News: BR: Where Was Dez Bryant in Cowboys Passing Game vs. Lions?

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Heading into halftime of their matchup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant had just one catch for a total of two yards. It wasn't as though he missed other opportunities that came his way—Tony Romo targeted him just that one time in the first half.

For a team hoping to advance to the second round of the playoffs going against a tough defense, it was an interesting game plan. Bryant ended the night with three receptions for a total of 48 yards, making him the fourth-most productive receiver on the night.

He was only targeted three times, though Romo looked to Cole Beasley eight times.

Now, there are multiple possible explanations for Bryant's quiet night. His first—and only—reception of the first half, on Dallas' very first passing play of the night, was fumbled. Bryant recovered, turning a five-yard gain into a two-yard one, but Romo didn't look in his direction again until nearly 10 minutes into the third quarter.

Was Jason Garrett trying to teach Bryant a lesson about ball security by limiting his first-half targets? Possibly, but Wild Card Weekend hardly seems the ideal time and place for that kind of Bill Belichick-esque punishment.

Bryant had 88 receptions in the 2014 regular season—more than all Dallas' other wide receivers combined—and a league-leading 16 receiving touchdowns. Clearly, he was going to be a factor in the Cowboys' offensive efforts against Detroit's No. 13 passing defense.

More likely, Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan were reacting to the defensive looks they were seeing out of the Lions. Early in the game, Detroit had a corner on Bryant as well as help from safety Glover Quin.

With that kind of coverage, Romo's reads likely favored more open players like Beasley and Terrance Williams, both of whom finished the night with more yards than Bryant.

But when Detroit lightened up on Bryant, Dallas took advantage. On Bryant's 43-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter—only his second reception of the night to that point—the Lions inexplicably only had linebacker DeAndre Levy on Bryant, and Dallas made them pay for it.

Detroit realizing its mistake and beefing up coverage on Bryant once again after he gashed them on that play is likely what led to Bryant not seeing another reception until 4:28 in the fourth quarter, when he connected with Romo for a three-yard gain.

It was his last catch of the night, but not his last moment of note—he somehow managed to avoid a penalty when he ran onto the field sans helmet in the fourth quarter to argue against the pass interference call made on Anthony Hitchens.

Bryant had three other games this season in which he had three or fewer receptions, but his 48 total yards were well under his per-game season average of 82.5. This was his sixth game of the season in which he failed to score a touchdown as well.

It's understandable that Garrett and Linehan would adjust the game plan toward Williams, Jason Witten and Beasley if Detroit's defense dictated it. But the Cowboys have faced tougher defenses than the Lions' this season, and if that's truly the reason for Bryant's quiet night, Dallas should be wary of allowing the Green Bay Packers to similarly take Bryant out of their game plan next Sunday.

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