Packers Periscope: Week 5 vs. Dallas Cowboys

After last week's Green Bay Packers win over the Chicago Bears, we turn to a real rivalry that has had a lot more juice in recent years.  The Packers will face the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas this Sunday.

This marks the fifth-straight year that these teams have met either in the regular season or in the playoffs.  The Packers hold a one-game edge in the all-time series at 18-17, including postseason and have won six of the last seven meetings.

Let's take a deeper look at the history and current state of this match up.

The Past

This series has enjoyed several back-and-forths in its history.  The Packers won the first six meetings, including playoffs.  That includes the famous "Ice Bowl" in which the Packers claimed the NFL championship with a last-second touchdown via a Bart Starr quarterback sneak.  A lost fact about that game was that it was Dallas's first-ever visit to Lambeau Field.

Fast forward to the late 1970's when the Cowboys enjoyed a six-year winning streak.  In 1991, the Cowboys started another six-year run that included three playoff wins against Mike Holmgren's Packers in Dallas, the last of which was in the 1996 NFC championship game.  

The Packers never got a shot at Dallas the following postseason when they would go on to win Super Bowl XXXI, as Dallas was knocked out by the expansion Carolina Panthers.  The Packers did face the Cowboys during that regular season and suffered one of just three losses that year.  Holmgren took exception to Dallas Head Coach Barry Switzer tacking on a late field goal to help their kicker Chris Boniol tie a league record.  

Former Packers quarterback Brett Favre never led his team to victory over the Cowboys in Dallas.  And current quarterback Aaron Rodgers was on the sideline when the Packers finally got a win in the Lone Star state in 2013.  Matt Flynn is forever etched in the record books as the quarterback who led that charge.

In 2014, the Cowboys visited Green Bay in the divisional round of the playoffs and left sulking after receiver Dez Bryant dropped (yes, Dez dropped it) what would have either been a go-ahead touchdown or put the Cowboys on the goal line to score.  The following season and without Tony Romo, the Cowboys were run out of Lambeau Field.

Last season, Dallas scored an emphatic win over the Packers in Green Bay on throwback weekend.  The Cowboys ended Green Bay's brief run as the top run defense and set themselves up with a tie breaker for home field advantage in the postseason.  That's where the Packers found themselves in the divisional round.

The Packers charged out to a comfortable lead only to see Dallas score 18 points in the fourth quarter and tie the game with 40 seconds left in regulation.  40 seconds, however, was too many for Rodgers & Co as they marched down the field, highlighted by an incredible throw and an even better sideline catch by Jared Cook.  It set up Mason Crosby's game winner that hooked inside the left upright.

The Present

The Packers are coming off of a Thursday night game will have had 10 days to rest and heal for this game.  Heal is more key.  Green Bay is still hoping for the return of offensive tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga and defensive lineman Mike Daniels.  None have officially been ruled out of this game and all are hoping to play.  

Running back Ty Montgomery has multiple cracked ribs but has also been saying he's hopeful to suit up.  We'll likely receive several updates on his situation as the week wears on towards Sunday.  Receiver Davante Adams has also said that he's hopeful to go on Sunday after he was taken off the field on a stretcher against the Chicago Bears.  As of Thursday, Adams had not yet cleared the concussion protocol and at least needs to do so in order to play.

The Packers have won their last two games and currently sit at 3-1.  They share that mark with five other teams in the NFC.  With the Cowboys still posing a strong potential to stand in the way of a playoff run, the Packers would own a big tie breaker over them with a win.

The Cowboys dropped to 2-2 on the season after a home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.  The Cowboys rank the middle of the pack in both passing and rushing offense. 

Running back Ezekiel Elliott has played in all games so far after a court order blocked his six-game suspension.  As of the time this was being written, the NFL was still awaiting a ruling on their appeal of that order.  If reversed, Elliott will not play on Sunday.  If he does, he is reportedly dealing with bruised ribs but plans to play through it.

As of Thursday, Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee and offensive tackle Tyron Smith had not practiced yet this week.  The early reports were that Lee needed to practice by Thursday to play this Sunday and Smith will also likely sit out this week.  These are big losses for Dallas.

