From ‘Bad Boys’ to Barry Sanders – Detroit’s grit meets Dallas glitz in fierce NFL rivalry built on identity
The Detroit Lions-Dallas Cowboys rivalry is one of the fiercest in the NFL.
The battle between these two NFC juggernauts has produced some hugely memorable moments over the years, and with an epic Week 14 Thursday Night Football clash to come, there is plenty of more opportunities to add to the bill.
The two NFL franchises couldn’t be more polar opposite of each other – on one hand there is the Lions, who epitomize the blue collar culture that is so prominent in the city of Detroit.
The Lions have often leaned into their tough and gritty identity within their football, such as having a physical defense and a run-heavy offense – much like that of the Barry Sanders era in the 1990s.
On the other hand, there’s the glitz and glamour of the Cowboys, also known as ‘America’s Team’ with them – albeit unconsciously – somewhat fostering the ideals of the American Dream, with Dallas leading the rivalry 19-13.
Billions of dollars have been poured into the organization by owner Jerry Jones since he purchased the team in 1989.
Not only have they built some of the best facilities in the country, with the spotlight always seeming to be on the Cowboys – albeit good or bad – but they have also leveraged their star status in their pursuits of attracting some of the very best talent that money can buy.
In the 1990s, despite having drafted the likes of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith – of whom they sent Herschel Walker packing to get the pick which they then traded up to select the former Florida phenom – Dallas also had no issues in attracting blockbuster free agency signings.
For example, they won the Deion Sanders sweepstakes when the cornerback was in his prime, whilst they also gambled on trading for a future Hall of Famer, yet highly controversial figure in outside linebacker Charles Haley who had won back-to-back Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers just two seasons prior.
Motown muscle torches Cowboys despite dealing with heartbreak
But, years before Prime Time and Haley joined the Cowboys, the 1991 season was arguably when the rivalry was at its peak.
In the early 1990s, there was a lot to be excited about for Motor City natives.
The ‘Bad Boy’ Detroit Pistons, spearheaded by Isiah Thomas and a young Dennis Rodman, had not long won back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990, and fell just short of reaching the Finals for a fourth consecutive season thanks to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the very beginning of a Chicago Bulls dynasty.
The Lions had also posted a 12-4 record that season – their first winning season since 1983 – with an undrafted Erik Kramer under center at quarterback.
But Detroit in those days were known as “Barry Sanders’ team” because of the superstar running back being the key focal point of the offense since his arrival into the league as the third overall pick back in 1989.
In 1991, the 10-time Pro Bowler posted 1,548 rushing yards and a career-high 16 touchdowns, whilst also recording 307 yards through the air and an additional score, which proved crucial in their postseason bid.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys were entering the start of a dynasty with Aikman, Irvin – the NFL’s receiving yards leader – and rushing yards leader Smith wreaking havoc on a Dallas offense that scored the seventh-most points in the league that season (342).
With both teams reaching the playoffs, and the Lions seeking their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history, and the Cowboys their first since the 1970s, there was a lot at stake when they met in the Divisional Round.
The Lions entered their home playoff game in January 1992 at the Pontiac Silverdome knowing that starting guard Mike Utley’s football career was over after he suffered a spinal cord injury in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams that left him paralyzed at the age of 26.
But, the team’s heartbreak appeared to spur them on, as the Motown muscle of the Lions offense posted 38 points on the Dallas defense – in a contest that Detroit dubbed a “big deal.”
“It was a big deal. A lot had gone on that season because of Mike Utley’s injury. That really shook me up and a lot of my teammates,” Sanders said, via ESPN, 30 years after the game had taken place.
“So, we were shaken up, but we went on a winning streak. We won all of our home games that year. It was a big deal that the Cowboys were coming into town.”
Despite “bottling” Sanders up for most of the contest (12 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD) he was able to chalk off a 47-yard run from Sanders in the fourth quarter that proved to be the dagger in the Cowboys’ side as Aikman was unable to drive his star-studded team down the field, recording just six points from two field goals.
This playoff win over the Cowboys was also their last win in the postseason until January 2024, when the Lions reached the Conference Championship, though narrowly fell 34-31 to the Niners.
“I don’t want to say it was before the Cowboys were the actual Cowboys, but they won [the Super Bowl] the next year and obviously three in a short, tight window there. So, that was a big deal,” Sanders added.
Modern day rivalry boasts same principles
The Lions’ ‘one pride’ grit is also something that is very much prevalent today in head coach Dan Campbell‘s scheme, with the lightning one-two punch of running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery – aka Sonic and Knuckles – having combined for 1,500-plus yards and 19 total touchdowns through the first 13 weeks of the 2025 season.
Add to that a very solid quarterback in Jared Goff whose throwing accuracy is up there with being one of the best in the league, and a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown who has a knack for creating separation and making difficult catches look easy.
Then they have the high-motor edge rusher that is superstar Aidan Hutchinson as their defensive talisman, whose relentless pursuit of getting through whomever the opposition’s offensive line is in order to get to the quarterback, has revitalized them into a contending team (7-5) in the NFC.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years,” Sanders said ahead of the Lions’ playoff game in 2024. “I feel like there certainly should’ve been more playoff wins… it just proves we’ve got a lot of work to do.
“But it also proved that even back then, we made some progress, and at least for that year, gave the Lions fans some hope. So, hopefully we can do that again, one day soon.”
On the flip side, the Cowboys are still chasing the highs of their 1990s dynasty, with the team not having made an appearance at the Super Bowl since the last time they won it in 1995.
Granted the team has drafted extremely well over the years, with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons – who was dealt in a blockbuster trade to the Green Bay Packers just before the 2025 season began – all having been selected via the draft in the modern era.
Much like he did in the 90s, Jones has gambled once again, this time on George Pickens, having traded for the exiled former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver – a move that has thus far paid dividends for all involved parties, with the 6-5-1 Cowboys now making a late playoff-push.
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