NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
Although spirits are high around the team, there is still plenty of work to be done. The next step is reaching the NFC Championship Game, and to do that, the Cowboys must defeat the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay secured its first-round bye this year by finishing the regular season with 12 wins. MVP-candidate Rodgers had another spectacular year with more than 4,300 yards passing and 38 touchdowns.
This game marks the first postseason game in Wisconsin between the two teams since the Ice Bowl in 1967. Despite the forecast calling for much warmer weather than last meeting, it still will be very frigid. According to AccuWeather.com, it should be around 21 degrees on Sunday.
The other noteworthy topic heading into the matchup is the health of Rodgers. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, Rodgers’ strained left calf also has a slight tear. The quarterback will definitely play; however, his effectiveness is yet unknown.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Cowboys’ game plan and how they’ll approach this crucial game in Green Bay.
Offensively, expect the Cowboys to continue what they’ve been doing since September. They are going to lean heavily on the league’s leading rusher to punish Green Bay behind Pro Bowlers Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin.
Everyone is discussing how difficult it is to beat the Packers at home because they’re accustomed to the cold weather. They went 8-0 at home in 2014. In this game, Dallas’ ability to run the ball could turn out to be the deciding factor.
DeMarco Murray had only 75 yards rushing against Detroit, but its defensive front is much stingier than Green Bay’s. The Lions defense ranked first in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, whereas the Packers rank 23rd with nearly 120 yards on average.
The one thing that will get Dallas out of its comfort zone is an early deficit like it faced a week ago. If that occurs, the Cowboys could be in real trouble because the game will turn into more of a shootout. Rodgers doesn’t lose many of those.
But if Dallas can generate an early lead while dominating the time of possession, it has a quality shot to advance to the next round.
With the weather being so cold, it’s going to be difficult for both quarterbacks and receivers to gain a solid grip of the football. This is why the running game will be huge and most likely determine a winner.
If Murray can run like he has all season, then Dallas will be in great shape. The Packers will be forced to bring more people into the box, leaving themselves susceptible to the big play between Tony Romo and his receivers.
Maintaining the run will also allow the Cowboys to control the pace of the game and keep Rodgers on the sidelines as much as possible. Even if the Cowboys can limit Green Bay to one less possession, they will have a better opportunity to come out of Lambeau victorious.
After giving up 14 early points last week, Dallas’ defense did a great job of limiting the damage done by Matthew Stafford and the Lions. The unit created several turnovers and was able to consistently get pressure on the quarterback. If it’s going to be successful this week, it will have to do a lot of the same.
Even though Dallas hadn’t been able to record too many sacks this season, it got a few when it needed them in the Wild Card Game. Jeremy Mincey, Anthony Spencer and rookie Demarcus Lawrence each tallied a sack, with the final one securing the win.
Getting to Rodgers and not allowing him ample time to scan the field is the key for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and the Cowboys D. The secondary will have its hands full with elusive targets Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. The Cowboys’ front four must be able to disrupt plays without help from a blitz.
Although it wouldn’t be wise to blitz all the time against such a skilled quarterback, Dallas does have to bring Rodgers to the ground a few times early. Even if he can get rid of the ball, a few knockdowns against Rodgers could prove costly with an ailing calf. Dallas’ goal must be to take him out of his comfort zone.
A significant reason the Cowboys defense has been so improved from 2013 is its ability to create turnovers. Marinelli’s squad came away with 31 takeaways, good enough for second in the league.
At the same time, however, Green Bay ranks tied for first in fewest giveaways with just 13.
Cowboys takeaways would not only set up the offense in a good position, but they would remove Rodgers and the Packers offense from the field without points.
The Packers and Cowboys are two of the greatest franchises in American sports. Sunday, they will add another chapter to the book, and one team will be a step closer to claiming the Lombardi Trophy.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...