|
IRVING, Texas - Wade Phillips on Monday admitted to being a little bothered by the constant references to the Cowboys' struggles in December, since he can only coach the 2009 team right now, and the past has no bearing on what happens in the present.
He made the same case last September when the Cowboys were preparing for a Sunday night game against the Packers at Lambeau Field, a place they had never won. The visitors came out victorious in that one, thereby altering the past. But just like the streak of poor Decembers doesn't guarantee a bad finish for this year's Cowboys, their current four-game winning streak doesn't mean they'll beat the Packers either.
Chances are they're in for another difficult game in a tough place to play.
What's Up?
Sunday's 3:15 p.m. (CST) game would be a needed win for both teams, and arguably Green Bay more so than the Cowboys. At just 4-4, and coming off an embarrassing loss to previously 0-7 Tampa, the Packers have work to do if they intend to get out of frigid Wisconsin in January for a playoff game. With Minnesota at 7-1, the NFC North may be lost, but the Packers can still contend for a playoff game. It's a lot less likely if they fall to 4-5 on Sunday, though. The Packers are still just one game out of the NFC Wild Card, chasing 5-3 Atlanta and Philadelphia.
The Cowboys have playoff positioning on their minds as well, with the chance to hold onto their one game lead in the NFC East, earned just Sunday in a 20-16 win at the Eagles.
Statistical View
- Aaron Rodgers was the NFC Offense Player of the Month for October, and his quarterback rating is an impressive 103.3 thanks to a 16-5 touchdown to interception ratio. It's amazing he's been so efficient given the constant pressure, Rodgers having been sacked a league-high 37 times already. He's on pace to threaten David Carr's record of 76 sacks in one season.
- Lots of talk leading into Sunday's game at Philadelphia about whether the Cowboys could stop the Eagles' big-play receivers. They'll have a similar chore this week, as Packers wideout Greg Jennings leads the NFL in receptions of 40 yards or more over the past two seasons, with 15.
- DeMarcus Ware leads the NFL in sacks since 2006, with 50.5, and Minnesota's Jared Allen is in second with 48.5. Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman is third, with 39.5.
- Based on opening day rosters, the Packers have the NFL's youngest team for the fourth season in a row.
Chalk Talk
As much trouble as the Packers have had keeping Rodgers upright this season, it's fairly easy to predict the Cowboys pass rush will be a big factor in Sunday's game. Considering the ability of DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff to get to quarterbacks, the Packers may try to counter with quicker passing on top of draw and screen plays. More three-step drops would play into the Cowboys' hands, though, since it makes it tougher for the deep threat Jennings to get downfield.
Defensively, the Packers are in the midst of transitioning to the 3-4 defense, which the Cowboys have faced twice this season, against Denver and Kansas City, two teams who gave them trouble. The Cowboys weren't able to consistently run the ball in either game, as Marion Barber was most affected by his strained quad at that time, and Felix Jones was missing with his sprained PCL. With the health of both players much improved, the Cowboys may be able to establish more consistency on the ground.
While Miles Austin didn't have his real breakout game until the Cowboys were playing at Kansas City a month ago, he did have a big impact in the team's two wins over Green Bay the past two seasons. Austin had his first 100-yard game of his career in Week 3 at Lambeau last year, going for 115 on two catches with a touchdown. In the 2007 game, when both teams came into Texas Stadium at 10-1, he drew two long pass interference penalties.
Connections
Cowboys receivers coach Ray Sherman spent five seasons in the same role with the Packers, from 2000-04 . . . Cowboys kickoff return man Allen Rossum played for the Packers from 2000-01 . . . Backup center Duke Preston was with the Packers during training camp this summer before he was released and claimed off waivers by the Cowboys.
Miscellaneous
The Cowboys are 16-12 against the Packers all-time . . . Marion Barber is one yard away from reaching 3,500 in his career, and can pass Herschel Walker for eighth on the club's all-time rushing list with six carries . . . The Packers have a plus-10 turnover margin, second-best in the league . . . Of the 28 meetings between the two teams, 23 have been decided by double digits.
| Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS |
|
Josh Ellis - 
