The Dallas Cowboys will take on the Matthew Stafford-less Detroit Lions Suday afternoon. The wagering line reflects his absence, settling with the Cowboys as seven-point favorites after opening at just 2.5. That’s the level of drop off between starting quarterbacks and those who hold the clipboard.
With Jeff Driskel getting the call, it begs the question on how Dallas has performed when the other team’s most important player isn’t on the field.
The most infamous of games involving the Cowboys and an opposing back-up quarterback is that of Green Bay Packers and Matt Flynn. In that contest, Dallas blew a 26-3 halftime lead when Flynn stepped out of his body to throw for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns. But block that out, because only two defensive players remain from that 2013 roster for the Cowboys. What matters is what’s happened with the team that’s been largely in place for three and a half years. Here’s what’s happened in the Dak Prescott era:
| Year | Opponent | Spread | Result | ATS | Over/Under |
| 2016 | Browns | -7 | W | Cover | Under |
| 2016 | 49ers | -1 | W | Cover | Under |
| 2016 | Bears | -6.5 | W | Cover | Over |
| 2017 | Eagles | -3.5 | W | Cover | Under |
| 2017 | 49ers | -6.5 | W | Cover | Under |
| 2018 | Redskins | -7 | W | Cover | Over |
| 2019 | Saints | -2.5 | L | No cover | Under |
Dallas is 6-1 both straight up and against the spread in these kinds of games since 2016. The over-under remains a crap shoot. What this signifies is that the Cowboys have taken care of business on a regular basis in this exact circumstance. This is bolstered by the 2019 results that demonstrate that this team has shown the ability to handle lowly opponents with ease. So with this in mind…
The Verdict: Cowboys cover -7 and the OVER (47) hits.
On the Year: 6-3 ATS, 6-3 over/under
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