CALLED OUT: Cowboys hope to beat Lions and shut up QB Jon Kitna

Kitna said Cowboys linebackers were not effective, among other things, and ripped No. 56, Bradie James, in particular during a radio interview after leading the Lions to an improbable win at Dallas to end the 2006 regular season.

James said Sunday's game at Ford Field has been circled on his calendar all year and called Kitna's comments "classless" when the team returned from a long break after beating Green Bay.

"In a sense, we've all been called out," Dallas linebacker Kevin Burnett said.

The last thing Dallas needs is another reason to beat Detroit, but they've got it anyway.

In three previous games against NFC East teams (which is Dallas' division), the Lions are 0-3 while being outscored by a combined 106-34.