Cowboys need a win over a quality team to boost their confidence heading to playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys have dropped their last two games. This has made their chance of getting a home game in the playoffs very remote, but with the various tiebreakers, the fifth seed is not only their most likely spot, it is the lowest they can wind up. That points toward playing the wild card round at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that has gotten hot lately behind Baker Mayfield. When you add in the Cowboys’ failure to beat any winning teams on the road, a certain degree of angst is more than understandable.

All is not doom and gloom, however. Their next game is back in the friendly confines of AT&T Stadium, where they have a 15-game winning streak. The opponent is not going to be an easy out. The Detroit Lions clinched the NFC North with a 30-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings over the Christmas weekend. They are one of the best rushing teams in the NFL, which makes them a true challenge for Dallas. On the flip side, they are in the bottom third defending against the pass. That is an opportunity for to get the air game going. That of course also depends on Dak Prescott.

So much of the time, it does come down to the quarterback. You do have to factor in other things like the protection he gets from his offensive line. Against the Miami Dolphins, that was just bad, forcing Prescott to try and evade rushers and getting him sacked four times. He still did not throw an interception against the Dolphins, but he and Hunter Luepke botched a handoff just a few feet from the goal line that would loom large in the eventual two-point defeat. Against the Lions, Dallas has the better quarterback, but Jared Goff has had a very good season. He is third in the league in total yards, with 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He and Prescott were drafted the same year, and this year have had very similar campaigns statistically. Prescott ranks fifth in yards, and has thrown 30 TDs with only seven interceptions.

We will all hold our breath until we find out if Tyron Smith is back for the Detroit game. His presence would be a tremendous help in giving Prescott the time to find his weapons like CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson. That looks to be crucial, as the Lions are stingy against the run but a good bit softer versus the pass. Given the struggles the Cowboys have had establishing the ground game, it is very likely this one will depend on a strong air attack for Dallas to prevail.