Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions Ten In-Depth Observations

Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) tries to escape Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) during the third quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

4. During the regular season, the Lions were one of the best teams in the league at defending No. 1 receivers, and they did a phenomenal job of bottling up Dez Bryant, who was targeted just three times, turning those three targets into three receptions for 48 yards. That’s below what we’ve come to expect from Bryant, and the interesting thing is that one catch bloated his numbers, as his biggest play was easily a 43-yard reception (more on that in a bit), so his other two receptions went for just five yards.

Bryant deserves major props for his big play, but his props won’t come at the expense of the Lions defensive backs, since he was actually picked up by All-Pro linebacker DeAndre Levy on the crossing route. Now here’s where it gets impressive for Dez. The elite wideout shoved off the trailing Levy in a move that showed off his excellent strength and slipperiness (it was more than just agility) before accelerating for an eventual 43-yard pick-up. Bryant consistently drew coverage away from the receivers in the middle of the field, so his impact also transcended the stat sheet, which isn’t exactly unexpected.

Next: Terrance Williams had more than one big play