Pride of Detroit
We’re in the thick of it now, December football. The next five games for the Detroit Lions will be huge as their playoff hopes took a hit after losing to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving. Winning out would be massive for them, but their schedule isn’t favorable. The team also hasn’t won back-to-back games since September, as they continue to alternate between winning and losing.
The five-game journey starts at home on Thursday night against another team clinging to low playoff hopes in the Dallas Cowboys. Unlike the Lions, the Cowboys are coming in hot, on a three-game winning streak and still alive in their divisional race. They’re hitting their stride at the right time of the year, with a dangerous offense that is carrying the team as far as it can go.
Let’s take a look at the Cowboys in my Week 14 scouting report.
Week 1: Lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 24-20
Week 2: Defeated the New York Giants 40-37 (OT)
Week 3: Lost to the Chicago Bears 31-14
Week 4: Tied the Green Bay Packers 40-40
Week 5: Defeated the New York Jets 37-22
Week 6: Lost to the Carolina Panthers 30-27
Week 7: Defeated the Washington Commanders 44-22
Week 8: Lost to the Denver Broncos 44-24
Week 9: Lost to the Arizona Cardinals 27-17
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 33-16
Week 12: Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21
Week 13: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28
Stats:
No team has garnered more media attention for being a non-playoff team this year than the Cowboys. It started before the season began when they traded EDGE Micah Parsons to the Packers for picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Owner Jerry Jones was active at the trade deadline and got his defense the help they desperately needed after getting rid of Parsons, trading for linebacker Logan Wilson and defensive lineman Qunnien Williams. The Cowboys were struggling before those trades, being 3-5-1 at their bye week, but now they’re on a three-game winning streak, led by the offense.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is having a solid season, with a chance for this year to be a career season for him. He’s thrown for 3,261 yards (second in NFL), 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He has a completion percentage of 69.3, second-highest of his career. He’s made smart decisions and has led the team to three fourth-quarter comebacks with two game-winning drives.
One thing helping him is the ground game, as running back Javonte Williams has been a solid contributor, getting 995 yards (sixth highest in the NFL) and eight touchdowns. The biggest help for Prescott has been his receivers, as Jones traded for...
