After five weeks of this season, the Detroit Lions appeared poised to defend their best record in the National Football Conference after winning 15 games last season. The Dallas Cowboys appeared as if their new head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, might be another one and done project in Big D.
Then, after the Cowboys took advantage of the trade deadline and got back some key players on the defensive side of the ball, their fortunes took an abrupt turn for the better. Their offense was always good this year, quarterback Dak Prescott is having one of his best seasons, but until the trades and return to action of players sidelined early in the season the Dallas defense might just as well have saved the hotel bills on the road by not traveling with the team.
Since their bye week a month ago, the Cowboys have rolled to three impressive wins over the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The victory string, coupled with the Philadelphia Eagles look of fallibility, has Schottenheimer’s team in the legitimate pursuit for a playoff berth and he as a potential coach of the year recipient.
On the other side of the line tonight, the Cowboys opponents have seen their quick start dwindle to landing the Lions in third place in the competitive NFC North Division behind the surprise Chicago Bears and talented Green Bay Packers.
Since their bye week in the last week of October, the Lions have lost three of five games and a pair of key offensive players to injuries, tightend Sam LaPorta and perhaps for tonight, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. In recent weeks, the Lions once prolific offense has been grounded and the team has lost four of their last five point spread decisions.
In other words, the Cowboys are riding into town confident they are in the hunt for a playoff berth, and the Lions are challenged that their two-year run into the postseason might end in 2025.