Dallas-Green Bay: The Five Things To Know
This weekend the same two teams meet in Green Bay at the famous Lambeau Field with a chance at the NFC Championship Game on the line. It may not be as cold as it was back in 1867 at the NFC Championship game (22 degrees with a wind chill of 4) but the climate will harken back to the days of Bart Starr and Jerry Kramer.
The Cowboys haven't been in the playoffs since January 2010 — but they're one of the hottest teams in the NFL now. Dallas isn't being given much of a realistic shot to go to Lambeau and win, but if you take a closer look, there are reasons why the Cowboys can have success and pull the upset.
As different as these teams may appear, there are some similarities. Both teams finished the regular season with 12-4 records and were led by offenses that were among the best in the league. And if strengths mean anything in this game, it may be a dead heat in how this game turns out. Green Bay is undefeated at home this season, 8-0. Dallas is undefeated on the road, 8-0, and hopes to continue to be the surprise story of the league and the playoffs.
Here are five things to know about this game.
SAME BAT TIME, SAME BAT CHANNEL
There are many similarities between these two franchises over the course of the season. In addition to the home and road records, their offenses and defenses draw many comparisons.
Their run games were mirror images of each other by season's end — both teams finished the month of December averaging exactly 152.5 yards per game. They have the No. 1- and No. 2-rated passers in the league. Tony Romo finished first in the league with a 113.2 passer rating, while Aaron Rodgers was right behind him at 112.2.
Neither defense was dominant, but each did enough to get its team wins and each got better as the season progressed. The Packers finished the season ranked 13th in the league in points per game allowed (21.8) while the Cowboys (22 per game) weren't far behind. Both were opportunistic, too, as each finished the season with 18 interceptions.
BEWARE OF THE PASS RUSH
Green Bay's pass rush has developed in its past three games. In Weeks 15 to 17, the defense racked up 12 sacks — third most in the NFL in that span. Don't forget 23 quarterback knockdowns, which tied for fifth. The NFL is a copycat league, so when a team sees something on tape that works against an upcoming opponent, it will add it to its repertoire.
Dallas gave up 30 sacks in the regular season, but the Lions were able to sack Romo six times in a wild Dallas win last weekend. Dallas' vaunted offensive line features three Pro Bowl players and vaunted first-round picks, but the Cowboys' pass protection was exposed last weekend and they put some weaknesses on tape.
BRYANT MUST BE MORE INVOLVED
The one thing Detroit was successful at last week was containing Dez Bryant off the line of scrimmage.
Bryant struggled to get off of press coverage as he was jammed successfully and often in the game. Bryant was often Romo's first read in his progressions, but because he wasn't able to get off the jam, it forced Romo to sit in the pocket longer and work through his progressions.
This gave the Lions' pass rush more time to get home. Bryant's struggles against press coverage in that game also were a big reason why Bryant was targeted only three times and finished with three receptions for 48 yards.
The Packers are fully aware how effective this was.
RODGERS’ STATUS
According to Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' calf muscle has a slight tear in it in addition to being significantly strained, according to league sources.
The injury is not expected to prevent Rodgers from playing in Sunday's divisional round playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, but it could affect how mobile and effective he is.
"There's no question he will play, but there's also no question he will not be 100 percent," said one doctor familiar with the injury. "The question is whether he'll be 95 percent or 50 percent."
The injury could slow Rodgers’ mobility and could really affect him in the cold weather. Dallas should adjust its game plan to flush him out of the pocket Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' calf muscle has a slight tear in it in addition to being significantly strained, according to league sources.
The injury is not expected to prevent Rodgers from playing in Sunday's divisional round playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, but it could affect how mobile and effective he is.
DALLAS IN A CLOSE ONE
If Rodgers was healthy, the outcome would be different. But Dallas’ pass rush is better than we give it credit for and I cannot see Dez Bryant having two bad playoff games in a row.
Tony Romo has played arguably his finest season of his career and appears poised to take another step toward a Super Bowl appearance.
It’s the Cowboys turn to win o the frozen tundra.
DALLAS 23 GREEN BAY 17
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