Cowboys vs. Packers: 5 Keys to Win, Injury, Inactives, Prediction
Playoff football is here for the Dallas Cowboys as the Green Bay Packers come to AT&T Stadium, a place where no team has managed to slay Mike McCarthy's team in 16 straight attempts.
With the Cowboys having the No. 2 seed, should they prevail, then another home playoff game awaits as this is perhaps Dallas' best chance at reaching the NFC Championship game since 2016.
But standing in their way is a young and plucky Packers team who will have no fear about coming into Dallas' house and causing an upset.
So, how does McCarthy's team stamp their authority on the contest and advance to the Divisional Round? By doing these five things ...
1. Start fast: Given the magnitude of the game, starting fast, both physically and mentally is crucial for the Cowboys. They did it against the Washington Commanders last week and barring that blocked field goal attempt, would have been up 10-0 after their first two possessions.
With a Packers side that is extremely inexperienced, putting the scoreboard pressure on early could be the key to getting them to mentally submit ... and also ease Cowboys minds as well.
2. Dez' Revenge: Get the Texas Coast Offense 'explosives': Much has been made about the Packers' defense as they have won their last three games, but don't forget that they allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to score 34 points, and the Carolina Panthers to score 30. We can even add in the New York Giants, who managed to put up 24 points as well.
So, getting CeeDee Lamb going early, especially with Jaire Alexander hobbled after rolling his ankle this week, is crucial to the offense getting into a groove.
There are weaknesses in this Packers secondary, and unfortunately for them, the Cowboys have the weapons in Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Jake Ferguson to exploit it.
Jaire, by the way, is playing. And Dallas backup QB Cooper Rush is a go after dealing with an illness. The Cowboys' inactives are ... Trey Lance (emergency third QB), Eric Scott, Asim Richards, Matt Waletzko, Jalen Brooks, Tyrus Wheat and Junior Fehoko Jr.
3. Stop Packers run game from 100: If there is one thing about the Packers offense that gives Cowboys fans a sense of uneasiness, it's Aaron Jones and the run game as he has finished the regular season with three straight 100+ rushing yard games.
Much has been made of Dallas' ability to stop the run and for Jones, when he faces the Cowboys, he runs wild. In his three games, Jones has rushed for 370 yards and has six rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.0 yards per carry.
Stopping Jones is going to be crucial to Dallas' success as the Packers' game plan will likely be to shorten the game and keep Dak and Co. off the field. Don't let them.
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4. Pressure Jordan Love, grab turnovers 'Be Phenomenal': Only Dak has thrown more touchdown passes this season than Love, and in his first playoff game, Micah Parsons and Co. need to get after him - but that might be tougher than we think.
In his last three games, Love has been sacked just twice, also, Love hasn't thrown an interception in his last four games but does have two fumbles, so getting pressure on Love and making life difficult could lead to the Cowboys' opportunistic defense getting some opportunities.
If they come, gobble them up. And Micah Parsons, with his "Be Phenomenal'' pledge? This is his time and place to do so.
5. Play disciplined football with emotional control: If there ever was a game for Dallas to not hit the self-destruct button with silly offsides or roughing the passer penalties, this is it.
The Cowboys are the third-most penalized team in the NFL this year, and there can't be an abundance of laundry at AT&T Stadium.
We have seen what this team is like when there are no self-inflicted wounds, and we have seen what it is like when there are.
Don't beat yourself, Dallas - and don't let the "Win One for Mike'' (McCarthy, the former Packers boss) or the "Win for Quinn'' (defensive coordinator Dan, who may be leaving for a head coaching job) overwhelm you.
5A. Convert red zone chances - a Packers problem: Playoff football deserves another key here.
The Cowboys currently rank 14th for converting red zone chances into touchdowns (56.3 percent) but against the Commanders last week, that jumped to 71.4 percent.
Green Bay isn't good at stopping teams once they get into the red zone, allowing a touchdown 50 percent of the time, and away from home, that jumps to 58 percent.
When Dallas gets into the red zone, it might go for the jugular, there's no two ways about it. While field goals are good, touchdowns are the item on the menu that should interest the Cowboys.
Do all of that, and our "Fish Predicts'' forecast (as you can see below) of Dallas 30, Green Bay 20 can come true.
