DALLAS — After a long two weeks without a win and Christmas in the rearview mirror, the hope is that things have settled down for the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare for another challenge against the 11-4 Detroit Lions. The good news is they’re back home coming off back-to-back losses on the road, but a tough contest awaits them in Week 17.
These aren’t the same Lions from the last 30 years. This version is an NFC North champion that clinched their division with two weeks still left to play.
Dan Campbell’s Lions are an aggressive, physical team that is fighting for the top seed in the NFC and can assure themselves of a higher seed than Dallas with a win.
While the Cowboys are coming off consecutive losses versus teams fighting for postseason inclusion, the Lions are winners of two straight against the same types of opponents. Detroit is playing with a lot of confidence, while head coach Mike McCarthy’s team is trying to get back on the winning track.
Here are the keys to beating the Lions in Week 17.
Force Quarterback Jared Goff into mistakes
2023 has been a great season for Goff, who ranks near the top of many statistical categories, including passing yards and touchdown passes, where he is just three behind the league leader – Dak Prescott – with 27. Goff’s career has had a resurgence over the last two years as he’s shown the form that made him the top overall pick in the 2016 draft.
However, Goff is prone to being rattled when pressured, which leads to him giving the ball away. In the four losses for the Lions, Goff has been forced into eight turnovers, throwing four of his 10 interceptions, and losing four fumbles.
In last year’s meeting between these two teams, the defense forced four Goff turnovers to help win the game.
If the Cowboys can pressure Goff, he’ll give the defense a few chances to create turnovers and they’ll need to cash in on those opportunities.
Slow down the dynamic RB duo
The Lions have one of the most dangerous running back tandems in the league with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. The duo has the most rushing yards of any one-two punch in the league, rushing for almost 1,800 yards, and have combined to score 21 touchdowns, good for second best for any tandem.
Montgomery and Gibbs are also on pace to become the first teammate RBs to both rush for 1,000 yards in the same season since 2009.
The two runners bring different sets of skills to the table, making them difficult to stop. Montgomery is the more physical runner, while Gibbs is the speedy, elusive RB who can make defenders miss. It’s a duo that may remind Cowboys fans of what they had with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard the past few seasons.
Another week, and another test for a rushing defense that hasn’t been consistent this year. Prevent the duo from running wild and the Cowboys will improve their odds of beating the Lions.
Limit the big receiving threats
The Lions have another elite pairing in the passing game with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta. They have combined for two-thirds of Goff's passing yards, are the two most popular targets in the passing game, and account for 17 of the QB’s 27 passing touchdowns.
St. Brown leads the offense in catches (106), yards (1,281), and is second in scores with eight. The third-year WR is among the top five in the NFL in catches, yards, first downs, and yards after the catch in the best season of his young career.
Meanwhile, LaPorta has 74 catches for 776 yards and a team-leading nine receiving scores. Those are all tops for rookie TEs on the season.
St. Brown and LaPorta are Goff’s favorite targets, and they will be difficult to stop, but limiting their damage is key to a Week 17 win.
Keep Aidan Hutchinson away from Dak
The Lions have 34 sacks on the season, which is near the bottom of the league, but that’s not for lack of pressure. Second-year defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is one of the league’s best young pass rushers and he leads Lions with a meager 6.5 sacks, but he’s also near the league lead in pressures.
The number of sacks doesn’t reflect how much Hutchinson affects the game. He also leads their defense in tackles for a loss, has seven passes defensed, has forced two fumbles, and has an interception on the year. Hutchinson is very active and can disrupt an offense with his speed, pass rush and hustle.
The Cowboys’ offensive line needs to keep Hutchinson off of Prescott and not let him ruin the game plan. It’s been a struggle when Dallas hasn’t had their starting lineup on the offensive line and that could be the case again if left tackle Tyron Smith is out.
No matter who lines up opposite of him, the Cowboys need to make sure that Hutchinson doesn’t wreck the game.
Do you think the Cowboys will go undefeated at home with a win in Week 17? Share your predictions with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.