WHO IS THE NFC HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE MOST IMPORTANT TO ?

[Bretsky]

I've heard this debated over and over on ESPN
I don't agree with most of the ESPN Experts

Which team is home field advantage most important to ?
Who needs to be at home most to go to the Super Bowl ?

I look forward to the comments and debate

[Bretsky]

Initial thoughts

Most of the ESPN talking heads all say it's far more important for Dallas. I've heard Mortenson, the Snake, and others strongly give their views

I think if we are going to get to the Super Bowl it's essential that homefield goes through Green Bay.


IMO Dallas is more likely to win in GB then we are in Dallas

Dallas has about the best OL in the NFL; I think they can come into Green Bay and establish a running game to take the pressure off Romo. On Defense, being at Lambeau, a slower field, takes some of the speed of their DL away as opposed to the faster turf in Dallas. I might predict a win in GB; but to me if I'm laying down percentages it's about 53% that Green Bay wins in Lambeau if Romo is healthy

In Dallas I'd put that figure about 35%. Faster track helps TO, and the speed of the Dallas defense against our OL. Favre tends to struggle in Dallas as well. And our OL will be more apt to miss signals and calls and struggle.

I think it's far more important to GB to have home field

[Joemailman]

Dallas. They thought they had it wrapped up when they beat the Packers a few weeks ago. To lose it now would be a big blow to them. The other thing is that the Packers are simply playing better football than Dallas right now. I think the Packer comeback, even though it fell short, shook Dallas a little bit. They haven't been the same since. The Cowboys need the advantage that comes with playing in front of your home crowd. The Packers, if they have to go into Dallas, will go there with a high degree of confidence. I don't think the same can be said of Dallas coming to Lambeau.

[BallHawk]

Without a doubt Dallas.

I do not fancy our chances having to go into Dallas. No matter what anybody says, Favre has a problem mentally when he plays in Dallas. He needs to be in Green Bay if we are to have a good shot at going to the Super Bowl.

Also, I agree with all the points Bretsky said. Playing at Lambeau does slow down the Cowboys a little bit.

The most important part of homefield, if we get it, would be rattling Romo. I don't care how poised some say he is (without blonds in attendance) he will crumble in front of a Lambeau crowd. That's something I would guarantee.

[oregonpackfan]

Dallas. They thought they had it wrapped up when they beat the Packers a few weeks ago. To lose it now would be a big blow to them. The other thing is that the Packers are simply playing better football than Dallas right now. I think the Packer comeback, even though it fell short, shook Dallas a little bit. They haven't been the same since. The Cowboys need the advantage that comes with playing in front of your home crowd. The Packers, if they have to go into Dallas, will go there with a high degree of confidence. I don't think the same can be said of Dallas coming to Lambeau.

I agree 100% with Joe on this one.

[Bretsky]

Without a doubt Dallas.

I do not fancy our chances having to go into Dallas. No matter what anybody says, Favre has a problem mentally when he plays in Dallas. He needs to be in Green Bay if we are to have a good shot at going to the Super Bowl.

Also, I agree with all the points Bretsky said. Playing at Lambeau does slow down the Cowboys a little bit.

The most important part of homefield, if we get it, would be rattling Romo. I don't care how poised some say he is (without blonds in attendance) he will crumble in front of a Lambeau crowd. That's something I would guarantee.

I agree 100% with BH on this one

[MadtownPacker]

It's called homefield advantage for a reason and hell no! does it favor the cowboys to come to Lambeau for the NFC title. I truly believe that the short passing game will not stall in the bad weather. If Favre gets his groove on it will be a classic. Grant can do what he has been doing doesn't hurt either. I think the whole environment will hurt the cowboys. The cold and the fact the Packers lost the first time is too good of a storyline to ask for. If dallas blows one of the last two and the Pack go 2-0 there is no way star struck romo and his jilted lover TO win the game.

If you want a SuperBowl appearance then you are hoping the same. The odds of winning in dallas with Favre at the helm are jacked up but I guess he has to win one there eventually. I just don't think it is a good idea so winning out is all that matters at this point.

[b bulldog]

I THINK dALLAS could win in either venue simply because of their Oline and running game as B noted. The Packers would have a better chance of upsetting the Cowboys at home imo because at Dallas the field conditions really favor the best D player on the field(Ware) and Brett plays bad there, as noted to all of the above. Dallas at home with Owens, Crayton, Glenn, Whitten, Barber/Jones and that huge Oline has defeat written all over it for the Packers. Our D would have a difficult time making them punt when they really needed to as in game one.

[Freak Out]

The Packers need it at home much more that Dallas does. I think the home field helps the D and the psychological factor will hurt the Cowpokes if it is cold as hell.

[OS PA]

I feel it's more important to Dallas. I know they have been a better road team all season, but I feel that coming to GB in January is a completely different monster to handle.

I just put these stats together, take from them what you will about what kind of team Dallas is at home and on the road.

Dallas

Home - Record - 6-2, PF/PA - 236-167


Offense: Yards, TD/Int(Passing)

	Passing: 345 4/1, 339  3/1, 199 2/1, 277 1/0, 293 4/1, 195 2/1, 309  4/1, 214 0/3

	Rushing: 142, 171, 99, 128, 75, 174, 105

Defense: Yards Allowed, TD Allowed/TO Forced

	438 4/1, 187 0/1, 448 6/1, 196 1/2, 423 2/1, 180 1, 357 3/2, 315 1/0




Away - Record - 6-0, PF/PA - 193-126


Offense: Yards, TD/Int(Passing)

	Passing: 186 2/0, 329 2/1, 309 2/5, 324 3/1, 247 4/1, 302 2/0

	Rushing:166, 131, 76, 110, 80, 87

Defense: Yards Allowed, TD Allowed/TO Forced

	334 2/5, 239 1/4, 229 0/1, 316 2/3, 300 2/3, 390 3

[The Leaper]

I think Green Bay stands a better chance of beating Dallas in Dallas than Dallas does of beating Green Bay in Green Bay.

I also think there is the factor of momentum...Dallas should have had HFA wrapped up when they beat Green Bay in Dallas. If they wind up having to travel to Lambeau now, it will mean their team is reeling a little bit as they wrap up the season.

So, I think HFA is more important to Dallas right now. If they lost it, it would be a significant choke job.

[RashanGary]

I think we're going to beat them where every we play.

[ahaha]

Dallas needs it more.
People talk about how important having a good running game is in cold weather games. It's important because the weather affects the passing game the most. It affects the QB the most. He has to worry about the grip on the ball, the different way the ball flys in the air, and the change in speed with which the recievers run routes(a real difference in timing). If your team has a QB that can be effective in these conditions, you have a serious advantage. Romo has no NFL experience in deep freeze games. We have the most experienced and successful cold weather QB in NFL history.

[the_idle_threat]

I agree with Joe, Leaper, and OPF. It's more important to Dallas given how badly they have been playing. They have been choking since the Green Bay game, and if they cough up HFA, that means the choke job has gone on. They must turn things around and retain HFA.

I don't buy the assertion that Dallas would have an easier time winning in Green Bay than Green Bay would have in Dallas. I think that part is a wash---either road team would have a disadvantage.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Its equally as important for both teams. Dallas clearly has an advantage in there place and they sure as hell don't want to come to Green Bay. How can you say its more important for Dallas when Brett has never won a game in Dallas? We need this game Green Bay if we want to good shot at the super bowl.

But both Dallas and Green Bay have to get bye their divisional round opponents first lets not forget.