Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers Spread

Written by Jack Jones - Google +

The disappointing 1-6 Dallas Cowboys visit the 5-3 Green Bay Packers Sunday night on NBC at 8:20 EST. This will be the last chance for America’s Team to turn things around, because chances are that a 9-7 record is not going to get them in the playoffs. And in all reality, everyone has already counted them out. Meanwhile, Green Bay continues to impress despite a plethora of injuries. The lines for this contest show us odds of Green Bay -7.5 over Dallas with a total set of 45.5 points.

Both of these teams were many folk’s choices to win the Super Bowl. Green Bay still has those hopes alive after battling through their injuries, but the Cowboys are to the point where they are on pace to get one of the Top 5 picks in the NFL Draft next offseason. The Packers have won back-to-back games coming into this one over the Jets and the Vikings, while Dallas could lose their fifth straight for the first time since 1997.

Both teams finished 11-5 last season with a legitimate chance to reach the Super Bowl. The Packers sit atop the NFC North right now by a half-game, while the Cowboys own the second-worst record in the NFL. Green Bay opened 2-0, but went on to lose three of their next four games including a pair of overtime losses. But this team has shown their resiliency with a 28-24 win over Minnesota followed by a very impressive 9-0 shutout victory at the Jets last week. It was the Packers first shutout on the road since 1991.

Dallas must get back to focusing on fundamental football, because time and time again they continue beating themselves. Sunday’s 35-17 loss to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars was their latest setback, and after watching the film head coach Wade Phillips says his focus all week will be on running, blocking, tackling catching, covering and throwing. They will hardly gameplan for the Packers, which is probably the right way to go about it considering nothing else Phillips has tried has worked.

Phillips remains in charge of the defense, and though they return 10 starters and were dominant last season, they have been anything but dominant in 2010. The Cowboys have given up 33.5 points per game during their 4-game skid. If the defensive effort isn’t bad enough, the Cowboys are forced to finish the season without star QB Tony Romo who is out with a broken collarbone. Jon Kitna made his first start since 2008 against the Jaguars and played well, throwing for 379 yards and a touchdown. Kitna was intercepted 3 times, but all three of those picks bounced off receivers hands.

Kitna could struggle against a Green Bay defense that is allowing only 17.0 points per game this season. Even though Green Bay has had to start a third-string safety and a pair of backup linebackers, their production has not dropped off. The Packers rank third in both interceptions (12) and sacks (24). The offense hasn’t been nearly as sharp as it was a year ago, which is understandable considering RB Ryan Grant and TE Jermichael Finley are lost for the season. Aaron Rodgers will also be without second-leading receiver Donald Driver this week with a quadriceps injury. Somehow, someway they’ll have to overcome it and they’ve shown they are fully capable.

BetUS Projected Score: Packers 27 – Cowboys 19

Comments

Got something to say?