The Green Bay Packers (11-6) will head into AT&T Stadium hotter than a Texas winter as they will meet the NFC’s No.1 seed in the Dallas Cowboys (13-3) led by two cool headed rookies.
Aaron Rodgers has made good on his statement in Week 11 when he calmly yet boastfully claimed in his belief that his team could run the table despite being on the heels of a four-game losing streak and posting an unnerving 4-6 record.
Since then, Aaron Rodgers has reminded the NFL world what the former Super Bowl champ and 2x MVP is capable of by tossing 22 touchdowns and 0 touchdowns in his last 8 games. Green Bay has won seven straight and is clearly not the same Green Bay team that Dallas convincingly defeated 30-16 in Week 6.
After dismantling the New York Giants 38-13 and lighting up the defense for 406 total yards and four passing touchdowns, Green Bay is confident they can replicate their 2014 playoff victory against Dallas where remnants of the #DezCaughtIt tag can still be seen on social media two years later.
Even without the league-leader in touchdown receptions Jordy Nelson being ruled out, Green Bay is still potent on offense with Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, the second-leading receiver in touchdown receptions leading the way and Ty Montgomery’s emergence as a backfield option.
The Cowboys however are healthy and rested. Mo Claiborne, Demarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford are all returning from injury and can be expected to make an impact defensively for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys turned out to be the NFL’s biggest surprise this year with two of the brightest and most dynamic rookies the league has ever seen leading the way. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have taken the league by storm and both had career days in their previous outing with Green Bay.
The 2016 Rushing Champion and All-Pro running back feasted on the Green Bay defense when he pounded them for 157 yards when the Packers were ranked the No.1 run defense at the time. His rookie counterpart Dak Prescott, threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns in that game. The Dallas defense also played a pivotal role by forcing four turnovers that game.
Green Bay has several secondary players injured and could be an Achilles’ heel as Dez Bryant will be available this time around and look to exploit the secondary aspect of the defense.
Green Bay is 5-1 versus Dallas in their past six matchups with five of those games being played at Lambeau Filed. But Green Bay will have to the road team this time around where Dallas is 7-1 at home this year.
Much can be said about this matchup and it could easily go in one team’s favor very quickly. As both teams begin to flirt with a Super Bowl appearance in Houston, they have a date with each other first come this Sunday.
Texas HS Football staff pick: Green Bay 7-5
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