Cowboys vs. Lions odds, line, spread: Picks, predictions from proven model on 55-36 run - Staff, CBSSports Last week, the Cowboys were underdogs and they lost. This week, they are favorites so let's hope the oddsmakers are correct again. The Dallas Cowboys will play host to the Detroit Lions at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Both teams are 1-2 and desperately need to win to boost their postseason hopes. The Cowboys are 3-point favorites after opening at 3.5, while the over-under for total points scored has held steady at 44. NFL Week 4 FOX Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys Preview - Staff, Pro Football Focus Once upon a time some thought that "anyone can run behind the Cowboys offensive line" because the OL was outstanding. But Ezekiel Elliott is no slouch himself and has proven that he's not just anyone. Elliott running through contact: Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is one of the toughest runners in the league. Since 2016, Elliott has accumulated 1780 yards after contact, which is the most among running backs in that span. The Lions defensive line will have to be at their very best if they want to stop him in his tracks. There is only one game on FOX today and which game they show is spread out differently all over the country. If you live in the red, you’re one of the lucky ones. The Cowboys know they will be without Sean Lee today, but the status of wide receiver Cole Beasley and defensive tackle Antwaun Woods is still up in the air. #Cowboys jury practice report lists Beasley & A. Woods as questionable for #DETvsDAL what I’m told both have responded in the last two days. @1053thefan pic.twitter.com/GqFE4Pdm28 — mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) September 28, 2018 The Cheat Sheet: Dallas Cowboys one-dimensional offense doesn’t bode well - Justin Simon, Pride Of Detroit Our sister site Pride of Detroit provides their game preview, including what they believe is the weak spot on the team. Cowboys’ weak link: Wide receiver A well composed offense is like a great piece of music. If all the pieces are in harmony it can be great, but if there’s an off note here and there, then the whole thing starts to fall apart. As of now, the Cowboys one-dimensional offense is making it hard to move the ball consistently. This offseason, the Cowboys gave Allen Hurns an $11 million contract. So far this season he has just four catches for 51 yards. Cole Beasley, mainly a slot player, leads the Cowboys receivers with 132 yards this year. Gadget player Tavon Austin leads the receivers with two touchdowns, but they were more unconventional than a function of the offense—a 64-yard touchdown against the New York Giants and a 3-yard shovel pass in the fourth quarter last week against the Seahawks. And Terrance Williams has completely underwhelmed, posting just two catches for 18 yards through three games. Lions, Cowboys take different vibes into battle of 1-2 teams - Schuyler Dixon, The Washington Post Of course, we're not even sure which Cowboys wide receivers we're even going to see on Sunday. RECEIVER CAROUSEL The Cowboys carried seven receivers last week, with six active against Seattle. Brice Butler could play after being inactive last week, days after rejoining his team from the previous three seasons. Butler signed with Arizona in free agency but was cut at the end of the preseason. If Butler is active, there’s a chance Terrance Williams will be a healthy scratch for the first time in his six-year career. Williams has played just 22 percent of the snaps so far. 3 things to watch for in Detroit Lions-Dallas Cowboys game - Von Lozon, Click on Detroit For any Cowboys receiver to show up, it's going to come down to the guy throwing him the ball. Will Dak Prescott throw for 200+ yards? The reason the Lions have a good chance at winning if they limit Elliott on the ground is because the Cowboys' passing game with quarterback Dak Prescott has been bad, to say the least. The third-year quarterback from Mississippi State has passed for fewer than 200 yards in five straight games dating back to last year. That will happen when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decides to let his team's best wide receiver (Dez Bryant) walk away, and when one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history (Jason Witten) retires. The Cowboys have just one wide receiver, Cole Beasley, with more than 100 yards receiving this year. The Lions, meanwhile, have three (Marvin Jones, Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay) and nearly have a fourth (Theo Riddick, 98 receiving yards). The Lions' secondary played a huge role in their victory over New England last weekend. If it can hold up for a second straight week, it will be a long afternoon for Prescott and the Cowboys' passing attack. The Dallas Cowboys' offense is on life support. Here are 5 ways it can be resuscitated - Jon Machota, SportsDay Machota identifies five ways to help bolster the offense, including something that has been long overdue. Take some shots downfield In Dallas' lone win, Prescott and Tavon Austin hooked up for a 64-yard scoring strike on the game's third play. Prescott attempted two more deep throws (20 or more yards in the air) later that quarter. He hasn't thrown another in the seven quarters since. Last Sunday in Seattle was only the third time in Prescott's career that he didn't