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ESPN’s algorithm suggests Dallas Cowboys fans shouldn’t fret over their recent rough patch.
Following consecutive road losses to the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, the Cowboys return home to host the Detroit Lions on Saturday night. ESPN Analytics expects Dallas to remain undefeated at Jerry’s World this season.
The company’s Matchup Predictor gives the 10-5 Cowboys a 70.1 percent win probability over the 11-4 Lions. They’re also 5.5-point favorites.
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Dallas has dominated at AT&T Stadium, going 7-0 with a staggering 24.4-point average margin of victory.
Currently trailing the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, the Cowboys likely must solve their road woes during the postseason. However, they can utilize an imposing home-field advantage this weekend to stay in the division race.
Detroit, on the other hand, can make a huge statement one week after clinching the NFC North. The Lions, who are 6-2 on the road, remain in play for the conference’s No. 1 seed.
“It’ll get loud,” Jared Goff said of AT&T Stadium, per Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News . “It’ll get loud like the other places, but I think they’re very comfortable there, right? That’s what it seems and we’ve got to find a way to go in there and be comfortable as well and find a way to win.”
Despite their breakout year, the Lions rank No. 9 in ESPN’s FPI . Dallas is narrowly above the Baltimore Ravens at No. 3 behind the San Francisco 49ers and Bills, who each handed the Cowboys a double-digit loss.
Fans and algorithms alike may need Detroit to dethrone a Super Bowl contender like Dallas to believe. The Lions have played their last eight games against teams with losing records since suffering a 38-6 loss at Baltimore.
Saturday’s marquee NFC matchup starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC.