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Last season's defeat helped spark dramatic turnaround
Jim Parker, Windsor Star
Published: Saturday, December 08, 2007
ALLEN PARK, MICH. - The Dallas Cowboys owe the Detroit Lions a big debt of gratitude.
Who knows where the Cowboys would be without last year's loss to the Lions at the end of the regular season.
Playing out the string, the Lions beat the Cowboys in Dallas on the final day of the season.
It cost Dallas a chance for a home playoff game and the Cowboys went on to lose in Seattle the following week in the first round.
That led to head coach Bill Parcells stepping down and being replaced by Wade Phillips.
A year later, the Cowboys have the best record in the NFC, have already clinched a playoff spot and are off to the best start in franchise history.
A win Sunday and Dallas will clinch the NFC East Division.
"It's been a great turnaround and the team is benefiting," Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens said of the arrival of Phillips. "I think that is very indicative if you look at our record."
Owens and the Cowboys have unleashed a lethal offensive attack under Phillips.
Quarterback Tony Romo, in his first full season as the starter, has already set a franchise record with 33 touchdown passes. He'll face a Detroit defence that is 31st against the pass.
"Romo's playing great and if there's a broken coverage, he'll find 'em," Lions safety Gerald Alexander said.
The Cowboys are second to New England averaging over 390 yards of offence a game and have put up 30 points or more eight times this season.
"We're having an outstanding year so far," Phillips said.
"Obviously, things are going well when you're 11-1.
"We are certainly happy with our position and I'm excited about it. I like this team. I like the way they play. I like their temperament and their work efforts."
Those were words head coach Rod Marinelli sometimes used as Detroit won six of its first eight games, but not in its four-game slide.
"The 6-2 run was doing tings right," Marinelli said. "We just need to go back."
The Lions would love to see it all come together Sunday as it did in Dallas last year, but quarterback Jon Kitna said the game plan has to be almost perfect.
"A B-plus game won't win this game," he said.
But that might be tough to do with things unraveling for the Lions, who have lost leading receiver Roy Williams.
"We've backed ourselves into a corner by our own doing," Kitna said.
Shaun McDonald will start for Williams and Kitna said the big thing is just for every player to do their own job.
"We can't go out and try to make big plays," Kitna said. "We just have to go out and make the plays that are open."
jparker@thestar.canwest.com or 255-5777 ext. 413
LIONS PREVIEW
WHO: Dallas (11-1) at Detroit (6-6)
WHEN: Sunday, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Ford Field
TV/RADIO: Fox 2, 97.1 FM
LINE: Cowboys by 11
-- Jim Parker
LINK
Jim Parker, Windsor Star
Published: Saturday, December 08, 2007
ALLEN PARK, MICH. - The Dallas Cowboys owe the Detroit Lions a big debt of gratitude.
Who knows where the Cowboys would be without last year's loss to the Lions at the end of the regular season.
Playing out the string, the Lions beat the Cowboys in Dallas on the final day of the season.
It cost Dallas a chance for a home playoff game and the Cowboys went on to lose in Seattle the following week in the first round.
That led to head coach Bill Parcells stepping down and being replaced by Wade Phillips.
A year later, the Cowboys have the best record in the NFC, have already clinched a playoff spot and are off to the best start in franchise history.
A win Sunday and Dallas will clinch the NFC East Division.
"It's been a great turnaround and the team is benefiting," Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens said of the arrival of Phillips. "I think that is very indicative if you look at our record."
Owens and the Cowboys have unleashed a lethal offensive attack under Phillips.
Quarterback Tony Romo, in his first full season as the starter, has already set a franchise record with 33 touchdown passes. He'll face a Detroit defence that is 31st against the pass.
"Romo's playing great and if there's a broken coverage, he'll find 'em," Lions safety Gerald Alexander said.
The Cowboys are second to New England averaging over 390 yards of offence a game and have put up 30 points or more eight times this season.
"We're having an outstanding year so far," Phillips said.
"Obviously, things are going well when you're 11-1.
"We are certainly happy with our position and I'm excited about it. I like this team. I like the way they play. I like their temperament and their work efforts."
Those were words head coach Rod Marinelli sometimes used as Detroit won six of its first eight games, but not in its four-game slide.
"The 6-2 run was doing tings right," Marinelli said. "We just need to go back."
The Lions would love to see it all come together Sunday as it did in Dallas last year, but quarterback Jon Kitna said the game plan has to be almost perfect.
"A B-plus game won't win this game," he said.
But that might be tough to do with things unraveling for the Lions, who have lost leading receiver Roy Williams.
"We've backed ourselves into a corner by our own doing," Kitna said.
Shaun McDonald will start for Williams and Kitna said the big thing is just for every player to do their own job.
"We can't go out and try to make big plays," Kitna said. "We just have to go out and make the plays that are open."
jparker@thestar.canwest.com or 255-5777 ext. 413
LIONS PREVIEW
WHO: Dallas (11-1) at Detroit (6-6)
WHEN: Sunday, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Ford Field
TV/RADIO: Fox 2, 97.1 FM
LINE: Cowboys by 11
-- Jim Parker
LINK