attempt at least one pass that traveled 20 or more yards in the air. Prescott would acknowledge that going deep is something that needs to be done... "I think as much as anything, it's just taking those shots," Prescott said. "Even if they're incomplete, taking those shots and making the defense back up." And the numbers don’t lie... Here's the big takeaway from the Cowboys' passing tendencies so far in 2018: Share of passes traveling 6-15 yards Cowboys—39% NFL—27% Share of passes traveling 16-30 yards Cowboys—3% NFL—12% https://t.co/SUP9DU4ktz — Cowboys Stats & Graphics (@CowboysStats) September 28, 2018 Five things to look for in Sunday’s Cowboys-Lions game - Calvin Watkins, The Athletic<doc-sep>John Froschauer/Associated Press The Detroit Lions (1-2) will try to build off a shocking victory and get back to the .500 mark on Sunday when they visit the Dallas Cowboys (1-2) as small road underdogs. The Lions are coming off a stunning 26-10 win over the New England Patriots last Sunday night as seven-point home underdogs, while the Cowboys will also look to even their record after losing 24-13 to the Seattle Seahawks last week. NFL point spread: The Cowboys opened as 3.5-point favorites; the total was 44 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report) NFL betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 24.6-14.0 Cowboys (NFL picks on every game) Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news. Video Play Button Videos you might like Why the Lions can cover the spread Detroit pulled off the unthinkable on Sunday night, making New England look bad off a loss in a nationally televised matchup. Usually, the Patriots take out their frustrations on their next opponent after losing, but the Lions turned the tables on them, and head coach Matt Patricia handed his former employer an embarrassing defeat. That win alone might be enough to prevent Patricia from being fired for at least another year. But seriously, Detroit has something to build on, and next up is an offensively-challenged Dallas team that has scored just 41 points in three games—second-worst in the NFC. Why the Cowboys can cover the spread The Cowboys will be catching the Lions off an incredible high, where there is nowhere to go but down. This is undoubtedly a letdown spot for Detroit, and Dallas was impressive in beating the New York Giants 20-13 two weeks ago in the team's home opener. The Cowboys have also enjoyed a lot of previous success versus the Lions at home, going 9-3 straight up in the past 12 meetings there, according to the OddsShark NFL Database. They are 7-1 SU and 6-1-1 against the spread in their previous eight as favorites as well, so they have obviously performed well in that role recently. Smart betting pick If Detroit did not upset New England last week, then Dallas might be favored by twice as many points in this spot. In other words, be careful not to overreact too much to the lone victory for the Lions, and do not forget how they played the first two weeks when they were mentioned as being among the worst teams in the league. Dallas is underrated here, so look for a rebound performance after falling at Seattle. NFL betting trends The total has gone over in six of the Lions' last seven games versus the Cowboys. The Cowboys are 7-1 SU and 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite. The Lions are 14-48 SU in their last 62 games as road underdogs. All NFL odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.<doc-sep>The final injury report heading into this weekend’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions is out. As expected, both Sean Lee and Maliek Collins will not play. You can include Travis Frederick in that list for the foreseeable future as he tries to make it back from his bout with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Cowboys injury report DT Maliek Collins (knee) - OUT C Travis Frederick (illness) - OUT LB Sean Lee (hamstring) - OUT WR Cole Beasley (ankle) - Questionable DT Antwaun Woods (groin) - Questionable The Cowboys will have to replace Lee with Leighton Vander Esch. Fortunately, he’s been playing well and could help to mitigate that loss. Joe Thomas moves up in the rotation, too. Cole Beasley was questionable last week, so he’ll likely go. We’ll have to see with Antwaun Woods. For the Detroit Lions, they will be without their star pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah who remains out. That’s good news for the Cowboys who have had problems protecting Dak Prescott. Jarrad Davis and Golden Tate are listed as questionable. Lions injury report: DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) - OUT TE Michael Roberts (knee) - OUT LB Jarrad Davis (knee) - Questionable WR Golden Tate (hip) - Questionable<doc-sep>The panic button is starting to wield a soft red glow for the Dallas Cowboys. Only three weeks into their young 2018 season, the team is 1-2 with an offense that has now looked junior varsity-esque for several consecutive regular season games stretching back to 2017. Ranked 30th in the NFL in overall offense and 31st in passing, the edict from the Cowboys declaring no need for a No. 1 wide receiver, and using it as a means to justify firing All-Pro wideout Dez Bryant. In short order, they'd also lose future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten, creating a vortex no one's been able to fill as of yet. The wideout corps is seven