IRVING, Texas -- The formula most teams use for success is to win all their games at home and split their road games. The Cowboys did it in reverse, finishing 4-4 at AT&T Stadium and 8-0 away from home. Some have wondered if it behooves the Cowboys to play a playoff game at home.
In their lone playoff appearance at the $1.2 billion stadium they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-14 in the 2009 season. The homefield helped in that one. They’ll need help Sunday.
The Lions have a formidable defense with or without Ndamukong Suh. They allowed just 17.6 points per game, which tied for second in the league. But they played only three games against top-10 scoring offenses. The two games they played on the road, they lost to the New England Patriots (34-9) and Green Bay Packers (30-20).
The Cowboys are the fifth-best scoring offense, averaging 29.2 points per game. They scored 165 points in December and had scores on 26 of 44 drives when you take out two kneeldown series. They have scored at least 38 points in each of their last four games.
They won’t get that many Sunday, but they’ll get enough to advance to the divisional round.
My prediction: Cowboys 27, Lions 20