Cowboys notes: Carr solid in rematch with Lions’ Megatron

Brandon Carr was the poster boy for what went wrong with the Dallas Cowboys’ defense the last time they faced the Lions and Calvin Johnson had a historic day.

Carr was left on an island against arguably the top receiver in the game, and Johnson torched him and the rest of the secondary for 329 yards, the second-most receiving yards in NFL history, in October 2013.

This time around, though, Carr had help and held the man known as “Megatron” in check. Johnson finished with five catches and 85 yards.

“My mentality this week wasn’t about redemption or get-back,” Carr said. “I kind of wiped last year out. This year was totally different. A totally different team. On top of that, the way we called plays and the philosophy on defense was different.

“This week I knew I had my hands full with one of the best receivers in my league. It was an opportunity to go out there and take that step, prove to myself, prove to my teammates, that I’m worth of that star.”

The Cowboys went into the game with the mindset of containing Johnson, and succeeded. His longest catch was 28 yards, and was targeted only three times — with two catches — in the second half.

“We couldn’t allow him to get off,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “You’ll never, ever shut this guy down. He’s such a weapon. But I think our players did a good job executing our plan.”

Job talk

Executive vice president Stephen Jones hopes to keep the coaching staff together, but understands success makes it more difficult.

That’s why Jones said the organization isn’t overly concerned when opposing teams target their assistants for head coaching jobs.

“The goal of ours is to keep this group together,” Jones said. “It’s one of the best staffs, if not the best staff, we’ve had since we’ve owned the team when you look at the overall staff.

“Obviously we’d like to keep everybody here, but at the same time, we also respect if people get an opportunity to get a head coaching job. You obviously have to let those guys have their chance. If not, certainly our goal is to keep everybody.”

Play-caller Scott Linehan is the latest name to join the head coaching rumor mill, reportedly with interest from the Oakland Raiders. Linehan, like defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, is only signed through this season.

Linehan said he hadn’t “heard anything” in regards to the Raiders position, adding that he’s told Cowboys brass he wouldn’t pursue anything until their season had ended.

Asked if he’d like to be a head coach again, Linehan said: “I tell you what, I love being an assistant coach here. I truly believe in what we’re doing here and the players we have here and, anything personal beyond that, you reflect when the season is over.

“But right now, I’m having the time of my life coaching here.”

Crawford sick

Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford didn’t know he was allergic to seafood. He found out the hard way.

Crawford ate seafood at a restaurant Thursday night. He missed practice Friday, and, although he played, Crawford spent part of the game throwing up on the sideline. He required two IVs at halftime.

“I’m not going to eat it ever again,” Crawford said. “If you guys ever see me eating lobster or shellfish again, please slap me in the head.

“… But even the way I felt Friday, I felt like I should be at the hospital, I still would have played.”

Crawford had three tackles and a pass breakup.

Injuries

Linebacker Anthony Hitchens played despite a high right ankle sprain. He made three tackles and had a pass breakup after taking a pain-killing injection before the game.

“Hitchens really deserves the credit, such credit,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “He was in a lot of pain in there a minute ago, but boy, he played through that high-ankle sprain.”

Linebacker Rolando McClain did not return after what was announced as an illness/dehydration. He missed last week’s game with an illness. However, coach Jason Garrett said after the game that McClain had “concussion-like symptoms.”

“We’ll continue to monitor him,” Garrett said. “He came into the locker room, and he went home already, so we’ve just got to see how he’s doing when he comes in [Monday].”

Tight end James Hanna left with a right knee injury.

Bailey misses

Owner Jerry Jones thought it might not be the Cowboys’ day when Dan Bailey missed a 41-yard field goal try early in the second half. Bailey, the NFL’s most accurate kicker, was wide right on the kick.

He later made a 51-yarder that drew the Cowboys to within 20-17.

“Missing right is one of my pet peeves, because it usually means you didn’t get through the ball,” Bailey said. “I hate missing, obviously, but I hate feeling like I left something out there. It obviously came out a little right, so when you get in the postseason, points are harder to come by, so when you can’t convert it is a little frustrating, but luckily we were able to get another opportunity and go out there and make it.”

Staff writer Charean Williams contributed to this report.

This story was originally published January 4, 2015 at 11:41 PM with the headline "Cowboys notes: Carr solid in rematch with Lions’ Megatron."