2023 NFC Wildcard Preview: #7 Green Bay Packers at #2 Dallas Cowboys
The 2023 NFL Playoffs are right around the corner! Of all the matchups, there are few quite as interesting as the Packers heading to AT&T Stadium and facing off against the Cowboys. Of course, this is a classic NFC matchup between two historical franchises. However, the implications on both sides are massive.
With the Eagles’ late-season collapse, Dak Prescott and Dallas had much to gain as they became NFC East champions. It’s only poetic that former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is playing the villain against his former team.
As for Green Bay, Jordan Love has the chance to win a playoff game in his first season as the starting quarterback. Imagine telling that to the cheeseheads after they traded Aaron Rodgers last year! Let’s not waste any more time on how this game could play out.
How The Cowboys Can Win
Play Your Game:
The Cowboys have been a very good team from pretty much start to finish this year. However, they haven’t been able to shake their label of playoff chokers for a very long time. While you can fire up the tape and look at individual plays, you also cannot discount the mental side of things.
Do you really think Dak Prescott doesn’t think about what everyone on social media says? How about Micah Parsons? The ‘Boys need to use their past disappointments as motivation for this weekend. They can make a statement against a team that has historically had their number for a long time. If they can limit unforced errors and just play without pressure, then who knows how far they can go?
Let Dak And CeeDee Cook:
There’s arguably no better QB-WR duo right now than Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. The former Oklahoma receiver led the NFL in receptions and has reached a new level in 2023. He’s gonna command a monster contract and there’s no better negotiating tactic than to go out and make a deep postseason run.
If the pair are able to get going early and string together completions, then things could move very quickly. However, Lamb will have a tough task ahead, assuming Jaire Alexander will be covering him. Again, if Lamb wins that matchup, then the Cowboys will probably win the game.
Make Love Pay:
Dallas has the sixth-best turnover differential in the league this season. One of the reasons for that is the emergence of DaRon Bland as an elite ballhawk. His nine interceptions in 2023 were most by a considerable margin.
With Trevon Diggs‘ injury early in the season, Bland and Stephon Gilmore have solidified themselves as a solid cornerback duo. They will have to continue to be elite if they want to slow down Love and the Packers’ offense. Shutting down Green Bay’s weapons and even forcing some turnovers will be exactly what Dallas needs to remove any anxiety.
The same could be said of the defensive line. Micah Parsons has put in yet another excellent season and is on pace to being a Hall of Famer. Dorance Armstrong has 16 sacks in the last two seasons and has emerged as a really nice complimentary piece. A defensive front that wins the line of scrimmage, especially early on, will make life really difficult for Matt LaFleur and Co. in front of a roaring crowd.
How The Packers Can Win:
Get To The Quarterback:
You don’t have to watch much football to know that Dak Prescott makes silly mistakes a lot. He has improved a lot in 2023 after leading the league in interceptions the year prior. However, this is a whole new season.
While the Dallas offensive line is one of the best in the league, Green Bay has some playmakers–one of whom is Rashan Gary, who got paid amid another solid year. One of the reasons Prescott has had such a good year is because of the amount of time the line gives him in the pocket. Should the Packers be able to take that away and make him rush for a few plays, then the mistakes we’re accustomed to seeing could very well return.
Wake Up The Run:
The duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon have had a regular season that leaves a lot to be desired. However, there is no better time for Jones to turn it around (Dillon is out due to injury).
Love has had a really good season but his job will be much easier if the running game can punch Dallas in the mouth. Yes, both have had some injury concerns in recent weeks. If not them, someone has gotta step up and become a playoff hero. They’ve gotten here without a 1,000-yard receiver or rusher, so a big game or big play from Jones could be all it takes.
Make Them Nervous:
I’m playing both sides of the Cowboys’ playoff shortcomings. The last thing you can do is let Dallas blow the game up early. LaFleur must be ready for the early swing from McCarthy. If they can withstand that and keep it a one or two-score game into the second half, then they will love their chances.
The longer the Packers can leave doubts in the Cowboys and their fans’ minds, the better. It’s also worth noting that both teams were middle of the pack in the red zone during the regular season. If one of them wins that battle and makes the most of their chances, that will tip the scales.
This is gonna be a good game. One team is looking to finally make their jump over the hump after letdown after letdown. The other is playing with house money and would love to play spoiler. While I’d love to see another Packers triumph, Dallas is the better team by a decent margin. I don’t think they will implode this early in the playoffs.
Prediction: Dallas Wins 31-17
