The Green Bay Packers (9-8) are heading into AT&T Stadium to face off against the Dallas Cowboys (12-5) as a major underdog. The Cowboys are favored by 7.5 at home for Wild Card weekend. However, with the way the Packers have been playing as of late, there are many analysts who are giving them a chance to at least make it interesting.
The Packers will need to rely their offensive play makers if they want to keep pace with the high powered Dallas offense. As it turns out, there is one advantage the Packers should exploit that could be a difference maker.
The Green Bay Packers Have One Major Advantage Against The Dallas Cowboys
Pro Football Focus highlighted what impact rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed could have on Sunday:
It’s not quite the same advantage as Lamb vs. Nixon, but the Packers will have their own mismatch advantage in the slot on offense in this game, thanks to the emergence of rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed.
The second-round pick out of Michigan State has feasted out of the slot this season, with his 653 slot receiving yards trailing only CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Only Lamb has scored more touchdowns from the slot (8) than Reed’s seven.
Reed will be matched up against Cowboys slot cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who has allowed more yards than any slot cornerback other than Nixon and Alontae Taylor. Lewis’ 1.33 yards allowed per coverage snap in the slot ranks 11th-worst, while his 8.7 snaps per reception allowed in the slot is tied for 15th-worst.
Reed saw 98 targets over the regular season, the second-most among Packers receivers over the whole campaign. However, his 55 targets over the second half of the season is comfortably first, and he has seen 13 more targets than any other Packers player in the past four games he has played.
The Packers Offense Can Keep Pace With The Cowboys On Sunday
The Cowboys finished the regular season averaging 29.9 points per game. That ranked first in the NFL. The Packers came in 12th with 22.5 points per game. However, five times this season the Packers scored 29 points or more.
Jordan Love over the last three games of the season (which were all wins) saw him complete 72.6% of his passes, throw for 791 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions. All without Watson (who could play this week). If this Packers offense gets clicking, they can hang with any other offense in the NFL.
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