Cowboys aggressively worked trade market to reshape roster since last year's matchup with Lions

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Allen Park — The rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys has been responsible for some memorable moments — good and bad — since the turn of the century.

There was Matthew Stafford’s fake spike and scoring run in the closing seconds in 2013. Then, a little more than a year later, the Lions lost a playoff game in Dallas after the officials controversially picked up a pass interference flag.

The officials retook center stage in 2023, announcing the wrong Lions lineman had reported as eligible, negating a successful two-point conversion that would have given Detroit the lead late in the game. They failed with a second try after the illegal touching penalty.

Detroit downplayed last year’s rematch, but they were clearly fueled by rage when they unloaded the clip in Dallas, handing the Cowboys their worst home loss in 25 years.

That should sufficiently set the table for what’s on deck this Thursday, when the suddenly hot Cowboys come to town, keenly aware that the Lions beat them so mercilessly that Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, felt compelled to chime in, calling Lions coach Dan Campbell “classless” in a radio interview.

Dallas came into last year’s matchup 3-2. The thrashing by Detroit put them in a tailspin. They’d end up dropping five straight, losing quarterback Dak Prescott to injury in the middle of the stretch. Dallas finished the season 7-10, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

That sparked an urgent offseason filled with significant changes, starting with allowing coach Mike McCarthy’s contract to expire and promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to take over the program.

The team also made a change at defensive coordinator, swapping one former NFC North coach for another, hiring Matt Eberflus to take over for Mike Zimmer.

But the biggest exit, by far, came when Dallas made the stunning decision to trade 26-year-old, three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay after a drawn-out drama around extending his contract.

In exchange, Dallas got back two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who headlines a revamped defensive front. The team also brought back edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. after a one-year stint in Washington, where he recorded 10.5 sacks, while adding journeyman mercenary Jadeveon Clowney to the mix via free agency.

The team further supplemented its rush by using an early-round draft pick on Donovan Ezeiruaku. Oh, and former Lion James Houston is part of the mix, as well. A June addition, he’s tallied 4.5 sacks this season, the most since he exploded for 8.0 in seven games as a rookie in Detroit.

However, the front’s remodel wasn’t completed until the trade deadline, when Dallas used some of its draft equity stockpile to land three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets.

In the second level, Dallas again worked the trade block, landing former first-round pick Kenneth Murray from the Titans for a meager swap of Day 3 picks in March. Then, at the deadline, they snagged Logan Wilson in a deal with the Bengals. Those two are paired with DeMarvion Overshown, who recently returned from an ACL tear.

The Cowboys’ secondary has been more stable with cornerback DaRon Bland and safeties Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker all returning. Former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs returned, too, but he’s on injured reserved with concussion symptoms and may have played his last game in Dallas. They’ve tried a few options in his stead, most recently settling on rookie Shavon Revel, a third-round pick who had first-round grades from many draft analysts before suffering an ACL injury late in his college career.

Despite all the changes, the Dallas defense has yet to find its footing. They rank near the bottom of the league in points allowed, red zone effectiveness, takeaways and yards per carry allowed, and are dead last on third down.

The team has been carried by its offense, which is third in scoring this season at 29.3 points per game, up 42% from last season.

What’s behind the surge? Well, Prescott is healthy and dealing, for one. But, more than that, he was gifted an upgraded arsenal when the Cowboys rolled the dice and traded for talented yet turbulent wide receiver George Pickens.

Pickens has been all of the former and none of the latter in a contract year, ranking top five in receiving yards and scores this season, and giving the team two legitimate No. 1 options along with Ceedee Lamb.

The backfield has also been remodeled, with Rico Dowdle departing in free agency and Ezekiel Elliott being put out to pasture. In exchange, the Cowboys signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders before drafting Jaydon Blue.

Sanders suffered a season-ending knee injury, while Blue is still a work in progress. That’s allowed Williams to take hold as the featured back. The former Bronco is on the cusp of his first 1,000-yard season, rushing for 955 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and eight scores through a dozen games.

He’s running behind an offensive line that returned four starters and added first-round pick Tyler Booker to replace Zack Martin at right guard after the seven-time All-Pro called it a career this offseason.

Dallas, winners of three in a row, having beaten last year’s Super Bowl participants the past two weeks, has revived the team’s playoff hopes. Conversely, Detroit, which still sits a half-game up in the conference standings, feels like it’s on life support after losing three of five coming out of the team’s bye.

Realistically, Thursday’s victor could effectively be pulling the plug on their opponent’s season.