IRVING, Texas -- The potential absence of Ndamukong Suh might help the Dallas Cowboys Sunday against the Detroit Lions more than many realize.

For just the fifth time since the 1970 merger, the NFL’s leading rusher will face off against the NFL’s leading run defense in the playoffs, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The run defense has a 4-1 record.

In fact, no team with a rushing champ has won a playoff game since LaDainian Tomlinson and the 2007 San Diego Chargers.

But back to DeMarco Murray, who had 1,845 yards on the ground this season, vs. the Lions.

The only rushing champion to post a playoff win against the No. 1 run defense was Earl Campbell when the Houston Oilers beat the Denver Broncos in the 1979 wild-card round. Campbell was limited to 50 yards on 16 carries.

The most recent meeting camp in the 2004 divisional round when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New York Jets and Curtis Martin 20-17. Martin was held to 77 yards on 19 carries. The Tennessee Titans limited Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, who had 2,066 yards in 2003, to just 35 yards in 14 carries in a 20-17 win. In 1983 Eric Dickerson was held to a season-low 16 yards on 10 carries in the Los Angeles Rams' loss to the Washington Redskins in the wild-card round.

If Suh’s suspension is upheld, then that would be a great benefit to the Cowboys. The Lions would be without Suh and Nick Fairley. Without them on the field together, the Lions are allowing 4.3 yards per carry.

But Murray has been at his best against three of the top-10 ranked rushing defenses he has faced this season. He had 118 yards against the San Francisco 49ers (seventh), 136 yards against the Houston Texans (10th) and 115 yards against the Seattle Seahawks (third).