Let's take a quick peak as some of the key match ups going into the NFC Divisional match up between Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

Aaron Rodgers vs Rod Marinelli
Can you name any defensive coordinator that would have the edge over Aaron Rodgers? I can't think of one and surely a coach who lead a team to an 0 - 16 record doesn't have said edge.
[h]Big Edge: Aaron Rodgers[/h]


Tony Romo vs Dom Capers
Teryl Austin dialed up some well timed blitz's that got Romo off his game quite a bit and while I think he might be a better DC than Capers, the edge here goes to Capers because he has better talent depth than Austin.
[h]Slight Edge: Dom Capers[/h]


Eddie Lacy vs Bruce Carter, Rolando McClain &
Anthony Hitchens
If McClain is starting and is as 100% as a NFL player can be at this stage of the season, the edge goes to the LB group.
McClain is the key cog to this defensive group and if his concussion like symptions are nothing, it could be a 3 yards and dust for Lacy.
[h]Edge: Dallas Linebackers[/h]


DeMarco Murray vs Julius Peppers, Sam Barrington, Clay Matthews III & Mike Neal
Murray has averaged 4.7 yards a carry during the regular season racking up 1,845 yards. That's over 115 yards per game and the Packers defense has been giving up around 80 yards rushing per game the last half of the season.
The latter stat is more of an illusion and Murray has the edge here.
[h]Edge: DeMarco Murray[/h]


Jordy Nelson & Randall Cobb vs Brandon Carr & Orlando Scandrick
The Packers top wideouts have snagged 189 catches for 2,806 yards and 25 touchdowns during the 2014 regular season.
I don't think you need to know anything else to determine who gets the edge here.
[h]Big Edge: Packers WR's[/h]


Dez Bryant &
Terrance Williams vs Sam Shields & Tramon Williams
Bryant is going to win some battles here and for those who think the grass will slow him down, do you not remember Julio Jones?
[h]Edge: Dallas WR's[/h]


And now for the trenches, where every game is won or lost.

Packers OL vs Cowboys DL
Packers pass blocking grade is 47.6 (1st) while the Cowboys pass rush grade is 25.9 (8th).
Packers run blocking grade is -11.8 (17th) and Cowboys run defense grade is
-20.0 (22nd).
[h]Slight Edge: Packers OL primarily because of Rodgers[/h]


Cowboys OL vs Packers DL
Packers pass rush grade is 18.5 (13th) while the Cowboys pass block grade is 22.4 (2nd).
Packers run defense grade is -31.8 (28th) and Cowboys run block grade is 60.7 (2nd).
[h]Big Edge: Cowboys OL[/h]


Special Teams Grades
Packers -12.4 (24th)
Cowboys 28.0 (9th)
[h]Big Edge: Cowboys[/h]


Overall Grades
Packers Offense 98.8 (2nd) and Cowboys Defense 3.3 (17th)
Cowboys Offense 143.2 (1st) and Packers Defense -4.5 (19th)
[h]Edge: Tie[/h]


Zero's Power Ranking
Packers held onto 1st place with a +28.0 differential while the Cowboys took 2nd place with a +22.0 differential.

[h]Slight Edge: Packers[/h]


ProFootballFocus.com was used as the source for all grades mentioned.

Besides Rodgers, the biggest edge for GB is playing in Lambeau.
The turf and slower field impacts dome teams more than teams that play on a natural field.

Pretty Good Analysis, Zero.

One minor glitch; Justin Durant has been out since about mid-season injured. Hitchens, the kid from Purdue has done even better, though. They have a lot of good ILBs to choose from.

Marinelli is a really good D Coordinator - witness the Cowboys D with him compared to without him last year. However, the key match IMO is Aaron Rodgers - the best QB in the history of the world - versus the Cowboys weakest point, their D backfield. He should pick them apart if our O Line can be just barely adequate. Don't sell the Cowboys D Line too short either. They have been pretty decent for not having much big name talent.

Romo had his best year in a long time, but he can be confused, and Capers is just the D Coordinator to do it. The trick will be loading up enough to not get beat by Murray while still pressuring Romo. Unlike Rodgers - who teams almost don't dare blitz, Romo they almost don't dare not blitz. And he won't run, but he will extend the play and throw it.

I've watched just about every Cowboy game; They are my second favorite team - dating back to the Ice Bowl years - long before I came to Texas. Jerry has done a damn good GM job building them back to a quality team. Just the same, Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers. Thus, the Packers have a comfortable edge, even though just about every other position or position group, the Cowboys are better.

All I know is......if the Plowboys beat the Packers, I will be very depressed. I got to go to the playoff game in Dallas in 1996, and got sick of watching the Packers lose playoff games in big D.
Them coming here and losing, would help me forget those years a little bit.

texaspackerbacker;301808Pretty Good Analysis, Zero.

One minor glitch; Justin Durant has been out since about mid-season injured. Hitchens, the kid from Purdue has done even better, though. They have a lot of good ILBs to choose from.

dammit, that's what i get for trusting nfl.com and cowboys website

thanks, fixed.

We have the talent to win this game, so if we lose, it will be because we shit ourselves.

Packers are undefeated at home, and the Gurls are undefeated on the road, so it should be an "immovable object meeting irresistible force" type scenario.
Just not sure this group can hold it together for three games in a row against quality competition.

One week?
Yes.
Two more?
We shall see.

And if ST costs us the season, Slocum will HAVE to go.

I really think the Packers can and should win this game. But if they make too many mistakes, they could easily lose. It's the playoffs, so they will need to bring their "A" game if they want to advance. But I think the Packers "A" game is better than the Cowboys "A" game, so the Packers should win. It will likely be close, though. As always, a quick 14-21 points could seal the game early.

DoddPower;301842I really think the Packers can and should win this game. But if they make too many mistakes, they could easily lose. It's the playoffs, so they will need to bring their "A" game if they want to advance. But I think the Packers "A" game is better than the Cowboys "A" game, so the Packers should win. It will likely be close, though. As always, a quick 14-21 points could seal the game early.

We caught a break, thanks to the officials, imo.

We're not playing the better team from that game.

nerdmann;301844We caught a break, thanks to the officials, imo.

We're not playing the better team from that game.

Packers wouldn't be playing the Lions if they had won, they would be playing Panthers.

nerdmann;301844We caught a break, thanks to the officials, imo.

We're not playing the better team from that game.

we may not be playing the better team from that game but I think we are playing the better team so no break imo.