close
close

votetostopthecuts

latest hiits news

htnews

Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys: Scouting Report, Prediction

By Hudson Brooklyn
Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys: Scouting Report, Prediction

play

Detroit Lions (3-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)

The trainers: Lions – Dan Campbell (32-34-1 overall, 27-27-1 with Lions); Cowboys – Mike McCarthy (170-104-2 overall, 45-27 with Cowboys).

Last game: Lions beat Seattle Seahawks, 42-29; The Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17.

Last meeting: December 30, 2023: Cowboys won, 20-19.

PLAY BALL! Lions DT Alim McNeill talks baseball and Tarik Skubal

Important encounters

Lions NT DJ Reader vs. Cowboys C Cooper Beebe

The Cowboys have one of the best interior offensive lines in the NFL, on par with the Lions. Zack Martin is a seven-time first-team All-Pro at right guard, Tyler Smith made his first Pro Bowl last season at left guard and Beebe, a third-round pick in April’s draft, has received rave reviews in his first five games Career games in focus.

The Cowboys haven’t run the ball well this season. They average just 3.5 yards per carry. However, they did have some ground success in last week’s win over the Steelers – 109 yards.

It’s imperative that the Lions and their stingy run defense contain Dallas’ ground game and make the Cowboys one-dimensional, and that starts right up front with Reader. The massive run plugger has played well despite a statistically quiet start (one tackle for loss, one sack). If he can control Beebe and continue to be disruptive against a good front, that will bode well for the Lions.

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis

St. Brown leads the Lions with 27 catches in four games and Lewis is one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL. But that’s not why this is a special match of the week.

Last year, Lewis got under St. Brown’s skin so deeply with his trash talk that St. Brown complained about the Detroit native on his podcast this summer. Lewis told the Dallas Morning News this week that he couldn’t remember what he said to St. Brown, but no matter how disrespectful it was, “I’ll probably say it again.”

According to Pro Football Focus, St. Brown had a big day against the Cowboys last season, catching six passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, although only one of those catches came in man coverage against Lewis. The two should have plenty of opportunity to compete again on Sunday.

Scouting report

The Lions play offense and the Cowboys play defense

Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery was asked this week to name the best running back tandems in NFL history. He mentioned Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier of the 1970s Steelers and Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott of the 2000s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and said the Lions duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs “have a chance to be . .. to take part in this conversation”.

Both David Montgomery and Gibbs are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons, and the Lions rank seventh in the NFL with 151.3 rushing yards per game. Gibbs (285 yards) has become the Lions’ leader thanks to his explosive playmaking ability, and Campbell said last week that he’s “about to hit the ground running.” Gibbs has surpassed 75 yards rushing in three straight games.

The Cowboys had three of their five opponents rush for under 100 yards this season, but were held to 464 yards on the ground in their two losses. Dallas will likely be without Demarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons on offense, but has received good work from linebacker DeMarvion Overshown this season. Edge: Lions

Lions pass offense vs. Cowboys pass defense

Jared Goff stands on a heater. Goff completed all 18 of his passes in the Lions’ Week 4 win over the Seahawks and has 19 consecutive completions, six shy of the NFL record. He’s done a good job of using everything available in recent weeks, and the Lions have protected him better than they did earlier in the season when he struggled with turnovers.

St. Brown and Jameson Williams give the Lions a dynamic 1-2 punch at receiver, with St. Brown chewing up yards under the defense and Williams stretching downfield. The defense has stifled Williams’ explosive performance, leaving the Lions to take advantage of the few one-on-one opportunities he gets. The return of center Frank Ragnow should help the pass defense against Mike Zimmer’s defense.

The Cowboys’ sack percentage has dropped due to their injuries at the top (from 9% last year to 7.6% through five games), but they still have a talented secondary that could get reinforcements this week. DaRon Bland led the NFL in interceptions last season and is nearing his return from a foot injury. If he can’t leave, former Lions punching bag Amani Oruwariye could start all over again. Edge: Lions

The Cowboys are on offense and the Lions are on defense

The Cowboys have been abysmal rushing for most of the season, averaging 82 yards per game, but last week they were able to get their ground game going in inclement weather against the Steelers by leaning on Rico Dowdle.

