Lions Show Cowboys There Is No Place Like Home

The Detroit Lions received outstanding performances from their defense and from backup quarterback Erik Kramer Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

But the biggest factor in the Lions’ 34-10 victory might have been a noisy crowd of 74,506 in the sold out Silverdome.

It was the Lions’ first sellout of a non-Monday night game since a 1985 game against Chicago and the crowd noise clearly affected the Cowboys.

“The crowd noise was a big factor,” said Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes, whose team has won six consecutive games in the Silverdome, including all five this season. “There was definitely a 12th man on the field today.”

It was an emotional victory for the Lions (6-2), whose credentials have been doubted around the NFL after losing to Washington and San Francisco by a combined score of 80-3.

The Lions’ defense came up with two fumbles and two interceptions--and two touchdowns--as Detroit remained tied with Chicago for first place in the NFC Central.

Kramer, who played at Pierce College and North Carolina State, spent two years in the Canadian Football League and last season on the Lions’ injured reserve list. He entered Sunday’s game when Lions’ starter Rodney Peete injured his right Achilles’ tendon in the first quarter and completed nine of 16 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

“I feel like now I’m going to earn a little respect and confidence from my teammates and the coaching staff,” Kramer said.

“I prepared to play in the event something like this happens. And I’m ready to play each game that comes.”

Kramer connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass play to Willie Green and a 10-yard scoring play to Barry Sanders.

The Cowboys (5-3), coming off a bye week, had won their four previous games and all four of their road games this season.

William White returned a blocked field goal 55 yards for a touchdown, Ray Crockett returned an interception 96 yards for a score and Eddie Murray kicked field goals of 44 and 32 yards for Detroit.

Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman completed a career-high 28 passes in 42 attempts for 331 yards and one touchdown. He also had two passes intercepted.

Aikman connected with Alfredo Roberts for a one-yard touchdown and Ken Willis kicked a 35-yard field goal for the Cowboys.

“Detroit has a good team and they just outplayed us today,” Dallas Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “We made too many mistakes to beat anybody. And against a good team like Detroit, especially on the road, you don’t win.”