[Tommy]

After that surprise ending on Monday Night, what more could Dallas coach Bill Parcells have up his sleeve? We'll find out Sunday as the 6-3 NFC East leading Cowboys host the 4-5 Detroit Lions of the NFC Central.

Both clubs are looking ahead to short weeks. Both play on Thanksgiving Day at home, with the Lions hosting Atlanta and the Cowboys Denver. Dallas has a short week for this one too as it comes off its Monday Night win over the Eagles but before that the Cowboys had a bye so they should be in better shape to play three games in 12 days than are the Lions.

Detroit is on the road for this one too and the road has not been that kind to the Lions this year. The club opened its road slate in Week 2 with a 38-6 loss at Chicago. Then, following its own bye week way back in Week 3 the Lions went to Tampa Bay and lost 17-13 although they did cover as a 6.5-point dog.

Then, after beating Baltimore at home 35-17 and losing to Carolina by one point the Lions went to Cleveland in Week 7 and scored their only road win of the year thus far: 13-10 as a three-point underdog. The Lions followed that up with yet another loss to the Bears (this one at home) and then went to Minnesota and lost 27-14.

That defeat dropped the Lions to 1-3 on the road and 2-2 ATS. They did respond strongly from that loss and beat Arizona last week at home 29-21 as a 3.5-point favorite. But now the Lions must go out on the road and face a stiff test from the Cowboys.

Dallas, as mentioned, is 6-3 on the season. Its three losses came by a combined ten points so the club could just as easily be 7-2 or 8-1 at this point. Dallas has scored 202 points and allowed 157 as its offense ranks 6th in the NFC and its defense 3rd. In contrast, Detroit has scored 160 points and allowed 173 and has the 14th-ranked offense in the NFC and the 8th-ranked defense.

Dallas lost its first home game of the year to Washington in Week 2 14-13 on two late touchdown bombs. Since that time it has won three in a row in the host role, covering twice.

It beat Philadelphia 33-10 as a 3.5-point underdog, bested the Giants 16-13 in overtime as a 3.5-point favorite and then two weeks ago slaughtered Arizona 34-13 as a nine-point chalk.

Dallas is coming off the emotional high of its comeback win over Philadelphia Monday night. Trailing by 13 points late in the fourth quarter the Cwobys struck for two touchdowns in 21 seconds to pull the game out of the fire. The first came on a Drew Bledsoe to Terry Glenn TD pass. The second on the Williams' interception of that ill-advised Donovan McNabb heave.

Detroit and Dallas met last year on this field with the Cowboys winning 31-21 as a 3.5-point favorite. The Cowboys outrushed the Lions 127-40 and overcame a 3-1 negative turnover margin to win. It helped that the Lions were whistled for 10 penalties for 113 yards. Detroit won the previous three meetings all at home, and covered twice.

Cowboys or Lions? The Cowboys are an eight-point choice with a total is 34. But before you get down on this contest, don’t miss out on the Vegas Experts Guaranteed Selections. Remember, at Vegas Experts you only pay after you WIN!