The Dallas Cowboys have played with their backs against the wall for weeks now, so odds are they won't feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of their clash with the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.
This is effectively a must-win game for both teams, so it will have a playoff feel to it. Every competitive advantage, no matter how small, will carry a lot of weight.
While the Cowboys are navigating some injuries of their own, the Lions could be without star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who suffered an ankle sprain in the loss to Green Bay on Thanksgiving. St. Brown is pushing to play and has not been ruled out at the time of this writing, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on Wednesday that it's not looking good.
"He has not yet practiced this week. My understanding is this is a 1-2 week injury. So probably, most likely, going to miss Thursday's game," Rapoport said. "But he has not been ruled out yet. You talk with people close to him, and they say the same thing: he always wants to play ... I just don't get a great feeling that Amon-Ra will be out there with his teammates."
Cowboys might dodge Amon-Ra St. Brown against the Lions in Week 14
To say it would be massive if St. Brown doesn't play would be an understatement. They are already without standout tight end Sam LaPorta. Not having St. Brown would take another security blanket away from quarterback Jared Goff, who tends to panic when his first and second reads aren't open.
St. Brown enters Week 14 fifth among wide receivers with 108 targets, fourth with 75 catches, fifth with 884 yards, and second with nine touchdowns. He's one of the best the NFL has to offer, and Detroit's offense hasn't been nearly as efficient this season relative to years past.
If the three-time Pro Bowler can't go, Jameson Williams would step into the WR1 role. His speed will pose some problems for a Cowboys secondary that isn't the fleetest of foot, and Dan Campbell will certainly find ways to get him the ball in space, but he has a penchant for disappearing in games. In fact, he's been held under 45 receiving yards in six games this year, and he's only gone over 70 yards four times.
That isn't to say the Lions won't be able to move the ball. Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most dynamic weapons in the NFL, and Goff typically plays well indoors. However, St. Brown's potential absence will be felt in those high-leverage moments in what is expected to be a tightly contested game.
It would be huge for Dallas if he is ruled out.