3 biggest concerns heading into the Cowboys vs Lions game

The 4-2 Dallas Cowboys are seen this week as the heavy favorite against the 1-4 Detroit Lions, and for good reason. With the return of franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, many see this as an opportunity for the Cowboys’ offense to take advantage of the worst-ranked defense in the NFL.

While that may be true, there are still certain things that the Cowboys need to make sure they are able to do in order to keep one of the highest-scoring offenses from taking a lead in the game and holding on to it.

It’s going to take a team effort from the Cowboys to make sure these three things are done. So let’s take a look at this week’s three biggest concerns heading into the Cowboys’ game versus the Lions.

3. Stopping the Run

If there’s one thing we know about this Lions offense, it’s that they are going to run the football, regardless of who they are playingm in order to try and control the clock. They also do this to take pressure off of quarterback Jared Goff, who doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to taking care of the football.

Whether he’s throwing interceptions or holding the football too long and fumbling it while taking sacks, Goff isn’t a master of his own domain.

This Lions offense is going to make sure that they aren’t going to beat themselves, and so far, it has worked out. It’s just been the defense and the inability to stop any offense they’ve faced thus far in the season that has held this team hostage.

This brings me to the Cowboys’ concern. We all know that the Cowboys’ achilles heel on defense for some time now has been their failure to stop the opposing team’s running game. This game is no exception, especially with the physical offensive line that the Lions are fielding.

Dan Quinn is going to need to have monster games out of his linebackers, but more specifically from his defensive tackles Neville Gallimore and Quinton Bohanna. These two have been the Cowboys’ most impactful run-stoppers this season, and with D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams handling the football this week, it will be even more important that Gallimore and Bohanna are able to assert their power and maintain their gaps to stop the Lions’ potent backfield tandem.

If they are able to control the gaps they are responsible for and force Swift and Williams to bounce outside, it gives the Cowboys’ aggressive safeties and linebackers the ability to limit their effectiveness and force Goff to beat them with his arm. If they aren’t able to do so, then the Lions — who are in the top 10 in rushing attempts, yards, yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns — will be able to control the clock and keep the Cowboys’ offense (but, more importantly, their league-worst defense) off the field.