The Cowboys have only one extra recreation to play earlier than they get to their bye week, although it will likely be removed from straightforward. The Lions come to city for the third yr in a row, they usually’re on the lookout for their first win over the Cowboys in that stretch. Dan Campbell has his Lions enjoying nicely, sitting at 3-1 and using a two-game profitable streak. They’re the favorites on this one too, however do our writers agree with that? Let’s have a look.
When Detroit has the ball
Have an effect on Jared Goff
Jared Goff has been off to a terrific begin this season, selecting up the place he left off final season. Coming into this recreation, he ranks fourth in completion charge, fourth in yards per try, and eleventh in EPA/dropback. Nevertheless, the Lions’ lone loss on the yr additionally featured a horrible recreation from Goff, during which he threw two interceptions and 0 touchdowns.
Coincidentally, that was the sport the place Goff noticed his highest stress charge this yr. Detroit’s offensive line has been excellent – they’re simply outdoors the highest 10 in stress charge allowed – however Goff has been at his worst when he’s beneath stress, together with his passer ranking dropping from 104.4 to 70.3, a precipitous dropoff. Pressuring Goff gained’t be straightforward, particularly with out Micah Parsons, however making Goff uncomfortable is the important thing to unraveling an in any other case very environment friendly offense.
When Dallas has the ball
Hold feeding Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott has been on a heater currently. Over the past two weeks, Prescott is fifth in EPA/dropback, fourth in CPOE, and third in success charge. And that’s all regardless of him turning it over 3 times towards the Steelers, twice within the pink zone.
Now he faces a Lions protection that has struggled towards the go, and largely due to their incapacity to get to the quarterback. Aidan Hutchinson is having an outstanding yr, however the Lions nonetheless rank twenty fourth in sack charge and twenty eighth in stress charge, which is an enormous purpose why they’re giving up the sixth-most go yards per recreation. The Cowboys are giving up the second-lowest charge of pressures proper now, and Prescott is second amongst quarterbacks in each huge time throws and landing passes when working with a clear pocket. Put the ball in Prescott’s fingers this week and good issues ought to occur.
Now onto the predictions out of your BTB writers…
Tom Ryle (2-3):
That is the hardest take a look at of the season to date, and the way in which the schedule falls does the Cowboys no favors. The one factor that may work of their favor is that Dallas dug deep to drag out final week’s win. They must do it once more, however I worry the Lions are simply an excessive amount of this time.
I feel Detroit prevails 31-20.
Matt Holleran (2-3):
I feel this week’s matchup goes to be one of many extra thrilling video games of the common season. Each offenses are going to have the ability to put up factors and there must be loads of fireworks on either side. In the long run, I belief Dak Prescott to make extra performs than Jared Goff. Dallas’ signal-caller would be the distinction because the Cowboys get a big-time win heading into the bye week.
Give me the Cowboys in a shootout, 33-30.
Jess Haynie (3-2):
The fan in me desires to imagine, however the realist says that the Cowboys aren’t going to catch the Lions sleeping. Detroit has to fret about holding tempo with the 5-0 Vikings in their very own division, plus they’ve loads of incentive to beat Dallas for the primary time since 2013. The Cowboys are getting some respect as solely +3 underdogs and there’s good potential for an in depth recreation, however Detroit is constructed to use Dallas’ well-established weaknesses.
I’ll say Lions 31, Cowboys 23.
Brandon Loree (2-3)
The Cowboys have a tough highway forward of them if Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil are out for Sunday’s recreation. Meaning all of the stress will probably be on Dallas’ younger linebackers, DeMarvion Overshown, Damone Clark, and Marist Liufau. The Lions’ dashing offense is their most harmful weapon, led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit’s dashing success charge is 50.4 %, which suggests they’re producing optimistic EPA per rush on greater than half of their rushes.
The Cowboys have been in a position to clamp down on the opposing dashing assault over two weeks, which is a step in the correct course, however will it’s sufficient? Despite the fact that they’re on a two-game win streak, the Cowboys don’t have the well being to compete with the Lions proper now.
Detroit wins 28-23.
Mike Poland (3-2):
The Cowboys are on a six-game profitable streak towards the Lions. In actual fact, within the final ten video games between the 2 groups, Dallas has gained eight. The Lions rank fourth-best at stopping the run, the place the Cowboys offense ranks second-worst in rush yards per recreation.
The place the Cowboys excel is within the passing recreation the place they rank second-best. The issue going through the Lions is the protection is so closely predicated on stopping the run it ranks sixth-worst in defending towards the go. This falls completely into the Cowboys plan.
Cowboys win at residence, 27-21.
Dana Bartholomew (2-3):
I do see a path for the Cowboys to win this recreation towards the Lions. That may require constructing off of the positives from the Steelers recreation, limiting the errors, and presumably getting some assist from the over-aggressiveness of Dan Campbell.
Nevertheless, because it stands proper now, this Lions staff is healthier. They’re more healthy and they’re one of many higher dashing groups within the league. They’re additionally coming in with an enormous chip on their shoulder having misplaced the final six match ups towards the Cowboys. Sadly, which may be an excessive amount of for a depleted Cowboys staff to beat.
I feel the Lions snag this one, 30-27.
Brian Martin (2-3):
A number of accidents to key gamers, nonexistent home-field benefit, and going through a staff who’s wholesome and rested coming off their bye week looks as if an excessive amount of for the Dallas Cowboys to beat this week. On high of that, the Detroit Lions will probably be seeking to extract a bit of little bit of revenge on this matchup after the way in which issues performed out between the 2 final yr.
Give me Detroit this week, 26-16.
Chris Halling (1-4):
As a lot as I’d love to select the Cowboys, the Lions are a mismatch. Their twin risk within the backfield of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will give the Cowboys issues. The final word x-factor will probably be Jameson Williams, who will take the highest off the protection in an analogous approach Rashid Shaheed did in week 2.
I’ll take the Lions in a high-scoring affair, 38-28.
RJ Ochoa (4-1):
I feel that we’re all prepared and in a position to acknowledge that this Dallas Cowboys staff is flawed, however has potential to do one thing particular (utilizing that phrase relatively loosely). That being stated it simply looks as if they’re constructing the airplane as they fly so to talk and that that is nowhere close to being a completed product, if it ever is to be. However the Lions are a fighter jet that’s flying quick sufficient to interrupt the sound barrier. I can’t in good consciousness choose the Cowboys on this spot.
Give me Detroit in a recreation that isn’t as shut as the ultimate rating makes it appear, one thing like 34-30.
David Howman (3-2):
Those that observe me on social media know I’m a Day One believer in Dan Campbell, and I lobbied exhausting for him to be the pinnacle coach in Dallas earlier than Mike McCarthy was employed. So it’s been vindicating to see him flip the Lions, of all franchises, right into a authentic contender within the NFC.
That stated, I simply don’t see this recreation going nicely for them. I anticipate the Lions offense to interrupt off a couple of good drives – Jameson Williams ought to get one or two huge performs, and I’m undecided Dallas has a solution for Amon-Ra St. Brown – however their protection shouldn’t stand an opportunity towards this Cowboys offense. I anticipate a shootout, and in that state of affairs I’m siding with the higher quarterback. And that’s, with all due respect to Jared Goff, not even a contest.
Cowboys win 38-34.