Dowdle managed a career-best 87 rushing yards on 20 carries and is averaging a respectable 4.1 yards per rush for the season. He split time with Ezekiel Elliott earlier in the year, but the Cowboys are better when he gets the majority of the carries. Dallas still has a good offensive line and can run the ball effectively with more commitment on the run.

Kenneth Walker III (12 carries, 80 yards) had a big day against the Lions in Week 4, but the Lions have had one of the best rush defenses in the NFL for two years in a row. Reader, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike control the line of scrimmage with their length and power, and the Lions will return one of the best perimeter run defenders in tough safety Brian Branch. Edge: Lions

Cowboys pass offense vs. Lions pass defense

The Cowboys are a pass-first team that throws the ball on 64% of their offensive shots, and that will likely be their recipe for trying to beat the Lions on Sunday. CeeDee Lamb led the NFL with 135 catches last season and Dak Prescott has two passing games with more than 350 yards this season.

Lamb tackled Prescott in a game on the sidelines last month and wasn’t quite as dominant as he was in 2023 after a contract dispute over the summer. The Cowboys have a strong supporting offensive cast in tight end Jake Ferguson (22 catches, 229 yards) and receiver Jalen Tolbert (20, 247), but Prescott needs to get Lamb more involved and reduce turnovers (four interceptions, four fumbles). ).

The Lions are ranked 27thTh in the NFL against the pass (258.3 ypg) and allow the most first downs per game. Branch and Kerby Joseph give the Lions a good safety tandem and Carlton Davis played well at cornerback, but the Lions were missing fullbacks Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes against Seattle and need more consistent play from offense-prone cornerback Terrion Arnold. Edge: Cowboys

Special teams

The Lions have one of the most solid special teams in the NFL. Jack Fox is a weapon when it comes to controlling field position – his opponents have only three punt returns this season – and Kalif Raymond averages about 9 yards per punt return. The Lions don’t allow many big plays on special teams, but other than fake punts, they haven’t made many either, as they still haven’t allowed Jake Bates to make a field goal longer than 35 yards.

The Cowboys have a more explosive special teams unit with the NFL’s best kicker in Brandon Aubrey (7-for-8 on kicks of at least 50 yards) and dangerous returner KaVontae Turpin. Turpin has one punt return for a touchdown and an average of 35.7 yards per kick return this season. Punter Bryan Anger nets 41.5 yards per punt. Edge: Cowboys

forecast

The Lions lost in controversial fashion to the Cowboys last year after officials mistakenly called a tackle-eligible 2-point conversion following a late touchdown. And while no one in the Lions locker room is buying into this outcome, I feel like this team definitely feels like they owe the Cowboys something. The Lions should seek revenge on Sunday against a Dallas team that is undermanned defensively and not yet as cohesive as it was when it won the NFC East a season ago. The Cowboys are still a dangerous team, but they haven’t run the ball particularly well this year and can’t stop the run, and that should allow the Lions’ offense to get some traction early. Lamb beat the Lions last year with 13 catches for 227 yards and a 97-yard touchdown. As long as the Lions keep him relatively at bay on Sunday, they should head into next week’s NFC North showdown with the Minnesota Vikings with three straight wins. The pick: Lions 31, Cowboys 20.

Dave Birkett will be signing copies of his new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline,” on Saturday at 7 p.m. at J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill in Arlington, Texas. Order your copy here.

Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

Related posts:

Russia violates international law with drone attack on Ukrainian hospital – JURIST
The Purushottam Express remained stranded in the tundla of Uttar Pradesh for over three hours follow...
Michigan girl, 7, stabbed; 13-year-old sister in custody: police

By Hudson Brooklyn

Related Post

htnews

Police looking for suspect after hit-and-run involving cyclist in North Austin

Hudson Brooklyn Oct 16, 2024
htnews

Lincoln man convicted of stabbing police officer in 2018

Hudson Brooklyn Oct 16, 2024
htnews

Gary Oldman is a perverted little weirdo in this bizarre psychological drama

Hudson Brooklyn Oct 16, 2024

You Missed

htnews

Police looking for suspect after hit-and-run involving cyclist in North Austin

htnews

Lincoln man convicted of stabbing police officer in 2018

htnews

Gary Oldman is a perverted little weirdo in this bizarre psychological drama

htnews

Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans Saints prediction, odds, best bets for NFL Week 7