While the Lions are the NFC North champs, now is no time to relax with the No. 2 seed on the line. If Detroit wins out they will be the second seed in the NFC.
First up, at the Dallas Cowboys who have been a perfect 7-0 at home this season and own a 10-5 record. The road warrior Lions (11-4) are 6-2 away from Ford Field. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday – it’s basically Monday Night Football two days early.
“We’re a good road team and we feel good about (playing) pretty much anywhere. We went to Arrowhead earlier this year and won there and there are much harder atmospheres to play in than that. So, yeah, we feel good about going in anywhere and finding a way to win,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said.
Not only are the Cowboys perfect at home this season, but they are 15-1 at AT&T Stadium in the past two seasons.
“I think just – I think the comfort, the comfort of being there and to be able to function, particularly offensively, without the crowd noise,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “There’s a number of things that they’re able to do – I feel like that opens up things they’re able to do because they don’t have to be on silent cadence, some of the verbal. I just – I think they take full advantage of being home, they do it well.’’
Five things to watch:
1. The Lions have improved their turnover ratio and that must continue. Goff did not throw an interception at the Vikings on Sunday. However, he must keep an eye on Cowboys CB DaRon Bland’s who has eight interceptions with five of those returned for touchdowns this season: “He’s played well, he’s made plays on the ball, he’s got great ball skills. And I think he’s got the NFL record, right, for most taken back? It’s incredible. It’s a good testament to what type of player he is and yeah, has great ball skills,’’ Goff said.
2. With a healthy offensive line, Goff is getting good protection. He was sacked just once in the 30-24 win over the Vikings. The Cowboys have sacked opposing quarterbacks just four times in the last four games — one in each. Detroit’s offensive line ranks fifth in the League in pass protection.
3. The Lions defense held on to get the division-clinching win at Minnesota plus they had four interceptions and four sacks. Campbell has confidence they can get the job done again. “We talked about getting turnovers in bunches and there we go. And so, this has been the one thing that we’ve been missing and now it showed up. And I feel like it’s not going to go anywhere. I feel like those – between our safeties and our backers and (Brian) Branch, kind of that – man, we’re becoming very disruptive and we’re making a lot of plays,’’ the coach said. “Now, there’s some things in there that showed up. And look, (Vikings WR Justin Jefferson) 18 is what he is. He’s a hell of a receiver, but there’s a couple of things we can clean up on the coverage aspect. But as far as, man playing your keys, being where you need to be, making plays on the football, man we’re doing that and I feel like that’s here to stay.”
4. It’s key for the Lions to get off to a good start, just like most weeks. If the Lions fall too far behind it takes the running game out of the equation. “It goes without saying, you could say it every week, we have to get off to a fast start because that’s where this team excels,’’ Campbell said. “They get going and all of a sudden it snowballs and then you just can’t make up from the mistakes that you may have had earlier in the game.”
5. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons can be a game-wrecker. He lines up on both sides so LT Taylor Decker and RT Penei Sewell will each get a shot at him, along with others. “I think (Sewell’s) the same guy every day. I’m sure he relishes this challenge as does Deck on the other side because, like I said, Micah is going to line up all over the place. He certainly loves this type of matchup because it allows him to showcase what he’s capable of,’’ Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.
INJURIES: TE Brock Wright (hip) and DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) are out; CB Cam Sutton (toe) is questionable. FB Jason Cabinda was elevated from IR, then waived on Friday.
PREDICTION: Lions 30, Cowboys 27. Call me crazy, but I think the Lions have it in them to get this one.
Lions Lowdown 