The Dallas Cowboys ‘ three-game surge came to a screeching halt in Detroit, and the architect of their recent success may have been the one holding the blueprints to their demise. For three weeks, the George Pickens slant route was Brian Schottenheimer ’s unstoppable weapon. Against the Lions, it became the very play that sealed the Cowboys’ fate.

The Dallas head coach, ahead of the Lions game, had revealed plans to continue with this strategy, and the Lions were prepared as they restricted Pickens to five catches for 37 yards, his second-worst performance for the Cowboys.

Furthermore, Pickens was centrally involved in one key interception during the first play of the second half as he ran a slant. Here, Lions cornerback Amik Robertson broke up the pass, causing the ball to pop

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