Sound reasons why Dallas has a great chance this weekend

[erod]

It was interference. It was also facemasking on Pettigrew. It might have been uncatchable ball given the direction the receiver was headed. It was definitely not the call from a referee 50 yards away. Whatever, a picked-up flag doesn't explain getting beaten, 24-6, to finish the game.

Time to move on to Green Bay.

And I'm telling you, Dallas has more than just a chance this weekend for the following reasons.

1. Romo grew up there. He's played a million games in that blustery weather. He's been good in the cold in the past.

2. Dallas is built for cold weather. Big, physical offensive line and running back. It translates to the road, the cold, the wind, and the mud.

3. The Packers run defense isn't nearly as good as Detroit. This won't be a day of frustration for Romo and the offense. They can score, and they can keep Rodgers and his bad calf on the sideline watching just like Brees, Wilson, Sanchez, etc.

4. Rodgers calf won't heal by then. It could tighten quickly in that cold.

5. Dallas receiving corps is actually better than Green Bay's. And the quarterbacks are the two top rated in the NFL, so the usual big advantage the Packers have at QB is lessened in this matchup.

6. Dallas is 8-0 on the road. Lambeau can't possibly create a bigger issue than Seattle did.

7. The Cowboys will play calmer this time. They were so amped up yesterday, too much in fact. All the overly aggressive missed tackles early showed that.

8. Dallas is healthy. McClain should be more recovered from that illness, Hitchens should feel even better, as well as Crawford and Murray.

9. Big, physical backs aren't troubling Dallas these days as in years past. It's the quick, shifty guys that present the problems, not big lugs like Lacy.

10. This just looks like THAT team. Every year there is one, and nobody wants to play this one. Dallas brings it every week, and these coaches led by Garrett have this young bunch frothing at the mouth.

I'm not predicting a win. But I am saying Dallas is going to play well. If the Packers don't, they're in trouble. Big trouble.

 

[Staubacher]

I agree.

Will be a tough tough place to play and win but if anyone can do it, dem Boyz can

 

[mahoneybill]

It was interference. It was also facemasking on Pettigrew. It might have been uncatchable ball given the direction the receiver was headed. It was definitely not the call from a referee 50 yards away. Whatever, a picked-up flag doesn't explain getting beaten, 24-6, to finish the game.

Time to move on to Green Bay.

And I'm telling you, Dallas has more than just a chance this weekend for the following reasons.

1. Romo grew up there. He's played a million games in that blustery weather. He's been good in the cold in the past.

2. Dallas is built for cold weather. Big, physical offensive line and running back. It translates to the road, the cold, the wind, and the mud.

3. The Packers run defense isn't nearly as good as Detroit. This won't be a day of frustration for Romo and the offense. They can score, and they can keep Rodgers and his bad calf on the sideline watching just like Brees, Wilson, Sanchez, etc.

4. Rodgers calf won't heal by then. It could tighten quickly in that cold.

5. Dallas receiving corps is actually better than Green Bay's. And the quarterbacks are the two top rated in the NFL, so the usual big advantage the Packers have at QB is lessened in this matchup.

6. Dallas is 8-0 on the road. Lambeau can't possibly create a bigger issue than Seattle did.

7. The Cowboys will play calmer this time. They were so amped up yesterday, too much in fact. All the overly aggressive missed tackles early showed that.

8. Dallas is healthy. McClain should be more recovered from that illness, Hitchens should feel even better, as well as Crawford and Murray.

9. Big, physical backs aren't troubling Dallas these days as in years past. It's the quick, shifty guys that present the problems, not big lugs like Lacy.

10. This just looks like THAT team. Every year there is one, and nobody wants to play this one. Dallas brings it every week, and these coaches led by Garrett have this young bunch frothing at the mouth.

I'm not predicting a win. But I am saying Dallas is going to play well. If the Packers don't, they're in trouble. Big trouble.

Nice analysis. I like you see more pluses than minuses going into this game. Never thought we would be at this point pre-season, but since we are lets go get the W....

