Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys (10/23/22): Odds, Predictions, Depth Charts
Contents
The 1-4 Detroit Lions are set to face off against the 4-2 Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a match-up of two teams at opposite ends of NFC rankings. Losers of three straight, the Lions have been a disappointment so far as the pre-season grit they showed in Hard Knocks hasn’t seemed to pay off for Detroit bettors. The Cowboys have surprised many though, as they have gone 4-2 with back-up quarterback Cooper Rush at the helm.
With Prescott set to return this week though, how will the teams and bettors react? Let’s take a look at the odds, preview, depth chart, injuries, and the key matchup in this one for the best bet.
Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys Odds
The Dallas Cowboys are -6.5 point favorites to the Lions +6.5. The Cowboys are -300 on the money-line, while Detroit remains at +245. The over/under is set at 47.5.
Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys Preview & Prediction
While their 1-4 record may make one utter the words “same old Lions,” Detroit nearly won in two of the four losses. Can Dan Campbell and the grit warriors turn it around against Dallas? Probably not. The fact of the matter is, the Detroit Lions can show flashes on offense but they arguably have one of the worst defenses in NFL history, allowing 34 points per game (1st), 428.7 opposing yards per game (1st), and 167.6 (1st) rushing yards per game according to CBS Sports.com.
The Cowboys, on the other hand, were seemingly cruising through opponents on the backs of their solid defense and smart backup QB Rush until they smacked the wall that is the Philadelphia Eagles defense. Winners of four straight, the Cowboys lost to the Eagles 26-17 as Rush’s limits were exposed and the team lacked serious pieces on its defense due to injury.
With starter Dak Prescott returning and with the defense back to full-health, the Cowboys are ready to make a run and it will start against this weak Lions defense this week.
With Prescott returning, it’s hard not to lay the points with the Cowboys in this one. With the offense becoming more of a threat down-the-field and with Dallas boasting a respectable backfield in Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard, I can see Dallas carving up the Lions’ dismal defense in all four quarters. The Lions may have some muster in the first half, but I expect the Cowboys offense to continuously march down the field and the defense’s ferocious pass-rush to eventually catch up with the turnover-prone Jared Goff.
Prediction: Dallas 27 | Detroit 14
Betting Trends
- Lions are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game
- Cowboys are 10-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record
Key Injuries
The #Cowboys first injury report against the Lions is mostly projected but … ahem…
Dak Prescott is listed as a FULL participant.
He has been medically cleared.
🔑 Dallas' injury report looks really, really healthy. pic.twitter.com/2nVEGvb8OR
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) October 19, 2022
Key Matchup
Lions offensive line vs Cowboys Pass Rush
Leading the NFL in total team sacks with 24, the Dallas pass-rush – led by Micah Parson and Demarcus Lawrence – face a formidable challenge in the Lions’ offensive line, which only allows 1.4 sacks per game and has only allowed 61 total QB pressures according to ESPN. Tied for an NFL high 6 sacks, Parsons rate at pressuring quarterbacks (31) and securing tackles for loss (8) is enough to change this dynamic, especially because this Lion’s unit just had its worst performance of the season last week, when the Patriots won 29-0. Fresh off the bye-week, expect the Cowboys pass-rush to smother and pressure Goff into costly turnovers.
Advantage: Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys Depth Chart
QB: Dak Prescott
RB1: Ezekiel Elliot
RB2: Tony Pollard
LWR: Ceedee Lamb
RWR: Noah Brown
SWR: Michael Gallup
TE1: Dalton Schultz
Detroit Lions Depth Chart
QB: Jared Goff
RB1: Deandre Swift
RB2: Jaamal Williams
LWR: DJ Chark
RWR: Amon-ra St. Brown
SWR: Josh Reynolds
TE1: TJ Hockenson
