Cowboys vs. Packers: Updated Odds, Stat Predictions for 2015 NFC Divisional Game

The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys will look to put recent postseason woes behind them in a 2015 NFL playoff divisional-round dream matchup Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.

The playoffs have been a tough destination for Tony Romo and the Cowboys as of late, with the team failing to make it past the divisional round in the quarterback's time in Dallas. Aaron Rodgers got his first Super Bowl win in 2010, but three straight early postseason flameouts have followed.

While all that will matter to both of these teams is who emerges victorious, so much more will matter to others, with sports betting and fantasy football carrying over into the postseason.

Here's a complete breakdown of those numbers below.

Spread	Over/Under	Moneyline	Predicted Score
GB -5.5	52	DAL 9-4, GB 20-49	Cowboys 27-24

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated January 10

Stat Predictions

Dallas Cowboys

Player	Predicted Stats
QB Tony Romo	330 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT
RB DeMarco Murray	135 rushing yards, TD
WR Dez Bryant	95 receiving yards, TD
WR Terrance Williams	110 receiving yards
TE Jason Witten	40 receiving yards, TD

With the NFL's most high-powered balanced offense, the Dallas Cowboys are the perfect match for the immensely cold pressure-cooker of Lambeau Field and Green Bay.

Romo and the Cowboys offense can make opponents pay either on the ground or through the air, relying on DeMarco Murray and the run game along with Romo's typically strong aerial attack. They'll be up against the elements but have two strengths to rely on offensively to help bail them out of tough situations.

“You can’t really zero in on one area, because if you do that too much, they’ll hurt you in another area,” Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers told the team's official site. “They’ve been putting together this offense for a while, and it’s probably peaking this year."

But make no mistake, there's no doubt where strength No. 1 lies.

Murray has led the NFL's second-ranked rushing attack, rushing for 1,845 yards and carrying half of the Cowboys offense on his back. Behind a stout offensive line, the workhorse promises to have an effective day against Green Bay.

He's been doing it all season, but NFL on ESPN noted Murray has kept his roll going as of late (keep in mind, that time span includes after his hand surgery):

The Packers are a decent 10th against the pass, but they give up 120 yards per game on the ground—a mark of 23rd in the league. Green Bay often doesn't have to defend much against the run when Aaron Rodgers gets the Packers up big early, but when run defense is needed, the results usually aren't pretty.

Murray will start out strong out of the gates, which will propel the Cowboys to shake off an offensive lull from the Wild Card Weekend. Romo will need to throw it around to outscore Rodgers, and the Packers stacking the box will allow him to do that.

Green Bay Packers

Player	Predicted Stats
QB Aaron Rodgers	280 passing yards, 3 TDs, INT
RB Eddie Lacy	50 rushing yards
WR Jordy Nelson	105 receiving yards, TD
WR Randall Cobb	60 receiving yards
TE Andrew Quarless	55 receiving yards, TD

The fate of Green Bay's season lays in the hands—or the calf, rather—of one Aaron Rodgers.

Even though the Packers have been resting for a full two weeks since their Week 17 win over Detroit, Rodgers is still hobbled. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, he's an almost certainty to start but could be below 100 percent due to a slight calf tear and significant strain.

With his playing status seemingly secured, Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey summed it up best.

"He doesn’t have a hurt arm, so it doesn’t matter," Mincey told ESPN.com's Todd Archer.

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Rodgers uses his mobility more than most like to give him credit for, but no leg injury will keep his head and arm from dialing up pearls down the field. The question then moves to whether the Cowboys defense will be able to keep the likes of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb contained.

Dallas does have the league's 26th-ranked passing defense and has given up back-to-back 300-yard games to opposing quarterbacks. But then again, the Cowboys came out victorious in both games.

The Packers seem guaranteed to put up big numbers through the air against an exposable Dallas secondary, but the same success won't be found up front. The Cowboys defense has held the last five feature backs they've seen to an average of 36 yards rushing and has been almost impossible to run against since being gashed by LeSean McCoy on Thanksgiving.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli knows he will need to take away one phase of the Green Bay offense completely to win this game. He'll take his chances stifling Eddie Lacy early on and hope his secondary can hold up.