Dallas Cowboys (4-3 SU, 6-1 ATS) vs. Detroit Lions (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS)
Week 8 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 1PM EST
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
TV: Fox
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: DAL +3/DET -3
Over/Under Total: 51
In a critical NFC matchup of 4-3 teams, the Dallas Cowboys travel to Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions. The Lions lost a tough one at home when the Bengals scored with time running out on a 54-yard field goal to break a tie on Sunday. Dallas, meanwhile, won their second game in a row, beating the Eagles 17-3.
Detroit is a tough team to figure. One week they look really good, then it all seems to fall apart. If they could find a groove, they could do some damage, but it hasn’t happened yet. They have dropped 2 out of 3 games. WR Calvin Johnson was hurt, Reggie Bush has tapered off, and the defense hasn’t exactly been clutch. Be that as it may, they remain a team with a ton of offensive potential that is likely to explode on any given week. Why not against a Dallas team that is 30th in the league in pass defense?
The problem for Detroit is they are facing an opponent that is also explosive. Tony Romo isn’t always consistent or clutch, but against the right defense, he can make full use of all the speed he has at his disposal and put up major points. And let’s face it, the Detroit “D” has more than its fair share of issues, 28th against the pass and 23rd against the run.
Dallas has won 2 in a row with a big assist from the “D.” They have given up only 19 points in the last two games, albeit that coming against Washington and Philadelphia. At least the “D” is building up some confidence following a tough patch where they couldn’t get any timely stops against San Diego or Denver. There is a lot of talent on that side of the ball and if they start to come together, Dallas could be poised for a big second half. At the betting windows, they have already been doing well--going 6-1 against-the-spread.
Detroit, though they came up short against Cincinnati on Sunday, was happy to get Calvin Johnson back at full power after a knee injury cost him a game and limited him in a few others. Against Cincinnati, he caught 9 balls for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns. And Bush, though not as strong the past few weeks, does have 426 yards rushing and 305 receiving. Stafford is doing well, with 15 touchdowns against just 4 picks. But they still lack a supporting cast compelling enough to get the defense’s eyes off Bush or Johnson. And a lot of the time, they don’t establish much of a sense of purpose on offense. When things aren’t going according to plan, they look like they’re winging it, stringing together a line of three-and-outs that usually saps their defense’s energy. Against Dallas at home and following such a heartbreak against Cincinnati, they might just be due for a good showing. Then again, when has that reasoning ever worked with the Lions? To say they’re an erratic team would be an understatement. The same applies to Dallas, making this a game of wide-ranging possibilities.
The thing about Dallas in recent years is that right when they’re on the cusp of stringing together some success, they snap back into their underachieving ways. Over the better part of a decade there have been times where you may think, “OK, here’s where the Cowboys start getting good again.” And at that precise moment, they lay an egg and make you wonder why you even thought that in the first place. It’s understandable. A lot of us grew up in times where the Cowboys were seemingly always in the mix, so it’s natural to almost expect a revival at some point. But then it never happens. After all, it’s been nearly two decades since they went past the divisional round in the playoffs.
This could be a potential shootout, with two explosive pass offenses against shoddy pass defenses. Dallas is facing some injury problems, with leading rusher DeMarco Murray and star DE Demarcus Ware both missing last week’s game and questionable for Sunday. In addition, number-two receiver Miles Austin has also been out of action and is still nursing a bad hamstring.
It’s one of those big games that comes at a pivotal part in the season for both teams. Approaching the halfway point, the winner goes to 5-3, with the loser sinking to 4-4. That’s a key swing and the winner will be better-positioned for a playoff run, with the loser being forced to walk the tightrope for the remainder of the season. Look for some of the Cowboys’ injuries to resonate more in a slugfest like this., with the Lions able to maintain an edge.
Loot's Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I’m taking the Detroit Lions minus 3 points.