bodies deep but has only two touchdowns through three games, both accountable to Tavon Austin and one of which was a shovel pass. The tight end corps hasn't fared any better, except for the fact veteran Geoff Swaim led all receivers with only 47 yards in the Week 3 loss versus the Seattle Seahawks. It's painfully clear that, including the severe regression of Dak Prescott and the telegraphed play-calling by coordinator Scott Linehan, the Cowboys will have their hands full against a Detroit Lions' team that is ranked first in the NFL in stopping the pass. It's essentially going to be run-or-bust for the Cowboys, meaning they'll have to avoid getting behind early and minimize penalties accordingly. Prescott and the Cowboys' offense isn't designed to win a shootout with anyone, let alone quarterback Matthew Stafford, who followed up a tragic Week 1 effort of one touchdown to four interceptions to deliver five TDs to only one INT in his last two games. The records for each team may be the same, but the offensive edge goes to the Lions. [Don't miss a single snap when the Cowboys battle the Lions! Here's how to catch the game] Defensively, both teams are stout upfront, Dallas' sack total of 10.5 being only 0.5 sack better than Detroit's. Each side will look to create intense pressure and force potential turnovers, a stat that will help determine the outcome of this game in a big way. The bouts between the two teams have yielded some of the most controversial and/or historic games in memory, with the Cowboys owning the all-time series record to the tune of 13-11. The Lions have won two of the last three though, and have been known to play well at AT&T Stadium -- a bit of a homecoming of Stafford, a Highland Park High School legend. It's a rare early battle for the Cowboys, who usually take their talents to mid-day and primetime, so expect sizable television blackout areas around the nation. Here's a look at the TV coverage map, via 506 Sports: The game will kickoff at 1pm EST on Sunday, Sept. 30, with Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis in the booth, and Pam Oliver on the sidelines. Neither team can afford to leave this contest with a record of 1-3, as it'd likely mean the end of any potential run at the playoffs. It'd be less forgiving for the Cowboys though, considering the Lions are being led by rookie head coach Matt Patricia. Dropping this game, and in front of their home crowd, could be enough to push owner Jerry Jones off of the posturing ledge and right into some urgent front office moves, be it with the roster, the coaching staff -- or both.<doc-sep>
Believe it or not, but something's going mostly right for the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously you can hang your hat on how well the defensive unit is playing right now, even after suffering a bit of a ding to their armor at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 3. The additional good news there is, for the most part, they're nearly whole following the return of safety Xavier Woods from a hamstring injury that sidelined him the first two games. All isn't perfect though, seeing as they'll be without defensive tackle Maliek Collins when they host the Detroit Lions, out with a knee injury. The most notable absence will come by way of All-Pro linebacker Sean Lee, who recovered from a hamstring tweak in the second game of the season to be available for the third, only to then injure his other hamstring and be ruled out of the fourth quarter. It appears he'll be out for two weeks minimum, but the injury could stretch to four weeks or so -- depending on how he responds to rehab. [Don't miss a single snap of the Cowboys battle with the Lions. Here's how to catch the game] In the meantime, count on seeing rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch land his first career NFL start, selected 19th overall this past spring for this very occasion. Here's a look at the final injury report for Week 4: Travis Frederick, C (Illness) - OUT Sean Lee, LB (Hamstring) - OUT Maliek Collins, DT (Knee) - OUT Cole Beasley, WR (Ankle) - Questionable Antwaun Woods, DT (Groin) - Questionable __ Although listed as questionable, Woods did practice this week, albeit in a limited capacity. There's a strong possibility he'll play against the Lions, and that'll be big for a Cowboys' defense who'll need as much pressure as it can muster against quarterback Matthew Stafford. You can also, presumably, count Beasley in for the contest, nursing an ankle injury this week. Both will be key in helping the Cowboys back at .500 because if the team fails, you can essentially end all talk of them making the playoffs in 2018. Lee's absence thrusts rookie Leighton Vander Esch into his first NFL start, with a lot of pressure on him to prove he was worth a first-round pick. He's done well in his snaps thus far to begin the season, but he'll now be tasked with manning the WILL (weakside LB) role beside Jaylon Smith, a task made more difficult by Stafford's ability to make something out of nothing when plays break down. The good news for the Cowboys is whereas Lee got off to a rough start with missed tackles, that's not an issue Vander Esch has had, routinely bringing down whomever he gets his massive hands on. They'll need him to play well, in addition to veteran lineman Tyrone Crawford -- as he has been -- likely to take the starting 3-tech with Collins out of the picture.