The Green Bay Packers will have a chance to prove doubters wrong and establish themselves as one of the top teams in the NFC. While this team has faced and overcome adversity throughout the season, this will arguably be one of their biggest challenges.
Against a talented and potentially lethally explosive offensive team, the Green Bay Packers will have their hands full. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys have plenty of playmakers on defense. Considering the home environment and record, many are siding with the Texas team to advance in the upcoming playoff matchup.
That is of course an important factor to consider. Home-field advantage is always important, but for this Cowboys team, it has proven invaluable. Looking at times like two completely different teams away from Arlington, it’s possible that in Green Bay or a neutral field the Green Bay Packers would even be favored!
Unfortunately, it is not, so what are the actual chances that this young roster can pull off the away upset?
They aren’t as slim as some are making them out to be!
The running game will need to be a focal point of the offense. Against a pass-rushing team, gaps, and defenders going too far upfield can often provide an opportunity for opposing offenses. If the Green Bay Packers offensive line can generate a push and establish themselves to give Aaron Jones lanes, controlling the time of possession and game for the Packers would prove invaluable.
With a freshly returned Jones, this running game has a chance to quiet the home crowd’s enthusiasm and take away the best aspect of this Cowboys defense.
But even if they are not able to consistently go to the run game, there will be other opportunities.
To call this defense a hit-or-miss operation is too harsh, but they have let up big chunk plays, and the secondary is known for gambling on passes, hoping to go the other way. With how Jordan Love has improved as of late, it’s safe to say that he can be trusted to make the right decisions, navigate the pocket, and take advantage of lapses in coverage as they present themselves.
If what has been a unified effort in terms of receivers producing this bodes even better for the Green Bay Packers as the Cowboys will not be able to game plan against one pass catcher.
Even if the Joe Barry defense lets up yards and scores, could this game end up becoming a last-possession wins shootout? That is on the table!
Green Bay Packers First-Time Playoff Experience
We do not know how this iteration of the team will respond to playing in the postseason for the first time together. But a lot will be revealed. Especially for Jordan Love in his first year as a starter, playing the Cowboys at AT&T stadium could be something of a blessing.
There are not many bigger stages to showcase your abilities to the world. If he can lead his team to victory in Jerry Jones’s world, people will have to start to consider if this is one of the better first-year starts in history.
Playing a team that can be hot and cold and often makes emotional mistakes could end up proving to be a huge benefit for this Green Bay Packers team.
