NFC Wild Card Betting – Lions D Ready for Murray, Cowboys

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys (-6.5, 48 o/u)

This Sunday (4:35 p.m. Eastern), the Detroit Lions (11-5, 4-4 away) will square off with the Dallas Cowboys (12-4, 4-4 home) at AT&T Stadium.

Odds are the referees will be paying special attention to the footsteps of Ndamukong Suh. The Lions defensive tackle was recently suspended one game for stomping on likely NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in week 17. But Suh successfully appealed his suspension and is now eligible to suit up against Dallas.

Suh said, “I’m just pleased with the decision and glad I have the opportunity. I can go against Dallas and help my teammates win the game. I think that’s most important.”

Suh isn’t the only Detroit player to draw the ire of the league recently. In week 17, center Dominic Raiola was serving a one-game suspension for stomping on a Chicago Bear the week prior.

But the end result is that the Lions stout defense – which allowed a league-low 70 rushing yards per game – will be at full capacity come Sunday when they face the NFL’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray. Add in the fact Detroit had 133 tacks for a loss this season and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell is confident his squad can keep Murray in check.

“If you look at the numbers, they’ll tell you that they run the ball obviously as well as anybody in the league and you look at it statistically for us, we’re right up there at the top in the rankings in terms of stopping the run. So all in all, I think it’s going to be a real good battle,” said Caldwell.

If Murray and the Lions front seven cancel each other out, the game will be decided by the quarterback play. For Dallas, Tony Romo has put together one of his best years ever. Not only is Romo in consideration for the MVP, but his passer rating (113.2) is best in the NFL this year.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett knows that the strength of the team around Romo has been key. “The fact that we’ve gotten stronger and better on the offensive line has certainly helped. The fact that we’re running the ball well and more certainly has helped him but Tony has played awfully well. … He’s the guy who orchestrates and leads everything we do on offense,” said Garrett.

As good as Romo has played – and factoring in the often ineffective Matthew Stafford – look for the defenses to force plenty of three-and-outs, which is why the under (48) is in play.

(Photo credit: Mike Morbeck (flickr) [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode]. Photo has been cropped.)