Sunday Free Service Winner

[InsiderEdge]

Free Service Play For Sunday October 19, 2003

(403) Dallas Cowboys at (404) Detroit Lions 1:00 pm EST

Detroit +3 (2 Units)

The Lions will be without rookie WR Charles Rogers, definitely a big blow but there are capable receivers for Joey Harrington to throw to. Detroit is 1-4 but that includes a 4-point loss at Denver and a 7-point loss at San Francisco. Even the 10-point loss to the Minnesota Vikings wasn't a total disgrace.

Harrington likely will spread the ball among the rest of his receivers -- Az-Zahir Hakim, who will replace Rogers at flanker, as well as Bill Schroeder, Shawn Jefferson and Scotty Anderson. Harrington must stay patient in the pocket, give his receivers more time to get open and make better decisions under pressure. Taking a sack or throwing away the ball is better than forcing passes into coverage. He has been sacked just three times this season, but that low number is more a reflection of hurried decisions than elite pass protection. The running game of Shawn Bryson and Olandis Gary is improving as the year goes on. Dallas leads the NFC in total defense but they also lead the NFL in the weakest schedule. Their opponents are a combined 7-20 and 4 of the 5 teams they have faced are ranked 28th, 27th, 26th and 30th offensively.

You look at the individual parts and wonder what makes the Cowboys the second-most productive offense in the NFL. RB Troy Hambrick is their leading rusher, averaging just 3.4 yards a carry, and Aveion Cason is the second-leading rusher with 152 yards on 19 carries. QB Quincy Carter is completing 56.3 percent of his throws but has more interceptions (five) than touchdown passes (four) and a modest 76.5 passer rating. They have been fortunate with turnovers (+3) and their special teams have caught some breaks as well, including the onsides kick recovery last weekend against Philadelphia to open the game. And again, they haven’t played a good amount of solid teams yet. The average defensive ranking of their 5 opponents is 20th.

The Cowboys are in a classic sandwich game, coming off a big home win over the division rival Eagles with a game at Tampa Bay next week. The Lions are starving for a victory and actually have a couple of things going for them -- the home-field crowd and the knowledge that two of their five victories in the past two seasons were against Dallas. Home dogs have not fared well this season at all but things will even out by season’s end.