Detroit Lions – Five things to watch against the Cowboys

Detroit Lions fullback Zach Zenner (34) is tackled by New York Giants' Jonathan Casillas (52) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (11) in action against New York Giants corner back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (41) during an NFL game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Brad Penner)

By Paula Pasche | The Oakland Press

PUBLISHED: December 25, 2016 at 9:43 a.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:33 a.m.

ALLEN PARK >> The Lions will approach Monday night’s game at the Dallas Cowboys the same way they have prepared for the first 14 games.

After Tampa Bay’s loss on Saturday, the Lions can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Cowboys. Still, nothing will change. They will play to win like they do each week, according to coach Jim Caldwell.

The Lions (9-5) are coming off a loss to the N.Y. Giants after five straight wins. The Cowboys (12-2) are coming off a win over Tampa Bay.

Here are five things to watch in the game:

1. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott seems to have silenced all critics. “I think the people that have actually had an opportunity to play against him probably could see it. You look at film and evaluate him and you could certainly see that he’s much more than that. He’s not one of those guys that you’re trying to hide behind a running game,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “I mean, this guy has talent and he can do it a number of ways. He can throw from the pocket. He can follow through his progressions, get the ball out on time, quickly if he wants and he can also do some damage outside the pocket, pretty well-rounded guy for a young guy.” The rookie has thrown 20 touchdown passes and just four interceptions (two in recent loss to Giants).

2. The Lions pass-rush must try to rattle Prescott who is protected by arguably the NFL’s top offensive line. “You don’t see many better than that. They are collectively strong, physical, athletic, you name it. Run game, pass game, they can do it all. Really fine group,” Caldwell said. Prescott has been sacked 24 times while Stafford has been downed 31 times.

3. The Lions must try to stop rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott who averages five yards per carry and has 1,551 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns along with 351 receiving yards and a touchdown. “The challenge is not to let him get into the open field, if he gets in the open field he’s got eight, nine yards already right? So if we’re going to stop the run we can’t be giving out eight or nine yards a pop but if he do get out we’ve got to get him down, we’ve got to gang tackle, swarm to the ball, we’ve got to have everybody running when the first guy gets there try to get him down if you can’t hold on til someone else comes,” safety Glover Quin said. “We’ve done a good job tackling all year we’ll do a good job Monday night.” Prescott will be less effective if they can stop Elliott.

4. The Lions’ offense has to be more effective than in the last three games when they scored touchdowns only 25 percent of the time they got in the red zone. “You know, it’s really important that you come away with seven points every time you’re down there. Last year we had a really good year,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “We were starting this year out on the right path and really had a poor last two, three, four games of getting touchdowns down there for multiple reasons. But at the end of the day, we’ve just got to execute better, we’ve got to go score points.”

5. Matthew Stafford, who will wear a glove protecting his injured finger, has to have a good game. He has thrown three interceptions in the last two games while he had five in the other 12 games. He is from Dallas and always seems to play well against the Cowboys. The Lions have won the last two regular season games against the Cowboys. Getting the run game in gear from the get-go has to be a priority to help Stafford in the passing game.