The Packers, besides from trying to get healthy, are still trying to find their rhythm on offense.  They were able to score early on the Bears, who currently rank 10th in passing defense to Dallas's 20th, based on passing yards per game allowed.  Plays will be there for the Packers through the air and on the road in this game, they'll want to build an early lead.

The Future

If Montgomery doesn't play, Aaron Jones, Devante Mays and Aaron Ripkowski are your running backs.  Dallas is allowing over 100 rushing yards per game. 

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy said this week that they want to run the ball, which is a "rinse/repeat" comment from him.  But even if the Packers can't get the run game going, they can still produce plenty with a heavy passing attack.

This Dallas team doesn't strike the same kind of fear into opponents the way last year's team did.  Even at home, they don't hold much of an edge of this current Packers team.

If Dallas is able to escape with a win, they still face a tough schedule the remainder of the way.  They face the Philadelphia Eagles twice, the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks in addition to an improved AFC West.  The Packers would seemingly have an opportunity to make up ground in a playoff seeding race.

Green Bay hasn't lost at AT&T Stadium yet, including Super Bowl XLV.  If all key players are able to play, I'm taking the Packers to stay unbeaten there. 

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (10)

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NickPerry's picture

October 06, 2017 at 06:35 am

I don't like the Dallas Cowboys and my disgust for them has only grown over the years since Jerry Jones bought them 30 or so years ago.

I can't stand they ALWAYS show a picture of Jones when the Cowboys win or at least pull ahead with just seconds to play, but then almost NEVER point the camera towards him when they lose. I love to see Jerry miserable! I want to see every shot of him when he looks like he's going to cry. I'd also like to know how in the world that man is in the Pro Football HOF before Jerry Kramer?? Talk about a giant sized WTF!!!

IMO this game totally depends on who the Packers get back from injury. I think we can live without Adams and Montgomery for this week, but I think having Daniels and the O-Tackles back is as vital as breathing. Getting those Tackles back means more time for Rodgers. It also means the Packers could actually start using those 2 TE sets in the way we thought they would before the season started. I'd LOVE to see Aaron Jones running behind those guys too. In Texas, a bit of a homecoming on a fast track. IF McCarthy doesn't completely ignore what the kid did last week behind 4 guards and a center I think he could be huge.

Lastly lets not let Elliott do that stupid "feed me" thing he does with the spoon. I hate that almost as much as seeing Jerry hugging men and his always bloodshot eyes!

Packers 38-20!

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Bearmeat's picture

October 06, 2017 at 02:24 pm

38-20 is ambitious NP.

I do agree though, GB should win. Dallas Defense has always been terrible under Garrett, and this year it's worse than it has been in the last 3. Their dominant run game protected their inexperienced QB, their lack of pass rush and poor secondary play. Well, look at that - as soon as they can't get 40 mins TOP each game, they start giving up big plays again!!! SHOCK!

Dallas fans have not wanted to hear it, but their entire team is Zeke and their front 5. The rest is mediocre to bad.

If both OTs and Daniels play, then GB wins comfortably. I'm personally thinking 31-21. As the author stated, Smith and Lee out are HUGE for Dallas - that is their best two players outside of Zeke and Zack Martin.

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dobber's picture

October 06, 2017 at 08:43 am

I think you hit the key points: Bakhtiari and Bulaga need to play and be close to their normal selves. They're going to be rusty early. Demarcus Lawrence could really rain on this parade, but the Doughboys only have 4.5 sacks out of the rest of their defense. Good tackle play is the key.

If Dallas loses Tyron Smith, that means they're down 3 OL from last year's dominant front. They just haven't been the same this year, but they were playing at such a high level in the run game that it would be hard to match. They're an enigma: they play on a fast surface, but they aren't a fast team. Prescott is a good QB, but he's not elite, and Dez Bryant has been good but not great. It's the secondary receivers--Beasley, Williams, and Zeke out of the backfield--who could be Packer killers come Sunday.

The Dallas secondary is awful. Period. They struggle against the run, even when Sean Lee is playing--but he's the heart and soul of that defense. Without him, the Packers should be able to put up good numbers in the run game. Jamaal Williams has practiced in full this week. I expect Monty to sit and Williams/Jones to play in a timeshare this weekend. I honestly expect the Packers to pass to run this week.

