Cowboys vs Lions Week 7: history, key players, projection
By Riley Donald
Cowboys vs Lions: Gut projection
Projection: Dallas Cowboys 31, Detroit Lions 14
At the end of the day, the Cowboys are just an all-around better football team. Dak is better than Jared Goff. Elliott and Tony Pollard are better than their backs. The Cowboys’ defense is lightyears ahead of the Lions’ defense. Don’t overthink this one.
The Lions are dead last in the NFL allowing 34 points per game, dead last in allowing 168 rushing yards per game, and 26th in passing yards allowed. Dak and Co. should have their choice on how they want to move the ball this Sunday. Zeke found some juice last week against the Eagles and even showed some burst on his touchdown run. He is rekindling some of his past and might just do it again against a team he owns.
Feeding on a touchdown for @EzekielElliott! 🍽
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 17, 2022
📺: @SNFonNBC | #DALvsPHI pic.twitter.com/nI7hsqe4pJ
Detroit is the upper half of the league offensively in points, rushing yards, and passing yards but that is largely attributed to being in shootouts and playing from behind. Goff has only thrown four interceptions this year but isn’t even completing 60% of his passes. Trevon Diggs will be aggressive this weekend and there is a better-than-not chance he notches an interception.
The Cowboys won without Prescott by running the ball well and would be wise to do so again this week to avoid forcing the offense to air it out. Trust the ground game, hit some play-action passes to rookie tight end Jake Ferguson once the defense is loosened up, and pick your deep shots wisely to CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup.
The Cowboys front will get home on Goff as he lacks mobility. It could be another weekend of 5-plus sacks for that front. America’s Team gets their quarterback back and they handle their business here to move to 5-2 and stay in control of their playoff destiny.