I'm sure Garrett is telling them that opportunity lies at their doorstep.. Just open it up and walk on to the promised land...

 

[perrykemp]

I think a lot will be written this week about the relative advantages of the Cowboys and Packers against one-another.

Some of the analysis will be good. Some of it will be bad. Some of it won't be relevant.

You put together a good list of the reasons why Cowboy's fan should be confident. I expect it's just as easy to put together a list like this from the Packers perspective. That's how close these clubs are on paper and statistically.

At the end of the day, IMHO, the game is a complete toss-up and fans from both sides will, at best, be nervously confident.

 

[TonyS]

Great post and a lot of my thoughts as well. I told my sons before Detroit that if Dallas came out struggling to run it in the first series, that the rest of the game would be tough. It was. If we can get the pile moving and make a couple 5+ yards early, that should be all we need to get the run game going and keep GB on the bench. I don't think we win a gunslinger's battle in GB, but we can win with the formula we have used all year. Luckily, it sounds like Linehan is committed to the run even when it doesn't work out right from the beginning as he indicated against Detroit. Would like to see Cowboys not get into the Run - Pass - Pass habit like we did in Detroit, but Detroit was stuffing that first down run effectively.

 

[Risen Star]

I wouldn't call the game a toss up. The Packers deserve to be the favorite but Tony Romo can win anywhere with this offense.

Fear them I do not. ~hiding behind Romo~

As an aside, I'd take the Packers' WR's over the Cowboys'.

 

[CATCH17]

We can't get behind in this game and lose the effectiveness of our run game.


If we get in a shootout with Green Bay we'll lose.

It has to be a game of ball control, us winning the time of possession battle, and finishing drives with TD's.


It's what we're great at so we just need to do what we do.

 

[Plankton]

As far as I am concerned, the Cowboys are playing with house money. Pressure is on Green Bay.

The big advantage I see for Green Bay is being able to spread the field against the Cowboy defense, and take advantage of the lack of speed in the secondary. To me, though, it will rest a great deal on slowing down Eddie Lacy. If he runs wild, it will be very difficult for the Cowboys to win. The Cowboys are also coming off a very physical game, and it remains to be seen how much was taken out of them. Will Rolando McClain be available for the game?

That being said, I expect a loose team playing up there, and I think it will be a good game. Can't wait to go to it.

 

[perrykemp]

As an aside, I'd take the Packers' WR's over the Cowboys'.

I'd give a slight edge to GB for in terms of the having the best 2 WRs in the matchup with a slight edge to Nelson/Cobb over Dez/Williams, however, I'd give the edge in "recieivng corp" in a big way to the Cowboys.

The Cowboys currently have a better WR3 -- Beasley is playing better than Davante Adams who has struggled mightily for the Packers recently. Also, I don't think a single TE for the Packers would even make the Cowboys roster.

 

[visionary]

It was interference. It was also facemasking on Pettigrew. It might have been uncatchable ball given the direction the receiver was headed. It was definitely not the call from a referee 50 yards away. Whatever, a picked-up flag doesn't explain getting beaten, 24-6, to finish the game.

Time to move on to Green Bay.

And I'm telling you, Dallas has more than just a chance this weekend for the following reasons.

1. Romo grew up there. He's played a million games in that blustery weather. He's been good in the cold in the past.

2. Dallas is built for cold weather. Big, physical offensive line and running back. It translates to the road, the cold, the wind, and the mud.

3. The Packers run defense isn't nearly as good as Detroit. This won't be a day of frustration for Romo and the offense. They can score, and they can keep Rodgers and his bad calf on the sideline watching just like Brees, Wilson, Sanchez, etc.

4. Rodgers calf won't heal by then. It could tighten quickly in that cold.

5. Dallas receiving corps is actually better than Green Bay's. And the quarterbacks are the two top rated in the NFL, so the usual big advantage the Packers have at QB is lessened in this matchup.

6. Dallas is 8-0 on the road. Lambeau can't possibly create a bigger issue than Seattle did.

7. The Cowboys will play calmer this time. They were so amped up yesterday, too much in fact. All the overly aggressive missed tackles early showed that.

