The Green Bay Packers have come a long way since their 4-turnover, 30-16 week six drubbing at the hands of today’s foe, the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers have plugged the holes in their defense and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is once again Aaron Rodgers, putting the team on his back as the Packers have won their last seven games.
However, the same can be said for the Cowboys, even though they cruised to a division title and first round bye in the playoffs. The expected “rookie moment” for Cowboys’ rookies Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott never happened as the Cowboys only lost to two teams all year, twice to the Giants and once to the Eagles in a meaningless last game of the season.
The Packers shouldn’t even try to run the ball today, unless they have some creative ways to run the ball that we haven’t seen yet. The Cowboys are the NFL’s number one rush defense so the Packers, with their ragtag running backs are not going to grind it out on the ground. This game must won through the air, and with Rodgers on fire, I’m fine with that.
The Cowboys don’t scare you with Prescott passing, it’s the running of Elliott that is the problem. Elliott destroyed the Packers’ then number one rush defense in week six to the tune of 157 yards and a repeat performance would spell doom for the Packers. Somehow Dom Capers has been able to patch together a banged up defense to at least hold teams in check during the Packers’ winning streak, but this will certainly be his biggest challenge.
I think we are in for a shootout and a game that could end up being the best of the year. Mason Crosby will kick the game winner in his home state and send the Packers to Atlanta 34-33.