The Cowboys face a tough trip to Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions, but how can Brian Schottenheimer's team get what would be an impressive win?
The Dallas Cowboys' next stop on their journey to a potential playoff spot (and even division title?) takes them to Ford Field and the Detroit Lions in Week 14 for tonight's high-profile "Thursday Night Football'' showdown.
The 6-5-1 Cowboys are on a three-game winning streak, having slayed the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, while the 7-5 Lions have lost two of their last three games.
So the arrows might be pointing in different directions, but this is "playoff -type football'' at which point records go out the window.
So ... how do the Cowboys, as 3-point underdogs, continue their impressive run and end this three-game gauntlet going 3-0?
By doing these five things.
1 - Stop Jahmyr Gibbs and the run game
The Lions might not be the same team as last season, but they can still run the ball. Totals of 177, 224, 164, 226, and 237 have been seen from this rushing attack.
That can't happen, so Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa, you're up.
The other reason this is important is the lack of weapons Jared Goff has in the passing attack, being down his top three tight ends and possibly Amon-Ra St. Brown, means it could be bare bones for the offense.
Take Gibbs and David Montgomery away, and force lesser-knowns to beat you.
2 - Continue third-down dominance
The story of the Chiefs' game was how effective Dak Prescott and the offense were on third down, which kept drives alive. Do it on the road in Detroit.
Dallas currently ranks fifth in the NFL for third-down conversions (44 percent), while the Detroit defense ranks 11th in stopping them.
Keeping drives alive on the road is huge. Quieten the crowd, and keep Goff on the sidelines.
Javonte Williams and the run game could be crucial here.
3 - Attack Detroit's secondary
Kerby Joseph is out, and Brian Branch is questionable, so Detroit's secondary could be filled with backups -- time for CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens to feast.
We saw how many problems that duo caused a Chiefs team that boasts what many consider one of the better defenses in football, but Detroit's? It ranks 17th in passing yards per game (212), so this feels like an opportunity to exploit a clear weakness.
Get Pickens, Lamb, Jake Ferguson (seam routes, please), and KaVonte Turpin involved to stretch what is a weak spot for the Lions.
4 - Seize the early momentum
The Lions will try to start this game on fire after last week, given the dire situation they are in, so don't give them the early ascendancy with a turnover, or allow the offense to stroll down the field.
This is a team that feels like it could be on shaky ground, mentally. Start fast on offense, or keep things tight defensively. Oh, and no turnovers of costly penalties either, please.
Don't let the Lions get away to a hot start, because we know that if they get rolling, they're tough to stop.
5 - Red-zone dominance
Similar to last week, when the Cowboys get into the red zone, touchdowns are the only item on the menu. We know the Lions got for it on fourth down more than most, so this could be the biggest key to winning the game.
The Cowboys are 13th for red-zone trips ending in touchdowns (60 percent), while the Lions' defense is 27th in stopping them (63 percent).
Conversely, Dallas, when opponents get into the red zone, it's nearly always a touchdown (31st, 71 percent), and the Detroit offense is top-10 in the red zone (seventh, 65 percent).
Dallas has to punch it in, while keeping the Lions out.