Coming off a home loss, the Lions are looking to boost their record to 5-3 before their bye week.

It won’t be easy against the Dallas Cowboys who hold an identical 4-3 record.

Here are five keys to Sunday’s game at Ford Field.

1. Dez Bryant is no Calvin Johnson, but he is a fine wide receiver and always dangerous. He’ll provide a challenge for the Lions’ secondary which has given up big plays in each game this season. 

2. After some trouble getting the running game going against the Cleveland’s defensive front seven, Reggie Bush and Joique Bell should have an easier time of it against the Cowboys’ injury-riddled defensive line. 

3. Stats and sacks aren’t everything, but the Lion’s defensive line should get to the quarterback more often than they do. Tony Romo has been sacked 16 times — more than twice a game — so the Lions should be able to get to him too. The Lions’ defense has just 13 sacks in the first seven games .

4. Matthew Stafford’s completion percentage is 61.4. Reports of his accuracy woes are misguided. No NFL quarterback is going to complete every pass. He has thrown 15 touchdown passes against only four interceptions (all of which were on tipped balls). He just needs to have another solid game.

5. Get the ball to Calvin Johnson. He’s healthy and, like Jim Schwartz said, last Sunday he was not Calvin he was Megatron.

Prediction:  Lions 31, Cowboys 24

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)