Detroit (3-1) at Dallas (3-2)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, Fox.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Lions by 3.

Against the spread: Lions 3-1; Cowboys 2-3.

Series record: Cowboys lead 19-12.

Last meeting: Cowboys defeated Lions 20-19 on Dec. 30, 2023, in Arlington, Texas.

Lions offense: overall (3), rush (6), pass (7), scoring (7)

Lions defense: overall (22), rush (4), pass (27), scoring (10)

Cowboys offense: overall (12), rush (31), pass (2), scoring (15)

Cowboys defense: overall (15), rush (24), pass (11), scoring (T23)

Turnover differential: Lions +1; Cowboys -1.

Lions player to watch

Jared Goff will attempt to maintain his remarkable passing streak, having not thrown an incompletion since September 22. He set an NFL record by completing all 18 passes in a win against Seattle. Currently, Goff’s streak stands at 19 completions, just six shy of the NFL record of 25 held by Nick Foles, Marcus Mariota, Philip Rivers, and Ryan Tannehill. He faces a Cowboys pass defense potentially bolstered by the return of cornerback DaRon Bland, who missed the first five games due to a stress fracture.

Cowboys player to watch

Rico Dowdle aims to build on his best performance against the Steelers, marking a significant improvement for the Cowboys’ previously struggling rushing offense. Dowdle recorded career highs with 20 carries, 87 rushing yards, and 114 scrimmage yards, solidifying his lead role over Ezekiel Elliott, who returned to the team this offseason. Dallas now ranks 31st in rushing after gaining a season-high 109 yards last week.

Key matchup

Dak Prescott versus Detroit’s pass defense, which includes rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold, who has struggled early in his career. Prescott rebounded from a poor performance with a game-winning drive against Pittsburgh, completing 29 of 42 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions and a fumble. Arnold has faced penalties for pass interference or holding seven times in four games but remains confident despite his rocky start.

Key injuries

The Lions might see the return of three-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow (pectoral muscle) and safety Brian Branch (illness), both inactive last week.

The Cowboys likely will be without star pass rusher Micah Parsons for a second game due to a high ankle sprain, marking a rare absence since he was drafted. Linebacker Eric Kendricks has missed practices with calf and shoulder issues, while the Cowboys may welcome back rookie cornerback Caelen Carson, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Series notes

The Cowboys currently hold a six-game winning streak against the Lions. This follows another six-game streak from 1963-77, which included a unique 5-0 playoff victory in 1970.

Stats and stuff

The teams meet again after Detroit had a late-game two-point conversion disallowed in last year’s Week 17 loss, which cost them a shot at the top NFC seed. The Lions have started 3-1 for consecutive years for the first time since 2013-14. This game kicks off a stretch of four out of five games on the road for Detroit, which faces NFC North-leading Minnesota next week.

The Cowboys have lost three straight home games, starting with a wild-card loss to Green Bay in January, and have dropped their first two home games this season after winning 16 straight at AT&T Stadium. The Lions are 7-0 when running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs both score rushing touchdowns in a game. Goff has thrown an average of 23 passes in three wins, contrasting with 55 attempts in their sole loss, completing 36 of 41 passes over the last two games for an 88% rate.

WR Jameson Williams is one of the few players in franchise history with multiple 50-yard touchdown receptions in the first four games. Detroit allowed an NFL record 38 first downs in their loss to Seattle and gave up 516 yards along with 101 penalty yards. DE Aidan Hutchinson was named NFC defensive player of the month for September, the first Lion to win since 2014. Safety Kerby Joseph leads all NFL safeties with 23 passes defended since 2022 and is tied for the league lead with 11 interceptions.

Prescott has passed for at least 250 yards in 12 consecutive home games, just one short of Ben Roethlisberger’s third-longest streak. CeeDee Lamb, a star receiver for Dallas, has yet to reach 100 receiving yards this season, despite a career-high 227 yards in last year’s matchup against the Lions.