ARLINGTON, Texas -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the Dallas Cowboys' 24-20 victory against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.

On to the next one: When the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 for Tony Romo's first playoff victory there was a sense of relief. The Cowboys lost the following weekend in the divisional round at the Minnesota Vikings. On Sunday, the feeling was different as they look forward to the Green Bay Packers.

“There is no sense of relief,” Romo said. “This is our job. This is what we want. Our aspiration weren’t just winning the division, as great as that was, and it’s not just winning a playoff game, as great as that was. It was good and we are going to enjoy it today, but there are bigger things. You don’t want to be watching the games on TV. If you are the kind of player you think you can be, you think you should be playing in those games. I think we have guys that want to be in that position and ultimately do the things it takes to get there.”

Turn the tide: DeMarcus Lawrence could not feel lower than he did when he lost a fumble after scooping up a loose ball in the fourth quarter after an Anthony Spencer sack of Matthew Stafford. The Cowboys could have clinched the game. Eight plays later, Lawrence ended the game with the first sack of his career as well as picking up the fumble recovery to seal the win.

“I knew I had to go out there and make a play,” Lawrence said. “My emotions were so high at the time when I picked the ball up, lost it, so I was like, ‘Man, God, please help me because I need this play right now. I can’t let my teammates down.’ Coach Leon Lett gave me another chance to go out there and capitalize on the opportunity and it happened.”

Injury update: Rolando McClain initially left the game because of dehydration and illness, but after the game Garrett said the linebacker suffered a concussion. McClain missed the regular-season finale because of an illness.

McClain looked in discomfort as he left the locker room.

“We’ll continue to monitor him,” Garrett said.

In order to play next week he will have to pass the concussion protocols. Without McClain, rookie Anthony Hitchens had to play more than expected. He did not practice during the week because of a high right ankle sprain, but appeared to make it through the game OK.