I hate applying the word "should" to win on the road against a decent opponent, but I would say there's a real opportunity here. In a game that looked pretty iffy on the schedule before the season started, this would be a big win.

Same script as normal: win the TO battle, get off the field on 3rd down, and let the offense do its thing.

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 06, 2017 at 06:53 am

I'm hoping we can get 3 of our arguably top 5 players back this week. Bakhtiari, Bulaga, and Daniels.

Getting the OT's back allows the playbook to be opened up. It will also allow the TE's to be able to actually run routes vs having to chip and help block. If both Bakhtiari and Bulaga are able to play, don't be surprised if Bennett has his best game as a Packer.

Getting Daniels back will be huge for the defense. The Cowboys have Elliott who is one of the best RB's in the league, and Dak who is very much like Russel Wilson who is always a threat.

Besides those 3 players it will be nice to get House back. House barely has played since coming back. It would be great to get him playing again.

I actually hope Montgomery doesn't play. To me take this week and next week off and have the bye week and come back as healthy as possible for the 2nd half of the season. I truly think Jones is ready, and is more then capable of filling in. Sounds like Williams is going to be good to go too. And we have yet to wee Mays.

I think this will be a tougher game, but in the end I think the Packers win it. I think the Packers offense in getting their OT's back will allow them to start looking like the offense we expect to see.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 06, 2017 at 03:29 pm

" I'd also like to know how in the world that man is in the Pro Football HOF before Jerry Kramer?? Talk about a giant sized WTF!!! "alls

Me as well. Pisses me off to no end.

Thanks NP. Now that I am all riled up, let's get the Big 3 back and pummel the Cowboys in Dallas. Done with them. Then we can focus on beating everyone else on the schedule. After all those blatant bad calls, like Michael Irvins, multiple, grossly obvious pass interference calls in Dallas in the 90s, I'm sick of all the whining from Jerry about the Dez catch.

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dobber's picture

October 06, 2017 at 08:48 am

I dislike Dallas more than any other team in the league.

More than Minnesota.

More than Chicago.

More than New England.

I can still see bloated old Nate Newton on the stage after they beat the Packers in the NFC Championship game--which time, I can't say for sure--but him waving the Halas Trophy with a big "gimme another donut" grin on his face yelling, "We kicked their ASS!" Dallas is the team that can never be bad long enough for my tastes.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 06, 2017 at 03:31 pm

"Dallas is the team that can never be bad long enough for my tastes."

Perfect, absolutely perfect. Minnesota too. And Seattle.. Denver. And of course the Bears.

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NickPerry's picture

October 07, 2017 at 05:42 am

Errrrrr!!! Irvin and Newton, brings back bad memories. I hated watching Favre struggle on that ridiculous field in Texas Stadium. The center was higher than it was closer to the sidelines, something Favre and many other QB's never got used to. That's why so many passes would be high.

I'm SO DAMN SICK of hearing about the catch no catch too TB. I mean this is 3 seasons later! Get over it for Gods sake. What they ALWAYS fail to mention about the "catch, no catch" is the Cowboys for the next 4 minutes or so COULDN'T STOP the Packers and get the ball back. The Packers with a gimpy QB drove right down the field and started taking a knee around the Cowboys 23 yard line right after the 2 minute warning.

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Finwiz's picture

October 06, 2017 at 08:32 am

The problem is, no matter what type of momentum Dallas appears to have, and how much they've regressed from last year, it's somewhat like the Bears or ViQueens....it's always a hard fought game against them. I'll be shocked if this turns into any sort of blowout, particularly with all the injuries we still have, and not knowing who's going to play. I was completely wrong about the Bear game, I'll admit it, and although I can foresee a Packer win, I don't think it will be easy if it happens. 27-24 Packers...or the other way around. I wouldn't want to bet on this game.

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Cartwright's picture

October 06, 2017 at 03:46 pm

There's a contoversy with who should be called America's team. I think it's simple, the Cowboys are Corporate America's Team and the Packers are The People's Team of America. If we get our guys back this Sunday the people's team shows Jerry and the Doughboys where that name truely belongs.

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