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I expect a hard fought game with two physical, explosive teams. The Packers should be well rested and schematically ready to play after the long turn around from last Sunday at noon. The Cowboys are turning around on a short week after Monday night. The slight scheduling advantage goes to the Packers this year.
On offense, Rodgers has to continue taking what the defense is giving. If they're playing 8 in the box maybe take a shot deep. If they're playing 2 deep maybe run the ball or hit the underneith soft spots in the zone. At the end of the day they just have to be crisp. Pass block, run block, catch the ball, get in the right play, make the right read, throw an accurate ball, etc. . . Excecute. They have the talent on offense to score. They just have to go out and play. Rodgers has to have a good day.
On defense, the Cowboys are going to get their yards and probably a lot of points too. However, the Packers should be able to capitalize on the occasional misque to get themselves in a few favorable down and distance situations where KGB, Kamp and Jenkins can pin their ears back. When this happens, they have to get to Romo with pressure whether it be from 4 or 5. They don't have to play crazy all of the time, but when the opportunity arises to take advantage of a 3rd and long they have to finish and they have to get pressure.
I think one area we really have an advantage is in the redzone. Al is the best corner in the NFL when he has help over the top. He can mug a reciever at the line and rare is it that a reciever runs a clean route or gets a clean release. Chuck is great at reading routes and breaking on the ball. When either have help over the top, it frees them up to play the most aggressive corner technique in football. Well, the back of the endzone is help over the top. There is no way to get torched deep because there is no deep. In this area of the field, we have the two best corners in the game and we can bring mega-pressure on Romo as well as having those extra defenders near the line to snuff out the run for loss of yards. The redzone defense is going to be key. If we don't give up the monster big play between the 20's, there is no reason to think we can't stiffen up in the redzone and save 4 points. Over the course of the game, I see this as the difference.
Finally, I've been long winded enough so I'll just say the Packers and Cowboys both have great special teams. Both teams have great returners. Both have great coverage guys. I'd give the Packers the slight edge with the young, fast, crazy cover guys but it's a slight edge and either team could come out ahead in this area. I don't think we can win if they beat us on ST's. It's a very important day to kick ass.
Bottom line:
-Just be crisp and excecute on offense. The Cowboys defense is beatable. Play good, smart football. That's how big games are won.
-Make sure to finish the job the couple times we get Romo in 3rd and long. It will probably only happen 2 or 3 times in the game, but we have to go on the attack when their backs are against the wall.
-Count on our corners in the redzone when we know they can't get beat deep. Bring extra blitzers and harrass Romo in this area of the field. The result should be field goals or interceptions, not touchdowns.
-Win the ST's battle. Stop their dynamic guys and get ours off.
Cowboys 26 (4 FG's and 2 TD's)
Packers 30 (3 FG's and 3 TD's)
On offense, Rodgers has to continue taking what the defense is giving. If they're playing 8 in the box maybe take a shot deep. If they're playing 2 deep maybe run the ball or hit the underneith soft spots in the zone. At the end of the day they just have to be crisp. Pass block, run block, catch the ball, get in the right play, make the right read, throw an accurate ball, etc. . . Excecute. They have the talent on offense to score. They just have to go out and play. Rodgers has to have a good day.
On defense, the Cowboys are going to get their yards and probably a lot of points too. However, the Packers should be able to capitalize on the occasional misque to get themselves in a few favorable down and distance situations where KGB, Kamp and Jenkins can pin their ears back. When this happens, they have to get to Romo with pressure whether it be from 4 or 5. They don't have to play crazy all of the time, but when the opportunity arises to take advantage of a 3rd and long they have to finish and they have to get pressure.
I think one area we really have an advantage is in the redzone. Al is the best corner in the NFL when he has help over the top. He can mug a reciever at the line and rare is it that a reciever runs a clean route or gets a clean release. Chuck is great at reading routes and breaking on the ball. When either have help over the top, it frees them up to play the most aggressive corner technique in football. Well, the back of the endzone is help over the top. There is no way to get torched deep because there is no deep. In this area of the field, we have the two best corners in the game and we can bring mega-pressure on Romo as well as having those extra defenders near the line to snuff out the run for loss of yards. The redzone defense is going to be key. If we don't give up the monster big play between the 20's, there is no reason to think we can't stiffen up in the redzone and save 4 points. Over the course of the game, I see this as the difference.
Finally, I've been long winded enough so I'll just say the Packers and Cowboys both have great special teams. Both teams have great returners. Both have great coverage guys. I'd give the Packers the slight edge with the young, fast, crazy cover guys but it's a slight edge and either team could come out ahead in this area. I don't think we can win if they beat us on ST's. It's a very important day to kick ass.
Bottom line:
-Just be crisp and excecute on offense. The Cowboys defense is beatable. Play good, smart football. That's how big games are won.
-Make sure to finish the job the couple times we get Romo in 3rd and long. It will probably only happen 2 or 3 times in the game, but we have to go on the attack when their backs are against the wall.
-Count on our corners in the redzone when we know they can't get beat deep. Bring extra blitzers and harrass Romo in this area of the field. The result should be field goals or interceptions, not touchdowns.
-Win the ST's battle. Stop their dynamic guys and get ours off.
Cowboys 26 (4 FG's and 2 TD's)
Packers 30 (3 FG's and 3 TD's)
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