The Green Bay Packers will travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys in the divisional round of the playoffs after beating the New York Giants in the wild card round.
This will be the second meeting between the Packers and the Cowboys. In week 6, the Cowboys dominated the Packers 30-16, but the Packers are a much better team compared to week 6.
After winning seven consecutive games, the Packers are the hottest team in the NFL. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers put himself in the NFL MVP conversation with his play since the winning streak.
Rodgers will be without his number one weapon wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Nelson injured his ribs after he took a hit from Giants defensive back Leon Hall early in the second quarter. The team will be without Nelson’s 97 catches, 1257 yards and 14 touchdowns. One player cannot make up that production, it will take a group effort from the Packers wide receivers.
Davante Adams and Randall Cobb need a repeat performance from last week with Nelson out. Adams and Cobb combined for 13 catches, 241 yards and four touchdowns. It would be great for the Packers if tight end Jarred Cook can use his athleticism against linebackers to control the middle of the field. Cook caught five passes for 48 yards.
Defensively, the Packers cannot let phenomenal rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott have a repeat performance like he did in week 6. Elliott averaged 5.6 yards per carry for a total of 157 yards.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing with 1631 yards. Most of the credit goes to the Cowboys offensive line. It is no doubt the strength of the Cowboys is the offensive line. They have three pro bowlers and open up huge holes for Elliott.
For the Packers to be successful against the Cowboys offense, they will need to contain the run and force rookie quarterback Dak Prescott to beat them. Prescott is not your everyday rookie quarterback. He plays poised and takes good care of the football.
In week 6, the Packers did have some a tiny bit of success against Prescott. He did throw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, but the Packers forced Prescott into throwing his first interception of the season against them.
The Packers are on the road, but it might benefit them as the Cowboys home stadium is in an arena. It will be much warmer compared to playing in Lambeau Field in January and should help Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense passing.
This is a highly anticipated game for both team as the Packers look to continue “running the table” against the number one seeded Cowboys. The last time these two teams played in the divisional round in 2015, it was a good game throughout with even a better ending.
Do not bring it up to Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant. He will tell the story differently than what it really was.
Follow us @PlayerInsiders @ColdAsFrost_
More stories you might like
