Lions are up next for the hungry Cowboys
Dez Bryant didn’t care. Neither did Brandon Carr.
The Dallas Cowboys weren’t overly invested in the various playoff scenarios and who they might meet in the wild-card round next weekend at AT&T Stadium.
“Lions, Tigers, Bears … it don’t really matter,” Carr said.
As it turned out, the Cowboys earned the No. 3 seed and will host the sixth-seeded Detroit Lions, who lost to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon.
The Cowboys played the Lions last season, falling 31-30 in Detroit. That game saw Lions receiver Calvin Johnson torch the Cowboys’ secondary for 329 receiving yards.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford scored the go-ahead touchdown on a quarterback sneak that game, as well. The Highland Park product has defeated the Cowboys in each of his two career starts against them — last season in Detroit and the 2011 season in Arlington.
But none of that seemed to matter to the Cowboys after they beat the Redskins on Sunday.
“I’m not worrying about it,” Bryant said. “Coach [Jason] Garrett is going to let us know who we’re playing, and we’re going to get our mind right for it.”
This will be only the third time the teams have faced each other in the playoffs. The Cowboys lost to the Lions 38-6 in the divisional round in 1991, but defeated them 5-0 in the divisional round in 1970.
Injury updates
Rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens suffered a high right ankle sprain Sunday, owner Jerry Jones said.
Hitchens, who left with the injury in the second quarter, has been one of the best linebackers over the past month. He started at middle linebacker Sunday with Rolando McClain missing the trip with an illness.
Defensive tackle Henry Melton injured his knee during the game, although X-rays were negative.
Hitchens and Melton will be further evaluated on Monday.
Perfection
The Cowboys finished the season as the NFL’s only undefeated road team, going 8-0. Every other team had at least two road losses.
Nobody can pinpoint a reason as to why they have been so successful on the road, but safety Barry Church tried.
“We come in with a mentality that our backs are against the wall, everyone is against us,” Church said. “The opposing team is against us, plus their fans. The only thing we have is the 53 players on our sidelines.”
Equally important, the Cowboys had an undefeated December by going 4-0. The last time they had an undefeated December was in 1993.
It should help quiet any December questions. At least for a year.
“We have basically cleaned it up in December,” Jones said.
McClay a candidate?
Cowboys assistant director of player personnel Will McClay was named as a possible candidate for the New York Jets general manager position that is expected to become open.
McClay is in his 12th season with the Cowboys, and oversaw this year’s draft for the first time. He did well in using a first-round selection on Zack Martin, who is going to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, and a fourth-round pick on Hitchens.
Wilber blindsided
Kyle Wilber didn’t see it coming in the fourth quarter.
Wilber was in the end zone when Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III ran in for a score, but was then blindsided with a block by Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon.
Garcon drew a penalty for the hit, and it also led to a scuffle between the teams. Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick was one of the first to Wilber’s defense.
“I appreciate my teammates looking out for me and having my best interest at heart,” Wilber said.
As far as the hit, Wilber said: “It’s whatever. Comes with the game, I guess. Hey, he hurt his team doing that and he let his emotions get the best of him.”
2015 schedule set
With the regular season coming to an end Sunday, the Cowboys now know their home and road opponents for next season.
Outside of the NFC East division games, the Cowboys will host Atlanta, Carolina, New England, the New York Jets and Seattle. Road games include New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Miami and Green Bay.
This story was originally published December 28, 2014 at 8:17 PM with the headline "Lions are up next for the hungry Cowboys."