Coming off the bye week, these three matchups will be key for the Detroit Lions against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
After a bye week filled with questions needing to be answered, the Detroit Lions are ready to get back into the swing of things. They’ll head to Dallas having lost three straight, with hopes of regaining some momentum.
That will be no easy feat, as the Cowboys have been very good so far this season. Led by an elite defense that has shut down the likes of the Bengals, Giants, and Rams, while holding their own against the Eagles. Furthermore, the 4-2 Cowboys are getting healthier–which only furthers the threat they pose to Detroit.
Faced with an uphill struggle as an obvious underdog on Sunday, the Lions are hoping extra rest and better health of their own will push the tides in their favor.
Here are three key matchups to look out for on Sunday.
Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys: 3 key matchups
Matchup 1: Micah Parsons vs Penei Sewell
Heading into the Patriots game in Week 5, Sewell was the top-ranked right tackle in all of football. Sewell was not necessarily bad against New England, but he certainly didn’t have his best game. Now with an extra week to prepare, he will be matched up against the early favorite for defensive player of the year: Micah Parsons.
Through the first six weeks of the season, Parsons has been absolutely unbelievable for the Cowboys. In every game, he has made his presence felt both rushing the passer and in the run game.
The only two players in the NFL ranked in the top 3 for tackles for loss and pressures this season
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 17, 2022
Micah Parsons
Za'Darius Smith pic.twitter.com/3SXbiIYCX7
In his second season, Parsons has been an unstoppable force. This matchup is easily the most difficult Sewell will encounter this season. It is inevitable that Parsons will get the better of him at times on Sunday. Some players are just too dominant to completely contain.
All Sewell needs to do is slow Parsons down so that the rest of the offense can function. Going back to the Patriots game, the Lions were given a harsh reminder how Jared Goff cannot operate when he is under pressure. Parsons is the biggest threat to push Goff out of his comfort zone, so he will get the most attention. Similar to Jeff Okudah facing off against Justin Jefferson in Week 3, Sewell will have help. But you can’t have help on every rep, so Sewell will need to hold his own in his one-on-one reps against Parsons.