SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 17: DETROIT LIONS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

BY ADAM GREENE

We’ve got Saturday football nosing into College Bowl Season once again as the Detroit Lions, who have already clinched the NFC North, travel south to the Lone Star State to take on the Dallas Cowboys, who have already clinched an NFC playoff berth.

This is the 31^st meeting between these two franchises and it won’t surprise you to learn that the Cowboys hold an advantage in the head-to-head record. What might shock you is that it’s just 18-12, which seems a tad close. And, here’s the bigger stunner, the only reason Dallas leads this series is that it won five straight going back to 2015. They last squared up last year on Oct. 23, 2022, with the Cowboys winning 24-6 in a laugher.

Dak Prescott was 19 of 25 passing for 207 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the win. Tony Pollard rushed 12 times for 83 yards. Ezekiel Elliott had 15 rushes for 57 yards and two TDs. Noah Brown caught five passes for 50 yards.

In the loss, Jared Goff was 21 of 26 passing for 228 yards, no touchdowns and two picks. Jamaal Williams carried the ball 15 times for 79 yards. Kalif Raymond caught five passes for 75 tards.

DETROIT LIONS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (-6, O/U: 53.5)

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Broadcast: ABC/ESPN/ESPN+

Kickoff: Dec. 30, 8:15 p.m.

DETROIT LIONS (11-4)

Detroit claimed the NFC North officially with their second straight win after a dumb loss to the Chicago Bears, officially donning the t-shirts and hats with a 30-24 shootout victory over the Minnesota Vikings last week. Jared Goff was 30 of 40 passing for 257 yards, one touchdown and no picks in the win. He was sacked once. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 15 times for 80 yards and two TDs. David Montgomery added 17 carries for 55 yards and a score. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 12 passes for 106 yards and a score. The defense sacked Nick Mullens four times, picked him off four times but gave up 411 passing yards.

DALLAS COWBOYS (10-5)

With a chance to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys dropped their second straight game, this time 22-20 to the Miami Dolphins last week. Dak Prescott was 20 of 32 passing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the loss. Tony Pollard rushed 12 times for 38 yards. CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 118 yards and a TD. Brandin Cooks hauled in just two passes, but they were for 14 yards and a score. The defense sacked Tua Tagovailoa once and held Miami to just 91 yards on the ground.

THE PICK

We’ve had our fun over the last couple of weeks at Dallas’ expense, but they’re a different team at home. The last time Detroit had a chance to show out in front of a national audience, they were humiliated on Thanksgiving by the Green Bay Packers. It’s going to happen again the day before New Year’s Eve. Cowboys 38, Lions 23

Last week

Straight up: 12-4

Against the spread: 10-6

Season

Straight up: 124-74

Against the spread: 110-88

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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