When Jerry Jones calls someone a “hero,” you pay attention-especially when that someone is standing on the opposite sideline. But that’s exactly what the longtime Cowboys owner did ahead of Thursday’s clash with the Detroit Lions. In a radio interview with 105.3 The Fan, Jones offered high praise for Lions head coach Dan Campbell, calling him one of his “heroes” for the way he’s battled and grown in his coaching journey.
It’s a bold compliment, considering what Campbell’s Lions did to the Cowboys the last time they met. That game wasn’t just a loss for Dallas-it was a full-on dismantling.
Detroit walked into AT&T Stadium and left with a 47-9 win, racking up 492 total yards. Jared Goff carved up the Cowboys’ secondary for 315 yards and three touchdowns, while David Montgomery added 80 yards on the ground and two scores.
Dallas, meanwhile, sputtered to just 251 yards of offense, turned the ball over five times, and watched Dak Prescott throw two picks in a game that felt over before halftime.
But a lot can change in a year.
Since that blowout, the Cowboys have done some serious soul-searching-and some serious rebuilding. Brian Schottenheimer’s squad has climbed from 3-5-1 to 6-5-1, riding a defense that’s found new life thanks in large part to the midseason addition of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
That move has helped anchor a unit that’s now playing with swagger and bite. Add in a three-game winning streak featuring signature wins over the Eagles and Chiefs, and suddenly Dallas is back in the playoff hunt with momentum on its side.
Detroit, on the other hand, is trying to steady itself. After a 15-2 campaign last season that ended in an NFC Championship appearance, the Lions have stumbled to a 7-5 record and find themselves sitting third in the NFC North.
November was rough-2-3 over the month-and it’s clear the offense hasn’t quite found its 2024 rhythm. Campbell has even taken back play-calling duties in an effort to spark something, and Amon-Ra St.
Brown’s recent ankle issues haven’t made that job any easier.
So here we are: the admirer and the hero, facing off in a game that feels like a playoff preview-or maybe a playoff eliminator. Both teams are teetering on the edge of the NFC wild-card picture, and with the season entering its final stretch, every snap matters. ESPN’s already framing this as a “win-or-else” scenario, and it’s hard to argue.
For Campbell and the Lions, it’s a chance to prove last year wasn’t a fluke and that they can bounce back from adversity. For Jones and the Cowboys, it’s about redemption-both for last year’s blowout and for a season that’s had more ups and downs than they’d like.
One thing’s certain: Thursday night won’t lack intensity.