Sound reasons why Dallas has a great chance this weekend

[perrykemp]

It's going to be a clinic out there on offensive line play. Between the Cowboys and Packers you have 8 offensive line that either

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

He did, however, go look at his stats since. He's done nothing other than drop passes and has been generally unreliable.

His potential is sky-high, however, he is definitely going through the typical ups-downs of a rookie season at WR.

 

[Direwolf63]

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.

One last point: the Cowboys cannot allow the Packers to get a big lead early. Rodgers thrives on getting a big lead and coasting the rest of the way. The Cowboys needs to start better than they did yesterday.

 

[pugilist]

if we can pound the ball and keep that sore calf on the opposite sideline, just sitting there idle in the cold (and no, trying to stay limber and warm on the sidelines doesn't even come close to live gameplay), we should be in good shape

 

[Hook'em#11]

Green Bay , 8-0 at home and Cobb and Nelson scare the hell outta me.

Dallas , 8-0 on the road this season. They play much better on the road..

Praying that THE Dallas team that has played on the road so well in December, shows up next week.

 

[JD_KaPow]

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

Yeah, and in the three games since then, he's caught 4 out of 12 passes for a total of 29 yards. And in the three games before, he caught 4 of 8 passes for 33 yards.

Kevin Ogletree singlehandedly won us a game against the Giants once, too. (Adams is a rookie, so I have no idea how he'll develop, but he certainly hasn't done much lately).

 

[xwalker]

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 everything, but I'm not certain about:
5. Dallas receiving corps is actually better than Green Bay's.

Green Bay's top 2 receivers are ranked 4th and 11th. Dallas' top 2 receivers are ranked 8th and 61st.

 

[erod]

Both have excellent receivers, but....

Jordy Nelson isn't the nightmare that Dez is in single coverage.

Witten is an animal the Packers have nothing like in the cupboard.

Cobb is better than Williams, but yesterday shows that it isn't necessarily as much as you might think.

Beasley creates problems in a manner that nobody on Green Bay can.

And don't forget the occasional big contributions from Escobar, Dunbar, and even Harris to go along with the short tosses to Murray.

Rodgers is largely the reason that his receivers are as good as they are, like Romo. And the difference between Rodgers and Romo isn't nearly as great as most matchups Green Bay has, especially with that calf injury.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Immortality is just a few games away

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Well AR is hurt. Something that won't heal quickly.

Tony seems to be playing strong with the back & all.

We play great football on the road.

I think we can do this!

 

[DenCWBY]

I always try to pick out some "unsung heroes" who could potentially make a difference in a game like this.
First I'm hoping for a ST run back from Harris for points since he's due and Escobar to get on the board for a TD or two. Spencer has been looking faster and coming to form and I could see him causing a fumble in the backfield and drawing at least 2 sacks on his own. Would also like to see OScan for a pick 6. He's due as well.

 

[JJHLH1]

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.

I agree completely. The weather will be cold, with a high of 20 forecast, but that's not bad for this time of year. This game will come down to line play and minimizing mistakes. If we manage that I like our chances, but the game will be tough either way.

 

[cowboys1981]

This game has the same feel when we went to Seattle with no pressure. I expect the same outcome.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

Agree with everything, but I'm not certain about:
5. Dallas receiving corps is actually better than Green Bay's.

Green Bay's top 2 receivers are ranked 4th and 11th. Dallas' top 2 receivers are ranked 8th and 61st.

It is a lot closer than it looks because Eddie Lacy is no DeMarco Murray.

 

[xwalker]

It is a lot closer than it looks because Eddie Lacy is no DeMarco Murray.

I'm referring to receiving.

Lacy had more receiving yards than Murray and a better average.
Murray 416 yards, 7.3 average
Lacy 427 yards, 10.2 average

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

I'm referring to receiving.

Lacy had more receiving yards than Murray and a better average.
Murray 416 yards, 7.3 average
Lacy 427 yards, 10.2 average

Yeah, but it looks like big D receivers are targeted less, and I would credit that to a better ground game in Dallas.

 

[JoeKing]

8-0 at home versus 8-0 on the road. It's the classic clash of the immovable object and unstoppable force... something's got to give. The media is fast to jump on the Packers bandwagon despite Aaron Rodgers' gimpy leg. I'm thinking the "upset" is in the making. How bout them Cowboys!

 

[perrykemp]

Yeah, but it looks like big D receivers are targeted less, and I would credit that to a better ground game in Dallas.

Packers ran it for more yards and a higher ypc over the last 8 games of the season than the Cowboys.

I still say the Cowboys have a better running game but it's a lot closer than you might think.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

8-0 at home versus 8-0 on the road. It's the classic clash of the immovable object and unstoppable force... something's got to give. The media is fast to jump on the Packers bandwagon despite Aaron Rodgers' gimpy leg. I'm thinking the "upset" is in the making. How bout them Cowboys!

There's always that small chance that the perennial MVP doesn't show up, which would be doom for the Packers, as they really don't run without Aaron Rodgers at the helm. I wouldn't count on this happening, but there's always that to consider when playing the MVP.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

Packers ran it for more yards and a higher ypc over the last 8 games of the season than the Cowboys.

I still say the Cowboys have a better running game but it's a lot closer than you might think.

Basically, I expect an offensive shootout, because if it's not, the Cowboys are likely on the wrong end of it.

 

[JoeKing]

There's always that small chance that the perennial MVP doesn't show up, which would be doom for the Packers, as they really don't run without Aaron Rodgers at the helm. I wouldn't count on this happening, but there's always that to consider when playing the MVP.

I'm not even thinking he doesn't show up, he'll show up, he just won't be himself.