IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' playoff drought has lasted so long that only six players have experienced the postseason with a star on their helmet.

Tony Romo, Jason Witten, L.P. Ladouceur, Anthony Spencer, Doug Free and Orlando Scandrick were part of the 2009 playoffs when the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a wild-card game and lost to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round.

Jason Garrett said he is not concerned by the team's lack of playoff experience. Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports

Only four other players expected to be active for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions have playoff experience: Brandon Carr (2010, Kansas City), Sterling Moore (2011 New England), Nick Hayden (2008, Carolina) and Jeremy Mincey (2013, Denver; 2007, Jacksonville. Henry Melton will miss Sunday’s game with a knee injury but was part of the Chicago Bears’ playoff appearance in 2010. Mackenzy Bernadeau was with the Carolina Panthers in 2008 but did not play in the game. Kenneth Boatright has a Super Bowl ring from the Seattle Seahawks but was on their practice squad.

But Jason Garrett wasn’t too concerned with the lack of playoff experience.

“The biggest thing we’ll emphasize is to go be yourselves and really focus on trying to be your best each and every day of preparation and that will give us the best chance to play well on Sunday,” Garrett said. “It will be a football game. We’ll kick it off. We’ll play it like a regular game come Sunday and what we want to do is focus on our preparation first and foremost and when it comes to game time just go play.”

Garrett experienced Super Bowl runs with the Cowboys and New York Giants as a player. While there might be a heightened awareness outside the building, Garrett wants to keep the players’ routine during the week the same as it was in the regular season.

“We’re one of 12 teams still playing, and we’ve worked very hard to get into this position,” Garrett said. “We’re hosting a playoff game at our place. It’s been a long journey to get here. So someone asked me earlier about motivation. You don’t need a whole hell of a lot of motivation this week. I think our guys played with a great spirit and demeanor [Sunday] and they’re excited about this opportunity this week.”

Many Cowboys have said the playoffs began after their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving.

"Four weeks ago you felt like as if you lost a game, you're going to be out," Romo said. "We're just going to keep the same approach we've been having -- put our head down, go to work, attack the team we play."