The Lions hoped to get safety Kerby Joseph back from a knee injury for this Sunday's game against the Rams, but that is looking unlikely on Friday.

The Detroit Lions, in what many perceived as a must-win game, came out strong and led the entire way Thursday night, but that doesn't mean it was an easy win. Dallas scored a touchdown and 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to pull to within 30-27 with just under 10 minutes to play.

The Detroit Lions kept their playoff hopes alive with a 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, but their path forward got a bit more complicated after tests Friday revealed that standout safety Brian Branch suffered a tear in his Achilles, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Detroit Lions pass rush has not been effective in recent weeks. That much is obvious to anyone who has watched opposing offenses pick apart a good Detroit secondary because the Lions aren't generating enough pressure, or doing it quickly enough, for it to matter to the quarterback.

The Detroit Lions need to win their final 4 games and get help to earn the NFL's No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs for the second straight year.

This has just been one of the most frustrating parts of the Detroit Lions' season. Their All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph has been such a big part of this team in recent years and led the league in interceptions last year.

Detroit Lions face major uncertainty as star safety duo Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph could be done for the season—maybe for good.