Lions vs. Cowboys: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

The Dallas Cowboys don't host the Detroit Lions until Sunday, Jan. 4 at 4:40 p.m. ET on Fox in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs, but the drama has already started.

Star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was suspended for stepping on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 17, but he won his appeal and will now play against Dallas. That’s unfortunate news for a Cowboys attack that often relies on formidable running back DeMarco Murray. 

Here is a look at the essential information for the postseason clash before digging into a preview.

Lions vs. Cowboys

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Time: 4:40 p.m. ET

TV: Fox 

Spread: Cowboys (-6.5) (via Odds Shark, as of Thursday at 2 p.m. ET)

Injury Report (via CBS Sports, as of Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET)

DATE	POS	PLAYER	INJURY	NFL STATUS	UPDATE
12/28/14	DT	Josh Brent	CALF	PROBABLE	Full practice. Probable for Wild Card Game vs. Detroit
12/28/14	T	Doug Free	ANKLE	DOUBTFUL
12/28/14	S	Jeff Heath	THUMB	PROBABLE
12/28/14	G	Zack Martin	ANKLE	PROBABLE
12/28/14	LB	Rolando McClain	KNEE, NOT INJURY RELATED	PROBABLE	Did not practice. Questionable for Wild Card Game vs. Detroit
12/28/14	RB	DeMarco Murray	HAND, ILLNESS	PROBABLE	Full practice. Probable for Wild Card Game vs. Detroit
12/28/14	QB	Tony Romo	BACK	PROBABLE	Did not practice. Questionable for Wild Card Game vs. Detroit

DATE	POS	PLAYER	INJURY	NFL STATUS	UPDATE
12/28/14	RB	Joique Bell	ACHILLES	PROBABLE
12/28/14	DT	Nick Fairley	KNEE	OUT	Did not practice. Questionable for Wild Card Game at Dallas
12/28/14	WR	Calvin Johnson	ANKLE	PROBABLE	Limited practice. Questionable for Wild Card Game at Dallas

Preview/Prediction

As mentioned, the key matchup in this playoff showdown is the one between the Detroit run defense and the Dallas rushing attack.

Murray led the league with 1,845 rushing yards and added 13 touchdowns on the ground behind a massive offensive line, while Detroit counters with the league’s best run defense. In fact, the Lions only gave up 69.3 yards per game on the ground and may be better suited to slow Murray down than anyone else in the NFL.

Detroit led the league with 133 tackles for loss, but Murray notched 12 100-yards contests, which was second-best in the history of the NFL.

Detroit coach Jim Caldwell discussed the marquee matchup, via ESPN.com:

"

If you look at the numbers, they'll tell you that they run the ball obviously as well as anybody in the league and you look at it statistically for us, we're right up there at the top in the rankings in terms of stopping the run. So all in all, I think it's going to be a real good battle.

"

While the focus is on the clash between the Lions front seven and Murray, the Cowboys could win this game with the Tony Romo and Dez Bryant connection.

Romo led the league with a 113.2 passer rating and was fourth in the NFL with 34 touchdown passes. Dallas was a middle-of-the-road 16th in the league in passing yards per game, but that is largely because it was so reliant on the rushing attack. When the Cowboys do throw, they often look Bryant’s way, which is why he finished with 1,320 receiving yards and a league-best 16 touchdown catches. 

Football Perspective noted that Bryant’s production was all the more impressive because Dallas rarely threw the ball:

Detroit was a solid 13th in the league against the pass, but it will have to focus on stopping Murray, which could open things up downfield. All it may take is one big strike late in the game to Bryant to win the game for the Cowboys.

On the other side, the Lions offense starts with one man—wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

Johnson torched the Cowboys for 329 receiving yards in a 31-30 Detroit win during the 2013 season, which was the second-best single game total in NFL history. The fact that he topped 1,000 yards receiving this season (1,077) and it was considered somewhat disappointing is a testament to his overall greatness.

The Lions were only 22nd in the league in scoring offense, although Johnson dealt with nagging injuries all year.

The Cowboys defense that finished 26th against the pass is certainly vulnerable, but Detroit’s offense was pedestrian at best this season. Johnson may have been hurt for some of the year, but the real problem was the lack of a running game.

The Lions were an abysmal 28th in the league in rushing yards per game and never got consistent production from Reggie Bush or Joique Bell, who both averaged fewer than four yards per carry on the season.

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The Dallas defense can focus more of its attention on containing Johnson without a discernible run threat to worry about, which will help the secondary. 

Throw that on top of the possibility of a big play between Romo and Bryant, and the Cowboys are going to defend their home field and advance in the playoffs. They have surpassed expectations all season, and an appearance in the divisional round will silence critics even further.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Lions 17

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