'America's Team' vs. America's Sweethearts: Cowboys vs. Lions Most Key Game?
Looking at the recently released 2023 NFL schedule, one of the most intriguing games from and storyline standpoint takes place in Week 17 when the Dallas Cowboys host the Detroit Lions.
In the 1990s, the Cowboys asserted themselves as a force. They won three championships in four seasons featuring Hall of Fame players like Emmitt Smith and earned the moniker 'America's Team' while they were must-watch television.
Conversely, the Lions have never won a Super Bowl and are more affiliated with wasting Hall of Fame players' careers, such as Barry Sanders. In fact, Detroit was the first team to lose all 16 games in 2008, but things have shifted since they hired head coach Dan Campbell.
Last season the Lions were featured on HBO's Hard Knocks and, headlined by their passionate head coach, they tugged at America's heartstrings, making them a rag-tag group of (assumed) loveable losers heading into 2022, when they shocked many.
Detroit finished their season just shy of making the playoffs, with a winning record of 9-8 [six wins more than in 2021], and even eliminated the Green Bay Packers and back-to-back MVP Aaron Rodgers from making the playoffs in the regular season finale.
Now entering 2023, the Lions hold legitimate playoff expectations for the first time in years and could find themselves needing a win against 'America's Team' in Week 17 in order to play postseason football.
Jared Goff was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 but has faced doubters since getting traded to Detroit in 2021. Dak Prescott was drafted by Dallas in 2016 and will hold extra motivation to assert himself as the top passer of that draft class over the likes of Goff.
The Lions' turnaround last season was in part thanks to the contributions of their rookie edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson who had three interceptions and 9.5 sacks, facing off against the Cowboy Micah Parsons, who's arguably the best defender in the entire league.
Come Week 17, we may finally have the answer to the age-old question, who truly holds the hearts of fans, 'America's Team' … or America's love of an underdog?
You can follow Isaiah DeAnda Delgado on Twitter and Instagram @IsaiahDDelgado.
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