Lions hope to hand Cowboys first home loss of season

Allen Park — The Dallas Cowboys lost one game at home over all of last season, and heading into Saturday night’s primetime matchup, the Detroit Lions are trying to make sure that tradition continues.

Dallas is a perfect 7-0 at AT&T Stadium heading into its home finale against Detroit after going 8-1 at home the year prior.

“It’ll get loud," Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. "It’ll get loud like the other places, but I think they’re very comfortable there, right? That’s what it seems and we’ve got to find a way to go in there and be comfortable as well and find a way to win.”

The pass game — on both sides of the ball — is where Dallas’ home and road splits really pop. 

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has a completion percentage of 74.0% at home versus 63.2% on the road, has a 20-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio at home versus 10-to-5 on the road. His passer rating jumps more than 35 points at home, from 87.1 to 122.5.

Fourth-year receiver CeeDee Lamb has exploded in a career year for the Cowboys. With 109 catches for 1,424 yards and nine touchdowns, Lamb already has surpassed last year’s totals in the first two categories and tied his touchdown mark for last season with two games remaining. 

Add in a breakout year for second-year tight end Jake Ferguson (61 catches, 659 yards, five touchdowns) and the addition of Brandin Cooks, and you’ve got an offense that ranks first in touchdowns scored at home (30) and turnovers lost (13).

“I think the comfort of being there and to be able to function, particularly offensively, without the crowd noise,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said in response to a question about why the Cowboys have been so good at AT&T Stadium over the last few years.

“... I think they take full advantage of being home, they do it well. Certainly, they’ve got plenty of pieces over there. It starts with this quarterback, he’s a heck of a player, he’s a winner. He can make all the throws. He’s mobile. He’s got weapons.”

Defensively, the Cowboys have been a menace for passing offenses. Teams are averaging a passer rating of just 71.0 and a completion percentage of 56.8%. 

Of the 158 passes thrown against the Cowboys defense at AT&T Stadium this season, more of them have gone for interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (seven). 

“This defense is designed to pin their ears back and they can rush the passer,” Campbell said. “(Cowboys defensive coordinator) Dan Quinn’s done a great job with their schemes and putting guys in positions to make plays, so it goes without saying … we have to get off to a fast start.”

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi

Lions at Cowboys

▶ Kickoff: 8:15 p.m., Saturday, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

▶ TV/radio: ESPN/ABC/97.1

▶ Records: Detroit (11-4), Dallas (10-5)

▶ Line: Cowboys by 6