The Deal Breaker

L, Detroit Lions 27 - Dallas Cowboys 28

Just one win. One stinkin' win. The Lions can salvage what is turning into an incredibly splintered campaign that took us to the height of heights and to the depths of the low. One win and their back in control in the playoff hunt. Is that too much to ask?

Well, all deals will be off if we can't win this one today. I had been looking forward to this game all year (in addition to the Thanksgiving Day game) for a couple of reasons. One is that there are fans of all teams littered throughout my office and a colleague nearby is a big fan. Nothing against him but it is us or them today, sorry.

Expecting to win
My wife is a big Yankee fan and for the same reasons that I hope they lose each fall, I do the same for the Cowboys. My wife isn't enamored with the fact the pin-stripers have been to the playoffs 12 straight years playing in the fall classic maybe a half-dozen times she isn't happy unless they win it all. And with the Dallas team and their fans (even to a more flamboyant and obnoxious) their birthright is even more glaring. So victory is that much sweeter.

This game showcased the promise of tomorrow. Detroit moved the ball extremely well and took a lead into halftime (20-14) but a sense of unease lingered in the air. A late Dallas score with less than 2:00 minutes left swung the momentum. T.O. wasn't effective so you'd expect the Lions be further ahead but as the game unfolded the Cowboys hung around and the drama built.

To rob Peter (stopping T.O.) the Lions had to pay Paul (Jason Witten). Tony Romo hit the talented tight-end fifteen times (for 138 yards) throughout the day but his last reception, a touchdown with 2:15 to go in the game was one catch too many.