Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys aren’t on vacation mode just yet. After hurdling the Detroit Lions in the NFC wild card round matchup, the ‘Boys are headed to Lambeau Field, where they’ll play their first playoff matchup with the Green Bay Packers since 1967.
It’s DeMarco Murray vs. Eddie Lacy, Dez Bryant vs. Jordy Nelson, and Tony Romo vs. Aaron Rodgers. Read on for a detailed preview of this matchup. You can also check out our previews of Panthers vs. Seahawks, and Ravens vs. Patriots.
[sc:Football ]Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers Betting Preview and Prediction
When: Sunday, January 11, 1:05 PM ET
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Line: Dallas Cowboys (+6.5) at Green Bay Packers (-6.5); total: 53.0 – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Dallas Cowboys
[sc:NFL240banner ]Waiting for Dallas to crumble in the playoffs? Well, check again next week, as the Cowboys are coming off a spectacular, come-from-behind 24-20 victory on Sunday over the Detroit Lions in their NFC wild card matchup. With an excellent second half from their offense, the Cowboys were able to overcome a 17-7 halftime deficit and win their first postseason game since 2009.
Romo went 19-for-31 for 293 passing yards and two touchdowns, including one to Terrance Williams late in the fourth quarter that gave the Cowboys the lead for good. In that same play, the team’s offensive line stepped up and gave Romo a lot of time to find his target, thus making up for the unit’s struggles all game long. Romo was sacked six times for a loss of 51 yards.
The Cowboys’ offensive line will be up for another big test against a Green Bay team that finished the regular season in the top 10—along with Detroit—in sacks with 41.0. DeMarco Murray also had his share of the limelight in the wild card game despite facing a Detroit defense that gave up a league-best 69.3 rushing yards per game during the regular season. The Cowboys’ bell cow rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
There’ll be more promise of Murray gobbling up yards on the ground against Green Bay, which surrendered an average of 119.9 rushing yards per game (23rd in the NFL) prior to the playoffs. Still, all eyes will be on Romo and his receiving corps and how they are going to fare against the Packers’ defense against the pass.
The Packers ranked 10th during the regular season in passing yards allowed per game (226.4) and tied for seventh in interceptions (18). The Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games. Create a betting account now and see if you can convert your own prediction to cash.
Betting on the Green Bay Packers
On a bad calf and all, Aaron Rodgers still managed to quarterback the Packers to a 30-20 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 17. The victory also gave the franchise its fourth-straight NFC North title and a No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Up next for Green Bay is a divisional round matchup with the Cowboys.
Whether Rodgers will be there next Sunday remains a question but based from the tone of interviews from Rodgers’ teammates and coach Mike McCarthy, it seems that the franchise quarterback will be ready come their showdown with the Cowboys. Rodgers passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns (both to Randall Cobb) with no interceptions against the Lions.
If he does play against the Cowboys, Rodgers will be faced with a lax Cowboys’ passing defense compared to what Detroit typically offers. The Cowboys ended the regular season 26th in passing yards allowed per game (251.9) and 28th in sacks (28). Dallas let the Lions compile 307 passing yards on 42 passing plays.
Along with Cobb, Rodgers will unquestionably throw a lot to Jordy Nelson, the Packers top receiver this season. Nelson and Cobb have combined for 2,807 of the team’s 4,447 total receiving yards back in the regular season. Nelson led the team in yardage against the Lions with 86 yards on six catches.
The importance of Green Bay’s passing game becomes even more highlighted when considering the Cowboys’ stringent defense against the rush, one that could slow down the Packers’ backfield headed by Eddie Lacy. The Cowboys finished the regular season eighth in rushing defense with 103.1 yards allowed per game.
Dallas, however, gave up 18 rushing touchdowns during the regular season—second most in the league. Eddie Lacy (1,139 rushing yards, nine touchdowns) rushed for 100 yards on 26 carries against the Lions in Week 17. The Packers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Green Bay (-6.5) wins, 28-24.
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