8. Dallas is healthy. McClain should be more recovered from that illness, Hitchens should feel even better, as well as Crawford and Murray.

9. Big, physical backs aren't troubling Dallas these days as in years past. It's the quick, shifty guys that present the problems, not big lugs like Lacy.

10. This just looks like THAT team. Every year there is one, and nobody wants to play this one. Dallas brings it every week, and these coaches led by Garrett have this young bunch frothing at the mouth.

I'm not predicting a win. But I am saying Dallas is going to play well. If the Packers don't, they're in trouble. Big trouble.

Agree with you
Dallas has a great shot
Don't sleep on Lacy, he us very good and GB will try to run because of Rogers calf

 

[Direwolf63]

I wouldn't call the game a toss up. The Packers deserve to be the favorite but Tony Romo can win anywhere with this offense.

Fear them I do not. ~hiding behind Romo~

As an aside, I'd take the Packers' WR's over the Cowboys'.

Dez is a slight edge over Nelson
Cobb is a huge edge over Williams.
Witten over whoever their TE is. Technically not a receiver, I know.
Beasley is comparable to their 3rd guy.

It's close, but Cobb gives them the slight edge at receiver.

 

[Direwolf63]

In the end, this game rises or falls on our o-line. They need to dominate the LOS, pound the ball and keep Rodgers on the sidelines. Murray has to be huge to have a chance. Time of possession has to be 35+ minutes.

 

[romothesavior]

I think it's a toss up, slight edge to Green Bay.

Rodgers' injury, our ground game, and the weather could be huge difference makers in our favor.

 

[Gridiron Man]

2. Dallas is built for cold weather. Big, physical offensive line and running back. It translates to the road, the cold, the wind, and the mud.

3. The Packers run defense isn't nearly as good as Detroit. This won't be a day of frustration for Romo and the offense. They can score, and they can keep Rodgers and his bad calf on the sideline watching just like Brees, Wilson, Sanchez, etc.

So should we be singing "Let it Snow", let it snow, let it.......... snow?

Oh the weather out side is delightful.....
and ______ (next?)______________.

 

[gmoney112]

It's going to be cold as hell and we can run the ball.

Packer's D isn't very good.

Rodger's mobility is one of his best assets, which will be severely hampered.

If it was 80 degrees and Rodgers was completely healthy it'd be hard for me to pick us. As it is, I'm actually very optimistic.

 

[Risen Star]

I'd give a slight edge to GB for in terms of the having the best 2 WRs in the matchup with a slight edge to Nelson/Cobb over Dez/Williams, however, I'd give the edge in "recieivng corp" in a big way to the Cowboys.

The Cowboys currently have a better WR3 -- Beasley is playing better than Davante Adams who has struggled mightily for the Packers recently. Also, I don't think a single TE for the Packers would even make the Cowboys roster.

I was referring to WR only.

 

[TonyRomo17]

I'd give a slight edge to GB for in terms of the having the best 2 WRs in the matchup with a slight edge to Nelson/Cobb over Dez/Williams, however, I'd give the edge in "recieivng corp" in a big way to the Cowboys.

The Cowboys currently have a better WR3 -- Beasley is playing better than Davante Adams who has struggled mightily for the Packers recently. Also, I don't think a single TE for the Packers would even make the Cowboys roster.

Davante adams single handedly won them that game vs the Patriots,

 

[Direwolf63]

The Cowboys had all the pressure in the WC game. That pressure now shifts to the Packers. Very few people, if anybody, expect the Cowboys to win this game. They just need to relax and play. Let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Tabascocat]

So should we be singing "Let it Snow", let it snow, let it.......... snow?

Have been for a few months, what's another week?

 

[Dale]

Good points as to why we can believe we have a shot. The biggest thing to me is we cannot afford to leave points on the field or hand the opposition points, things we did yesterday and barely got away with.

Between Bruce's INT, the Romo sack followed by the Bailey miss, and that running into the kicker penalty, we easily caused a 13-point swing in yesterday's game. Gotta avoid that kind of behavior next week.