Cowboys vs. Packers: Complete Divisional Game Preview for Dallas
The Dallas Cowboys will face their toughest test of the year when they head up to Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. A win here would go a long way to silencing the many Cowboys critics in the world.
The Cowboys are coming off a narrow 24-20 win over the Detroit Lions. The game was encouraging because it proved that Dallas can beat great teams even when it doesn't play to its potential.
This exciting game will feature two exciting offenses and better-than-average defenses.
The Cowboys will need their offense to play much better against the Packers than it did against the Lions if they hope to win.
The defense will be tested unlike any other game this season, and it will be interesting to see how the Cowboys respond.
Read on for some news and notes, injury information and players to watch on Sunday.
Cowboys' Wild Card Game Recap
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The Dallas Cowboys showed a lot of resiliency as they beat the Detroit Lions 24-20 to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Detroit defense did a great job of pressuring Tony Romo, and it showed, as it threw off his mechanics for a majority of the game. The Lions also didn't allow the Cowboys to establish a running game for much of the contest, which significantly affected their effectiveness.
When the Cowboys needed yards, they relied on two of their most reliable players in Jason Witten and Cole Beasley to get crucial first downs.
The Cowboys defense played the best game of the year against the Lions. It started slowly but really came on after the first quarter.
The Cowboys special teams were great throughout as well, except for the one missed field goal.
The Cowboys look forward to their next playoff opponent, the Green Bay Packers, in a game where the Dallas offense needs to play much better.
News and Notes
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Despite Numbers Down, Murray as Effective as Ever
DeMarco Murray has seen his numbers dip as of late, but that doesn't mean that he has been less impactful for the team. ESPNDallas.com's Todd Archer reported:
"I thought he was outstanding in the game the other day (against Detroit) -- a lot of dirty runs against a team that’s very good defending the run," Garrett said. "I think we’ve been really balanced over this last stretch. We’ve made a lot of plays in the passing game, maybe as a result of the commitment teams have made to stop the run. We’re playing really good offensive football, and he’s a big part of it. Our ability and our commitment to run it I think has impacted us really favorably in the passing game and really made us the kind of offense that’s hard to stop."
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No matter what his numbers have been recently, the Cowboys need Murray to have a great game against the Packers. They cannot allow the Packers offense to be on the field for long periods of time, and the best way to do that is to control the clock by pounding the ball with Murray.
If the Cowboys beat the Packers, Murray will be one of the biggest reasons why.
Williams' Effectiveness Returns
For a long stretch of the season, Terrance Williams didn't make an impact at all for the Cowboys. He failed to get open, and it appeared that Tony Romo had lost trust in him. However, Williams went back to his old ways against the Lions, snagging two crucial touchdowns.
However, he didn't change anything to jump out of his slump. ESPNDallas.com's Jean-Jacques Taylor reported:
"Nothing has really changed," Williams said. "I’m still running the routes, the way I’ve always run my routes. I think Tony [Romo] is just taking a few more chances deep than he was before."
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The Cowboys need Williams because he stretches the offense like no other player on the roster. In the past four games, he has receptions of 53, 51 and 76 yards (while drawing pass interference penalties of 26 and 40) and scoring four touchdowns.
With the way teams defend Dez Bryant, it is paramount that other weapons on offense step up, and Williams is chief among them.
Road Success Gives Cowboys Confidence
The Cowboys are 8-0 on the road this season and the main reason has been how well Romo has played when the Cowboys venture outside of Dallas.
Archer stated:
"In leading the Cowboys to an NFL-best 8-0 road record this season, Romo has thrown 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions. He has completed 70.6 percent of his passes and thrown for more yards away from home (1,933) than at AT&T Stadium.
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In his last five games away from home, Romo has 15 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Romo will always be the most important player to the Cowboys' success, and this game against the Packers is no different. If he plays well, then the Cowboys could win; if he doesn't, then they have virtually no chance of advancing.
Injury Report
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| Tony Romo (back) | QB | Probable |
| Rolando McClain (knee/concussion) | LB | Questionable |
| Zack Martin (ankle) | OG | Probable |
| Jeff Heath (thumb) | SS | Probable |
| Dekoda Watson (hamstring) | LB | Probable |
| Doug Free (ankle) | OT | Doubtful |
| DeMarco Murray (hand) | RB | Probable |
| Bruce Carter (knee) | OLB | Probable |
| Anthony Hitchens (ankle) | OLB | Questionable |
| Terrell McClain (concussion) | DT | Questionable |
| Jeremy Mincey (concussion) | DE | Probable |
All injury information comes from the Cowboys' official team website.
The Cowboys cannot afford to be without Rolando McClain against the vaunted Packers offense. He is so important to what the Cowboys do, and he sets the tone for the team as a whole. If Dallas were to be without him, the defense would be at a significant disadvantage.
It looks like Doug Free will miss another game, which means that Jermey Parnell will get another start at right tackle. He had his struggles against the Lions, but he has done surprisingly well in Free's absence.
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Ronald Leary vs. Mike Daniels
As is the case with most weeks, teams are looking to match up their best defensive lineman on the Cowboys offensive line's weakness.
In this case, the Packers will likely align underrated defensive lineman Mike Daniels across from Cowboys left guard Ronald Leary.
Daniels has been one the best defensive linemen in the NFL that you never hear about. He is a disruptive force for the Packers and has been their best defensive player by far this year.
Leary will have his hands full, as Daniels will be coming at him all game. If Leary makes any mistakes, Daniels will almost always capitalize. Leary has to be disciplined and balanced with every rep, or the Cowboys will be in huge trouble.
Jeremy Mincey vs. David Bakhtiari
Throughout this season, Jeremy Mincey has been the unsung hero for the Cowboys defense. He has been one of the couple of players who have gotten to the quarterback with any level of consistency this year.
He will be matched up with Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari for the majority of the game. Bakhtiari has been inconsistent this year and is a player the Cowboys should look to exploit.
Mincey is a powerful defensive end who wins with his violent hands and overall power. With Aaron Rodgers hobbled by his calf, it is paramount that the Cowboys get some pressure on him, and Mincey will be a huge part of that.
Cowboys X-Factor of the Week: Jason Witten
Jason Witten could be a pick as the X-factor every week, because anytime the offense gets in a tight spot, it looks Witten's way to get out of it. However, this week he will be as important as ever.
The area where you can exploit the Packers is down the middle of the defense, which is where Witten does his best work. While he has been the No. 1 target on third downs, look for the Cowboys to look for him earlier in drives as well.
As important as Witten is to the passing attack, he is equally as important to the running game. He does a great job of sealing the edge and allowing DeMarco Murray to make plays on the ground.
The Cowboys need to play well in both facets of the game if they hope to advance to the NFC Conference Championship Game next week.
Prediction
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This game will be close, and the Cowboys need to play their best to win.
That is just what they will do.
They should be able to establish the run against the Packers and control the time of possession. Once the Packers commit more players to stopping the run, Jason Witten and Dez Bryant will have a field day in the Packers secondary.
If the Cowboys can get some pressure on Rodgers, the defense should slow down the Packers' prolific passing attack just enough.
If the Cowboys can hold the Packers to less than 30 points, they should win this game with a dominant running game and efficient passing attack.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Packers 27
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