Cowboys Turn It Around on Lions : NFC: Teams continue to go in opposite directions as Dallas registers a 37-3 victory at the site of 1991 season playoff defeat.

The Dallas Cowboys repaid an old debt, even if they didn’t consider it a big deal.

Emmitt Smith scored three touchdowns and the Cowboys avenged two losses to Detroit last season with a 37-3 rout Sunday, the Lions’ worst home loss in 28 years.

“We really downplayed the revenge factor all week,” Dallas Coach Jimmy Johnson said, but he acknowledged, “it wasn’t a very good feeling walking into the Silverdome (Saturday). But we try to take each opponent on a week-to-week basis.”

Last season, Detroit defeated the Cowboys, 27-10, during the regular season, then knocked them out of the NFC playoffs, 38-6.

Not since the Lions lost, 34-0, to Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts at Tiger Stadium in 1964 were they beaten so badly at home.

Smith scored on runs of one and seven yards in the first half as Dallas (8-1) rolled to a 20-3 lead. He added another one-yard scoring run in the second half.

“This is a very big win, because we’ve started the second half of the season 1-0,” Smith said.

Detroit’s Barry Sanders gained 108 yards in 18 carries against the NFL’s No. 1 defense against the run. It was only the second game this season that Dallas has given up 100 yards rushing.

That didn’t help the Lions (2-7), who finished with 201 total yards.

The Cowboys, who had 158 of their 398 yards on the ground, led, 14-0, after one quarter and never were threatened.

“After last season, this should have been a classic confrontation,” Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said. “They have progressed just like we wanted to.”

Smith, who gained 67 yards in 19 carries, has 12 touchdowns this season, tying the club record he shares with Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker.

Troy Aikman completed 16 of 25 passes for 214 yards and a 15-yard touchdown to Michael Irvin, who had five catches for 114 yards.

Detroit’s Rodney Peete completed six of 10 passes for 69 yards with two interceptions before going out because of a slight concussion in the third quarter. Erik Kramer completed three of seven passes for 21 yards with one interception.

Jason Hanson kicked a 36-yard field goal for the Lions with 9:12 to play in the second quarter.

Dallas’ Lin Elliott kicked field goals of 25, 42 and 30 yards.