What Are the Keys to Victory for the Cowboys Against the Packers?
The Dallas Cowboys are set to take on the Green Bay Packers in what seems to be their most anticipated regular-season matchup in years. The rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers has not been favorable for the Cowboys in their last ten matchups. They have a disappointing record of 1-9, with their only win occurring during Dak Prescott’s rookie season in 2016. The anticipation of this game stems from the blockbuster trade that sent three-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay for the talented Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks, which had Dallas excited for their future. The Cowboys are concentrating on their upcoming match on Sunday night, despite the excitement for the future. They will be missing star receiver CeeDee Lamb, who sustained a high ankle sprain in the game against Chicago last week. This game will be one of the toughest games of the Cowboys' season, so what are their keys to an upset victory?
The key for the Cowboys' offense is to find a way to move the ball without Lamb on a consistent basis, which is easier than it sounds. The two weapons that will need to step up in the receiving game for the Cowboys are new star receiver George Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson, who both had solid games in Chicago last week. For Ferguson, he will need to make the most of his catches, as Green Bay is elite on defense all around, but finds itself weaker against the tight end position than the rest. Pickens, on the other hand, needs to put the dropped pass for an interception behind him and go back to his number one role, which he was performing back in Pittsburgh. If these two have a solid performance and can help Prescott in the passing game, the Cowboys could find themselves fighting in this game until the fourth quarter. The biggest issue the Cowboys face in this game is not the offensive side of the ball, but rather, as it is known to all, if they can stop the Packers on defense.
The last matchup these two teams faced, Green Bay put up 48 in a Wild Card matchup, and if the Cowboys continue to play the same way on defense, it could be another 40-ball for Jordan Love and co. The Cowboys' secondary is crucial for any chance of victory in this game. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland will be playing together for only the fifth time since 2023, and their performance is essential not just for this game but for the entire Cowboys' season. The Packers would love to throw the ball across the field, and with these two on the field, it gives the Cowboys a slim chance to neutralize that. The Dallas pass rush is another area of the defense that needs to step up in this game. With minimal pressure on Caleb Williams and the previous two quarterbacks the Cowboys have faced, Love will have a clear opportunity to exploit the Cowboys' secondary if he remains protected in the pocket. The Green Bay offensive line has been dealing with injuries early on this season, so the Cowboys' pass rush has to take advantage of it. The Cowboys' offense can potentially keep them in the game, but it will be up to the defense to see if they can hold off the Packers and take home the victory in Dallas.
