Dallas Cowboys vs Detroit Lions 1st Quarter

The Dallas Cowboys came out running the ball, handing it off to Julius Jones five times. The fifth run turned out to be a 3 yard loss making it 3rd and 9. On 3rd and 9, Tony Romo threw the ball too high for Sam Hurd. Nick Folk comes in for a 50-yard field goal, but he shanked it to the left. NO score.

The Detroit Lions on the second play hand it off to Kevin Jones who ran for 15 yards, through center. In fact, the Lions would end up running the ball on its first series and doing it successfully. On another second down play, Jones gets it again and runs for 10 yards and a first down. Then T.J. Duckett breaks a huge run for the Lions, scoring a 32-yard touchdown. It appeared safety Roy Williams may have been out of position on the play, but we had no one in the secondary to hit Duckett. Detroit leads 7-0.

On the Cowboys second series, Marion Barber III gets his first carry, and runs hard for 5 yards. On 2nd and 5, Romo play actions, and the pass is tipped high in the air. On 3rd and 5 the Lions blitz and Gerald Alexander comes untouched up the middle to sack Romo. Another slow start for the Cowboys, and they punt it deep in their territory. Where is Terrell Owens? It seems like our game plan is a little bit fuzzy.

For the Lions second series, Jones gets the ball for no gain. The Lions have run the ball 5 times and passed 1 so far. Unusual game plan but it makes sense. Jon Kitna passes to Sean McDonnell, who embarrasses Anthony Henry for an 11-yard gain. Kitna then dumps it off to Jones for another first down. Right now, folks, Dallas is getting manhandled. Duckett gets the carry for two yards, and is pummeled. 91 total yards for the Lions, to the Cowboys 32 yards.

Kitna throws a perfect pass to his tight end, but he drops it. On 3rd and 8 Mike Furrey catches it a few yards before the first down marker. However instead of touching Furrey when he was down for the diving catch, players complain to the refs that he didn’t catch it. Furrey then gets back up and dives for a first down. Unbelievable. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway because DeMarcus Ware was called for roughing the passer. He grabbed Kitna and plowed him into the ground. The Lions are driving and on 3rd and 3 on the 6 yard line Kitna finds tight end Sean McKugh for a first down. The Lions have first and goal just outside the one. On 1st down, Jones runs for no gain. On 2nd down Kitna throws slightly too high for McKugh. On 3rd down, Kitna misses his receiver in the end zone, but there is a flag on the ground. Illegal formation on Detroit. Dallas holds the Lions to a field goal, 10-0 Lions.

The Cowboys get the ball for the third time in the first quarter. On the kick off Miles Austin runs for 60 yards, only to be tackled by the kicker Jason Hansen. A good start for the Cowboys in Lions territory. Now, what makes good teams? Playing through adversity and winning a game through slow starts like this. Dallas has proven they are a good team by doing this several times this year. However, we’ve dominated our last 4 opponents and it’s time for the Cowboys to take control of this game. A touchdown would do that.

The First Quarter ends, Lions up 10-0.