The Dallas Cowboys will be looking to do the impossible on Sunday: They're going to try to win a game just four days after facing the Detroit Lions.
If you're wondering why we're bringing the Lions into this, it's because no team this season has been able to win their next game after facing Detroit. Apparently, there's some sort of hangover effect that comes from facing the Lions or they just beat up on you so badly that you can't win your next game, but whatever the reason, teams aren't just losing after facing Detroit, they're getting BLOWN out.
It doesn't matter whether a team wins or loses to the Lions; this trend only involves a team's next game after facing Detroit. Here's a look at the Lions' opponents so far in 2024 and how they did the week after facing Detroit
Week 1: Rams at Lions
Los Angeles' next game: Lost 41-10 to Cardinals
Week 2: Buccaneers at Lions
Tampa Bay's next game: Lost 26-7 to Broncos in a game where Tampa Bay was favored by 6
Week 3: Lions at Cardinals
Arizona's next game: Lost 42-14 to Commanders in a game where Arizona was favored by 3.5
Week 4: Seahawks at Lions
Seattle's next game: Lost 29-20 to Giants in a game where Seattle was favored by 7
Week 5: Lions have a bye (every team in the NFL cheers)
Week 6: Lions at Cowboys
Dallas' next game: Cowboys had a bye in Week 7, will face 49ers in Week 8
Week 7: Lions at Vikings
Minnesota's next game: Lost 30-20 to Rams in a game where Minnesota was favored by 2.5
That's five teams that have gone a combined 0-5 after facing the Lions, and four of the teams were favored to win. Also, none of these games were very close. The five losses were by an average of 19.4 points per game and all five teams lost by two scores.
The Vikings were the latest victim of this streak: After facing the Lions on Sunday, they turned around and lost to the Rams on Thursday night.
The only upside for the Cowboys is that they had a bye after facing the Lions, so they've had a week off to re-group from their loss to Detroit. None of the other teams had a bye, so maybe that will work in Dallas' favor, but if they do lose to the 49res on Sunday, Cowboys fans can blame the Lions.
