Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys: Breaking Down Dallas' Game Plan

While the Dallas Cowboys exceeded everyone's expectations on the way to a 12-4 record, it is time for them to really silence their critics and get the job done in the playoffs. 

The Dallas Cowboys will face a stiff test when they face the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium Sunday in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Lions have defeated the Cowboys in the last two matchups between these two teams; highlighted by Calvin Johnson's 14-catch and 329-receiving-yards performance against the Cowboys last year. 

To beat the Lions, The Cowboys will need to take advantage of certain matchups and utilize certain concepts to get the win. 

Without further ado, let's take a look at the game plan the Cowboys should use to get the victory against the Lions. 

Cowboys Offense

Richard Lipski/Associated Press

The Cowboys offense is going to have to work extremely hard as the Lions defense has the second overall defense, first against the run and 13th against the pass. 

However, there will be opportunities for the Cowboys to make big plays in the run and pass games. 

The first way the Cowboys can take advantage is by attacking the edges in the run game. The Lions play with wide splits on defense to give them advantageous angles when they rush the passer.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

On this play, the Green Bay Packers have a run designed to go to the weak-side B-gap. The right tackle executes an easy kick-out block against the Lions defensive end, who has a wide alignment. The right guard and center execute a combination block where they both engage the 1-technique defensive tackle, and then one of them scraps off to the inside linebacker.

Usually it is the guard who scrapes to the second level, but this time the inside linebacker comes downhill into the A-gap, which makes for an easy scrape block for the center. 

The left side has very similar blocking assignments as the tight end kicks out the defensive end. The left tackle and guard execute a combination block where they double-team the 3-technique, and the guard scrapes to block the other inside linebacker. 

This play resulted in a 21-yard gain for the Packers, and it represents how the Cowboys can take advantage of the Lions when they go to 11 (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) personnel. 

Therefore, the Cowboys will have opportunities when they cause the Lions to go to their nickel package. In this case, the Cowboys have to be able to hit the weak-side edge with their outside zone run where they will have the numbers to get big yards, if the offensive line executes their blocks well. 

The Cowboys have to get bodies on Ndamukong Suh and DeAndre Levy because both of those players have the ability to wreck the Cowboys game plan. It will be up to Zack Martin and Travis Frederick to do a good job with their combo blocks and getting to the second level for the Cowboys to have sustained success in the run game. 

In the passing game, the Cowboys need to do their best to move Dez Bryant around to get favorable matchups against the Lions secondary. Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis have had been great this year, but the Lions lack a solid third cornerback.

Whether it be Cassius Vaughn or Don Carey, the Cowboys have to find a way to get Bryant aligned across from them and work the middle of the field as the Lions play a great deal of two-deep safeties with man coverage underneath.

Of course, this all hinders on the Cowboys' ability to protect Tony Romo against the vaunted front four of the Lions defense. Look for the Cowboys to keep DeMarco Murray in on pass protection more often so that he can help keep the pocket clean for Romo.

Cowboys Defense 

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

If you thought it was difficult for the Cowboys to defend Calvin Johnson and the Lions offense last year, you will be sad to know that they are even better this year. The Lions finally have a viable No. 2 option opposite of Johnson in Golden Tate. 

This time around, the Cowboys should take a page out of Bill Belichick's book, coverage wise. Against the Colts, Belichick left Darrelle Revis on T.Y. Hilton and bracketed Reggie Wayne with Brandon Browner and a safety. This is the same strategy the Cowboys should utilize against Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson. 

Orlando Scandrick doesn't have the size to be able to match up against Johnson on a play-by-play basis, and everyone saw how well Brandon Carr does against Johnson last year. Therefore, the Cowboys should have Scandrick shadow Golden Tate throughout the game. 

Scandrick has the speed and technical ability to limit Tate's effectiveness in the short and long passing games. 

With Scandrick on Tate, the Cowboys should use a mix of Brandon Carr and Sterling Moore on Calvin Johnson with a safety, preferably Barry Church, over the top. This type of bracketing would significantly decrease Johnson's ability to get deep and force the Lions to either throw short to Johnson or rely on their secondary weapons to beat the Cowboys. 

With most of the secondary and linebacker resources allocated to coverage, the Cowboys will have to rely on their front four to get pressure on Matthew Stafford. If the Cowboys defensive line can generate pressure, it will make the secondary's job much easier and likely lead to some poor decisions from Stafford, who is known for his gunslinger tendencies.