Cowboys vs Packers Week 10: history, key players, projection

The Dallas Cowboys continue their stretch run of four straight games against the NFC North. After taking down the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers are next in line. After hosting the first two, the next two games take the ‘Boys up north to the Packers followed by the Minnesota Vikings.

At 6-2, the Cowboys have stamped themselves as an NFC contender right there with the Philadelphia Eagles. With the NFC East still in striking distance, they cannot afford a slip-up with the Eagles two games ahead of them.

The Packers sit at a very surprising 3-6 record after losing their fifth straight game of the season. This skid is the worst of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career since his first season starting. With the Vikings having a stranglehold on the NFC North, the Packers are in dangerous territory.

With this game set for 3:25 pm CT on FOX as America’s Game of the Week, there is plenty to get into with this matchup. Everything from their storied history, to a few key players, and ending with a prediction is included.

Cowboys vs Packers: History, key matchups, and prediction

Cowboys vs Packers: Matchup History

All-time Record: 20-17 in favor of the Green Bay Packers (4-4 in the playoffs)

Most recent result: Green Bay Packers 34, Dallas Cowboys 24 on October 6, 2019

Where do you start with the history of this matchup? Two of the NFL’s most storied and well-known franchises have had their fair share of historical matchups. The playoffs have seen eight contests between the two and often contain a flare for the dramatic.

Starting this rivalry off is the famous Ice Bowl in 1967’s NFL Championship game. At kickoff inside Lambeau Field, it was -13 degrees outside yet 50,000 fans packed the stadium. The Packers went on to win 21-17 to claim the NFL title.

In recent memory, the Cowboys have suffered more heartbreak at the hands of the Packers. In a 2014 NFC playoff game, fans thought Dez Bryant had made one of his patented acrobatic catches only for it to be ruled incomplete, which has since been unanimously proven the incorrect call.

Even more recently, the Cowboys hosted the Packers in the 2017 playoffs. Dak Prescott stood toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers and threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns to Rodgers’ two.  The Cowboys nailed a field goal with 0:35 left to tie the game at 31 and had nearly everyone thinking overtime was looming. Rodgers had other plans. He completed a 35-yard pass down the sidelines to Jared Cook with 0:03 left which set up a game-winning field goal kick by Mason Crosby.

Cowboys vs Packers: Weather Outlook

Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Stadium Type: natural grass, open stadium

Predicted Forecast: High of 36, low of 22, rather cloudy and chilly with a couple of snow showers, wind 14-15mph, 49% chance of snow showers

It appears that Mother Nature is going to give us some true Lambeau Field weather this Sunday. The sky may open up and with the chilly temps, there may be some flurries coming down. It doesn’t appear it will be anything sticking or accumulating but nonetheless snow football.

For the first time this year, the ‘Boys will be tested with the elements and have to handle that. This may be most present in the passing game as the ball gets a little harder and requires just that much more focus to catch it.

The wind will be present at times in this one with some gusts at 15mph. That won’t be enough to entirely deter the passing game but it could have some effect on the kicking game, either giving or taking away a few yards on field goal attempts.

Cowboys vs Packers: “Under the Radar” Players

Dallas Cowboys: Damone Clark, LB

Green Bay Packers: AJ Dillon, RB

In his first start back, Damone Clark shined brightly for the Cowboys against the Bears. Less than nine months removed from a spinal fusion surgery, he took the field on defense and contributed in a way many thought was a long ways away a few months back.

He had six tackles in under three quarters of action. His presence will be relied on heavily this week as Anthony Barr is questionable after leaving the previous game with a hamstring injury. Should Barr play this week, Clark should still receive reps on defense and his speed could be impactful.

The Packers’ best weapons on their offense are running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, each of who can provide support in the running and passing game. With their offense a bit anemic this far into the season, they will rely on those two to try and get something going. Clark’s athleticism against two solid backs is a great matchup.

As just mentioned, the Packers have their own two-headed monster in the backfield with Jones and Dillon. While Dillon is often the one providing reprieve, he may get the heavy dose this weekend as Aaron Jones is nursing an ankle injury that required X-rays which were ultimately negative.

Dillon is a very big back at 250 pounds. The Cowboys’ run defense is still a work in progress and Dillon is another task at hand for them. His performance could be what makes the Packers go if the Cowboys struggle to slow him down.

Cowboys vs Packers: Gut projection

Projection: Dallas Cowboys 24, Green Bay Packers 17

It’s Aaron Rodgers. It’s the Packers at home at Lambeau Field. Even in a down year, there’s something about Rodgers going up against the Cowboys. He always seems to hang tough and make this a game. He is 8-2 against Dallas in his career with nearly 2,000 yards throwing.

That said, this Packers offense isn’t their usual self. They are struggling mightily on the passing game with just 224 passing yards per game and a bevy of struggles with Rodgers throwing to young receivers. This matchup tilts to the Cowboys who only give up 178 passing yards per game, fourth-best in the league. The Cowboys’ cornerbacks should be able to stick with these receivers Sunday afternoon.

Another advantage for the Cowboys is their own ground game. Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott are well in the top half of the league averaging 132 rushing yards per game. The Packers are the 26th-ranked run defense giving up 139 yards per game on the ground. With snow in the forecast and cold weather, the Cowboys would love nothing more than to pound the rock and keep Rodgers on the sideline.

Ultimately, the Dallas defense matches up well this weekend. They are the third-best scoring defense giving up just 16.6 points per game. The Packers are the 27th-ranked scoring offense putting up only 17.1 points per game. Add in the Cowboys’ league-leading pass rush tossing in a handful of sacks, they do enough to hold the Pack to their season-average scoring total.

Being on the road, enduring cold weather, and Aaron Rodgers seeming to always make it interesting against the Cowboys will keep this one within striking distance, but America’s Team holds on and gets their third straight win against the NFC North to move to 7-2 overall.

Mike McCarthy gets a win against his former team in their stadium which feels very sweet for him. This win keeps the Cowboys right there in the NFC East, but more importantly right there as a top NFC contender.

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