Game day: How to watch and 3 things to watch for Lions vs. Cowboys
Game information
● What: Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys
● When: Sunday, Oct. 14, 4:25 p.m.
● How to watch: Fox (Kevin Burkhardt/Tom Brady/Erin Andrews/Tom Rinaldi)
● How to listen: 97.1-FM The Ticket in Metro Detroit or any number of network affiliates around the state.
● Line: Lions -3
● Injury report: The Lions had a midweek scare when Kerby Joseph was limited during Thursday’s practice with a hamstring concern, but the team ended the week without a player having an injury designation for the contest.
The Cowboys weren't as fortunate. They’ll be without star edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) for a second consecutive game. He'll be joined on the sideline by linebacker Erik Kendricks (shoulder), while 2023 interception leader DaRon Bland (foot) still isn’t ready to return from the injured list.
Additionally, guard Zach Martin and cornerback Caelen Carson are questionable.
● Officiating assignment: John Hussey’s crew. He officiated two Detroit games last season, wins over Kansas City and Denver. Through five weeks of the 2024 season, his crew is averaging the fourth fewest flags thrown.
● Last meeting: No reminder is needed of last year’s Sunday Night Football game, which the Lions lost, 20-19, after the officials incorrectly announced the wrong offensive lineman as eligible on a go-ahead two-point conversion in the closing minute of the contest.
Coverage from the week
● A deep dive into the statistics defining the Lions’ 3-1 start
● Kerby Joseph is making the middle of the field a scary place
● What’s new with the Cowboys since last year’s matchup?
● Second-year LB Trevor Nowaske flashes potential with first defensive snaps
● Explaining how the Lions select their game day uniforms
● Coordinator Aaron Glenn wants CBs to stay aggressive, but trim penalties
● Weekly mailbag with look at how Brodric Martin could fit when he returns
Three things worth watching
● With Bland ailing, the Lions should expect to see an old friend starting at cornerback for the Cowboys, Amani Oruwariye.
A former fifth-round draft choice for Detroit, Oruwariye started 37 games for the franchise from 2019-22. After tallying six interceptions in his third season, he was tracking toward a hefty pay raise before his play fell off a cliff during his contract year.
He split last season between the Giants and Jaguars’ practice squads, only landing in Dallas in late August. With injuries mounting in the team’s secondary, he’s seen action as a practice squad elevation the past two weeks, playing 100% of the team’s defensive snaps in last week’s victory over the Giants, which he sealed with his first interception since 2021.
● Dallas is down multiple pieces defensively, particularly up front, where they’ll be without their top three edge rushers. Despite the injuries, they’ve performed well the past couple of weeks, particularly against the run. Plus, it doesn’t matter who is on the field, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is going to find a way to turn up the heat with aggressive pre-snap looks that stress the A gaps, aiming to generate unblocked rushers.
So how will Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson opt to attack the weaknesses? Will he stick with Detroit's working script of a smashmouth ground game and play-action passes, or will he dial up more of an aerial attack to take advantage of Persons’ absence?
This could be an excellent week for tight end Sam LaPorta to break out. After a record-setting rookie year, the Iowa product is off to a sluggish start to the 2024 campaign. He did show signs of turning things around with four grabs for 53 yards in the team’s win over Seattle before the bye. With Kendricks’ injury softening the middle of the Dallas defense, Detroit's young Pro Bowler could eat.
● After losing Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes to long-term injuries, the Lions put a lot of effort into mixing and matching personnel during the team’s win over Seattle.
Third-year lineman Josh Paschal stepped up and had a nice outing, suggesting he's capable of softening the Davenport blow, but Barnes’ absence loomed large. Ben Niemann and James Houston each saw a sharp increase in playing time, but neither calmed concerns with their trial runs.
The bright spot was Nowaske, who surprisingly generated three QB pressures on six tries rushing the passer, but it’s challenging to make a meaningful assessment after eight snaps.
Expect the defense to continue tinkering with its personnel coming out of the bye. Undrafted rookie Isaac Ukwu is set to be added to the equation after getting elevated off the practice squad this weekend.
Ukwu can't be worse than Houston at EDGE. I hope he can at least stay onside and generate some pressure.
I'll be surprised if Houston is active tonight.