detroit’s ground game, featuring the dual-threat of Gibbs and the bruising style of Montgomery, is the X-factor that could decide this contest. If Gibbs and Montgomery can establish a rhythm early, it’ll force the Cowboys’ linebackers to cheat up, opening up opportunities for play-action and deep shots downfield.

Dallas has shown cracks against power runners, and a strong ground attack could be Detroit’s ticket to controlling the pace of the game.

Dak Prescott vs. Detroit’s Pass Defense

Prescott has been a mixed bag this season, flashing brilliance in clutch moments but also making costly mistakes. The Lions’ defensive front, led by Aidan Hutchinson, will look to get pressure and force Prescott into hurried decisions.

The key will be limiting explosive plays—if the Lions can keep everything in front of them and capitalize on Prescott’s lapses, they’ll have the upper hand. However, if Dallas’ offensive line can keep Prescott clean, he’s shown he can carve up even the best defenses.

Special Teams and Turnovers

Both teams have had special teams blunders this season, and in a game that could come down to the wire, a timely punt return or blocked field goal could swing the momentum.

The Lions will need to avoid the kind of turnovers that haunted them in earlier games, while Dallas’ defense will look to generate takeaways and set up Prescott with short fields. Whoever wins the turnover battle will likely dictate the flow of the game.

The Pick

Expect a tight contest where both offenses have their moments, but it’s the team that can consistently protect its quarterback that will come out on top. Detroit’s offensive line has been a strength, and Goff’s poise in the pocket should allow the Lions to move the ball effectively, even against a Dallas front that loves to pin its ears back.

On the flip side, the Cowboys will struggle to run the ball consistently against Detroit’s tough interior, putting more pressure on Prescott to be mistake-free.

Ultimately, Detroit’s balance on offense and superior line play will be the difference. Look for Goff to lean on St. Brown and a few timely runs from Gibbs to keep the chains moving, while the Lions’ defense makes just enough plays to slow down Prescott in critical moments of what could be a high-scoring contest.

NFL Pick: Over 52 (-110) at Bovada

Over 52 (-110)

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