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Lions at Cowboys: 3 things Detroit must do to win

By Steven Mullenax

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 04: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions reacts after the Lions score against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 4, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Glenn/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 04: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions reacts after the Lions score against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 4, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Glenn/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Lions will attempt to post their first road victory against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Here are three things they must do in order to win.

Coming off a potentially season-changing win over the New England Patriots last weekend, the Detroit Lions will attempt to replicate those results on the road against the 1-2 Dallas Cowboys this Sunday afternoon.

The Cowboys are coming off a loss at the hands of the struggling Seattle Seahawks in Week Three. But Dallas still possesses a top-tier rushing attack and defense that could give the Lions problems. Here are three things Detroit absolutely must do in order to defeat the Cowboys at home.

#1 – Stop Zeke

Despite their losing record, the Cowboys can still run the football. Currently ranked seventh in the NFL in rushing offense, Dallas has one of the best running backs in the league in Ezekiel Elliott. Combined with the mobility of quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys are most effective when they execute the run-pass option and the play action. If the Lions can key in on Elliott and prevent him from getting big gains, the odds of winning shift to Detroit’s favor.

#2 – Run the ball, No Sean Lee

The Lions are coming off their first win of the season where they ran the 33 times for 159 yards. The Cowboys are coming off a loss where the Seahawks ran on them for 113 yards on 39 carries, which was key to their victory. Detroit should be able to find success on the ground against the Cowboys especially considering their top run defender, Pro Bowl linebacker Sean Lee, has already been officially ruled out for this contest due to a hamstring injury.

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#3 – Prevent Big Plays

In their lone win of the season, the Cowboys hit a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dak Prescott to wide receiver Tavon Austin in their very first offensive series against the New York Giants in Week Two. That big play changed the entire dynamic of that game. It will be important for Detroit to prevent similar big plays and put Dallas in a position behind on the scoreboard where they are forced to pass rather than run.

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