For the first time in five years, the Dallas Cowboys will be playing playoff football this Sunday, in the NFL Wild Card Playoff game. Although five years isn’t so terribly long ago in the grand scheme of things, it may as well be 100 years as far as the football-rabid fan base is concerned in Texas. So, with that in mind, and based on the fact that the Dallas Cowboys will call Frisco their off-season home starting in 2016, we bring you the official Lifestyle Frisco Dallas Cowboys 2014 Wild Card Playoff Preview.
The Detroit Lions Defense: Elite Run-stoppers
Much like the Dallas Cowboys over the last five years, the Lions have had their share of lonely, football-free Januaries. Just as the ‘Boys have been strikingly average – 30-34 since their last postseason appearance heading into 2014 – the Lions have been much worse, going 29-51 over the same period of time. Yet just like our beloved ‘Boys, the Lions have improved their fortunes greatly in 2014.
Detroit’s marked improvement is due to their dominant defense. The Lions excel in particular at stopping the running game cold – allowing a paltry 69.3 yards per game, tops in the NFL. Although solid, their defense against the pass isn’t as dominant, as they surrender 231.6 ypg.
Overall, the Detroit Lions have allowed 300.9 yards of offense per game, second only to the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks’ ridiculous 267.1 ypg average. The Lions defense is led by the controversial Ndamukong Suh, a one-man wrecking crew. The Cowboys’ defense lacks the star-power of Suh, but is much improved over last year’s awful unit.
The ‘Boys allowed 355.1 yards per game – 251.9 allowed in the air and 103.1 on the ground during the regular season.
The Dallas Cowboys Offense: Point Scoring Playmakers
On the other side of the ball, the Detroit Lions stand at a clear disadvantage to the Cowboys. Detroit is 19th in the NFL in yards per game, averaging 340.8-251.9 passing, and just 88.9 rushing.
Dallas is averaging a whopping 383.6 ypg, with 147.1 yards coming on the ground (largely thanks to Demarco Murray) and 236.5 ypg supplied by Tony Romo.
Despite a very talented offense that includes WR Golden Tate (1,331 yds, 4 TDs), WR Calvin Johnson (1,077, 8 TDs), RB Joique Bell (860 yds, 7 TDs rushing, 322 yds, TD receiving) and the strong-armed QB Matt Stafford (4,257 yds, 22 TDs, 12 INTs), the Lions struggle to translate offensive numbers into points, as they are 22nd in the league with just 20.1 points per game.
By comparison, the Cowboys average 29.1 points per game. In essence, the Cowboys’ key core of Dez Bryant (1,320 yds, 16 TDs), DeMarco Murray (1,845 yds, 13 TDs), Tony Romo (113.3 QBR) and Jason Witten (703 yds, 5 TDs) is superior at turning big plays on the field into points on the board.
Tony Romo versus Matt Stafford
Matt Stafford’s 4,257 yds passing in 2014 puts him in the NFL’s Top 10 – ninth overall, just ahead of some dude that has three Super Bowl rings, a super-model wife and answers to the name “Tom Brady.” In other words, Stafford can sling it. Yet Stafford’s rather pedestrian touchdown-to-interception ratio of 22:12 has landed him a paltry QB Rating of 85.7, 22nd in the NFL.
Who has the best QB Rating in the league?
That would be Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys. Romo’s QBR of 113.2 is one full point better than MVP-front runner Aaron Rodgers. Romo threw for “just” 3,705 yds in 2014, his lowest total since his injury-plagued 2010 season. Yet when he did pass, he had the highest TD% of his career, a league-best 7.8% This is due in part to improved decision making, an elite running game, and his excellent TD-to-INT ratio of 34:9.
Matt Stafford is a fine young quarterback, but his team’s inability to establish the run consistently has forced him into a gun-slinger mode reminiscent of a Romo of years past.
Due in large part to his excellent arsenal of weapons (as well as his exorcism of Decembers past), Tony Romo wins this head-to-head matchup.
Party like it’s 1995?
1995 was a good year for the Detroit Lions, but it was a GREAT year for the Dallas Cowboys. 1995 marked the last season the Lions won as many games (11) as they did this season.
’95 was also the last time the Cowboys won the Super Bowl, and by interesting coincidence, it marked the last time the Cowboys finished the regular season with 12 wins and just 4 losses.
Final Analysis
So, can the NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions this Sunday in the NFC Wild Card?
Absolutely.
The Cowboys are riding a four-game winning streak and will be at home in the confines of AT&T Stadium with a no-doubt sellout crowd backing their beloved ‘Boys. The Lions are at a clear disadvantage in regards to intangibles.
And with NFL rushing leader Demarco Murray (relatively) healthy, Dez Bryant having the best season of his career, and Tony Romo topping all QBs in terms of QBR, it looks like the Lions are talent-deficient too.
Lifestyle Frisco Prediction: Cowboys 34 Lions 24…What’s yours?
