The Detroit Lions delivered the best possible Christmas gift they could have this year: an NFC North championship.
It marked the organization’s first division title in 30 years. Subsequently, the Lions will host a home playoff game for the first time in the history of Ford Field (opened in 2002).
The Lions, winners of 11 games this season, and their fans now have something legitimate to celebrate for the first time in three decades.
Yet, it doesn’t mean that Dan Campbell’s team is the betting favorite going into its highly-anticipated primetime matchup with the Dallas Cowboys Saturday.
Currently, Detroit is a 6.5-point underdog for the road contest, per SI Sportsbook.
While the Lions are winners of their last two games, the Cowboys, equipped with 10 wins, have dropped their last two contests. Most recently, they suffered a two-point, road loss to Tua Tagovailoa and the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins.
While Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have scuffled a bit on the road this season, they’ve been peerless at home. In fact, they’re a perfect 7-0 at AT&T Stadium, making it all the more tough for Detroit to travel to “Jerry World” this weekend.
Also, the Cowboys have won each of the last five meetings between the two teams, including the 2014 NFC Wild Card game. Along with that, Dallas owns the all-time edge in the head-to-head series, 18-12.
These current Cowboys, coached by Mike McCarthy, feature both the third-best offense (30.1 points per game) and the fifth-best defense (19.1 points a game) in the NFL. They’re also the only team in the league that scores more than 30 points per game and allows under 20 points a contest.
It’s an impressive feat, and it makes McCarthy & Co. a formidable opponent, especially at home.
But, if anyone is up to the task of defeating the Cowboys in “Big D,’” it’s Campbell’s ultra confident, relentless bunch.
Kickoff for the Week 17 matchup is set for 8:15 p.m. (EST) Saturday.
