The Physical, Ground-Oriented Cowboys Were Built to Win in Cold Green Bay

IRVING, Texas — There has been a lot of talk this week about the cold temperatures expected at kickoff for Sunday's divisional playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.

It's actually the first playoff game between the two teams at historic Lambeau Field since the legendary Ice Bowl game in 1967 when temperatures were 13 degrees below zero.

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According to AccuWeather.com, Ice Bowl II on Sunday is expected to be a balmy 18 degrees at kickoff with minimal precipitation.

Many stereotypical assumptions have been made about the readiness of the two teams to handle the weather. The Packers are playing at home and supposedly used to the frigid weather, whereas the Cowboys are from the warmer climates of Texas.

The truth, however, is entirely different.

This Cowboys team, which is based on a physical running game led by NFL-leading rusher DeMarco Murray and the team's massive offensive line, was built to win in this exact environment.

The Cowboys will lean on Murray, who led the league with 1,845 yards in 2014, and that offensive line in hopes of physically wearing down a suspect Packers run defense which gave up 119.9 yards per game this season.

"We want to do exactly what we have been doing and that's been the mantra the entire year," center Travis Frederick said. "We want to be physical and run that ball. We want to mold the game based on what we have been doing."

What the Cowboys have done for much of the season is control the game and the clock with their running game while keeping the opposing offense off the field. That will be paramount against the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has 25 touchdowns and no interceptions in eight home wins in 2014.

The Cowboys’ dominance on the ground also opens up big plays in the passing game, which has allowed quarterback Tony Romo to have his best and most efficient season throwing the ball.

Romo passed for 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and also led the league in passer rating and completion percentage.

Despite those big numbers, when Romo talks about the Cowboys’ style of play all season and what they will count on for success against the Packers, he talks about the ground game.

"We want to play a physical game every week," Romo said. "That’s who we are. I think we hang our hat really on not only being a tough, physical team, but a tough-minded football team who just go and do their job. Regardless of the score, regardless of what the weather is, who you’re playing, be the best version of yourself. Show everybody who you are. That’s what our football team has been doing."

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For the Cowboys, being physical is not just a style of play but an attitude. It's the reason they were the only team in the league to have an undefeated record on the road at 8-0 when everyone else had at least two losses.

It’s also the reason they didn't blow a single fourth-quarter lead in 2014 and are 6-1 in games that are within seven points in the fourth quarter, including last Sunday’s 24-20 Wild Card Round win against the Detroit Lions.

"It’s going to be a physical football game," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "Not just the physicalness of our running game but their running game and just the game in general. The more physical team has a great chance of winning this ballgame. One of the things we feel good about is that we developed that physicalness on our team and it’s going to be challenged this week in those conditions, against that football team, again, all phases of our team."

The Packers have a solid running game with a big back in Eddie Lacy, but they are a decidedly pass-happy unit with the brilliant Rodgers as the focal point of everything they do on offense.

While it has been pointed out countless times this week that the Packers are undefeated and seemingly invincible at home, it must be noted they are 1-2 in their last three home games in the playoffs.

The were beaten 23-20 in the divisional round last year in frigid conditions at Lambeau by the West Coast-based San Francisco 49ers, who were also a more physical, run-oriented team.

The key for Dallas is avoiding a slow start and keeping the game close until the second half.

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The Packers have outscored their opponents 310-146 in the first half this season. But that advantage drops to 84-69 in the third quarter, and they have been outscored 92-133 in fourth quarter.

If the Cowboys can keep the game close, their physical, ground-oriented style of play should take over in the fourth quarter.

Again, that is why Garrett built this team the way he did. It's built to win on the road and in the frigid conditions expected in Green Bay on Sunday.

"We believe strongly in being a physical football team," Garrett said. "You want to be able to run the football. We feel like we have guys who can do that. That is one of the real assets of the offensive line that we have. They can control the line of scrimmage physically. It’s all about what’s best for our football team. It’s good for our football team when DeMarco is running the ball well and we control the game by running the football. That’s been a formula for success for us all year long.”

The Cowboys hope that will be a winning formula in Ice Bowl II on Sunday.

Clarence Hill covers the Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.