Cowboys-Packers Preview

 

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• Countdown Daily Recap: Cowboys-Packers

SCOUTING REPORT

Cowboys-Packers: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Cowboys-Packers matchup. 1. Dallas needs to limit Green Bay's explosive plays: The Cowboys have done a great job of forcing opponents to take the quick check-down pass thanks to their explosive pass rush along with a strong blitz package. They are willing to let opponents complete short passes as long as they manage to get there quickly and prevent many yards after the catch. With the likes of receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, the Packers have the ability to score quickly.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
DAL	6-3	224	169	3-1	3-2	1-1	5-2
GNB	5-4	232	179	3-2	2-2	2-2	4-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Dallas Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Romo 60.4 2466 14 6

Green Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rodger... 63.9 2444 17 5 Flynn 66.7 15 0 0

Dallas Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Barber 103 473 4.6 4 Jones 44 304 6.9 1

Green Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Grant 168 700 4.2 4 Rodger... 37 229 6.2 3

Dallas Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Austin 31 632 20.4 7 Witten 49 438 8.9 1

Green Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Driver 41 663 16.2 4 Jennin... 38 543 14.3 2

Full Player Stats: Dallas | Green Bay

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	DAL	390.0
	GNB	366.0
Yards Passing	DAL	260.4
	GNB	247.0
Yards Rushing	DAL	130.0
	GNB	119.2
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	DAL	330.6
	GNB	282.3
Pass Yds Allowed	DAL	227.4
	GNB	189.2
Rush Yds Allowed	DAL	103.1
	GNB	93.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 2-2
Sep 21, 2008	DAL 27, GNB 16
Nov 29, 2007	DAL 37, @GNB 27
Oct 24, 2004	DAL 20, GNB 41

The Dallas Cowboys know their season will be defined by how they do in December. That doesn't mean they don't want to take advantage of how well Tony Romo plays the month before.

Romo returns to the state where he grew up, searching for his 14th straight November win -- and fifth in a row overall for Dallas -- when the Cowboys take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

Dallas (6-2) has seen promising seasons the last three years turn into lost opportunities because of its 5-8 December record in that span. Romo has a quarterback rating of at least 93.0 in every month except December, when he has a 71.9 rating with 14 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

"I'm not sure every player as they start don't have those ghosts so to speak to overcome," owner Jerry Jones said. "It's just another challenge."

There's no doubt that November is when Romo is at his best with 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 115.9 rating in 17 games. He went 21 of 34 for 307 yards, one score and one interception to open this month as Dallas won 20-16 at Philadelphia last Sunday night to take a one-game lead in the NFC East.

"We executed," Romo said. "I think the coaches put together a good plan. You just have to keep fighting and getting better."

This is the second straight year Romo, who grew up in Burlington, Wis., is playing at Green Bay (4-4) after he guided Dallas to a 27-16 win last Sept. 21. Miles Austin had two receptions for 115 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

That was Austin's first career TD catch, and he's emerged as the Cowboys' biggest receiving threat. Austin has six touchdowns and 531 yards during Dallas' four-game win streak.

While Austin had the go-ahead 49-yard score last weekend, Roy Williams had five catches for 75 yards and Jason Witten had seven for 43. It provided further evidence that the Cowboys' disharmony from the past with Terrell Owens on the team is no longer an issue.

"If you want to talk chemistry or whatever, I think we have that with this team," coach Wade Phillips said. "We're not a big ego team. We're kind of a selfless team. But we'll find out more now with everyone telling them they're great. I think they'll handle it."

The mood is very different for the Packers, who are trying to avoid a third straight loss. Their first three defeats came to division leaders Cincinnati and Minnesota (twice) before a 38-28 road loss to previously winless Tampa Bay last Sunday.

Aaron Rodgers has been sacked a league-high 37 times after getting dropped six times last week. Rodgers threw three interceptions in Tampa -- one more than he had in his first seven games.

"We're disappointed and we're 4-4," coach Mike McCarthy said. "We're at the halfway point of our season. I'm very disappointed, but that's our work to this point. I take full responsibility. I'm at the point of this football team. I have all the confidence in this team that we'll get ready and we'll move on and win a big game here at home against Dallas."

Protecting Rodgers will be the main concern against a Dallas pass rush that features Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware (five sacks in the last four games) and nose tackle Jay Ratliff (three in last three). Each had one of the Cowboys' five sacks of Rodgers last year.

It will be an even tougher task for Green Bay if right tackle Mark Tauscher can't play. Tauscher sprained his left knee last week, the same knee he badly injured in December.

McCarthy said Tauscher has a "slight" chance of playing against Dallas.

Outside linebacker Aaron Kampman will not play after sustaining a concussion early in last week's game. Coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that Brad Jones would make his first NFL start in place of Kampman, who will miss his first game because of injury since October 2003.

The Cowboys aren't concerned with the Packers' myriad of problems.

"Right now I just think that we have the momentum going for us," Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking said. "We just have to keep things rolling and keep playing well."

Dallas has won 13 of its last 15 against Green Bay. The Cowboys were 0-5 at Lambeau Field before last year's victory.

Money at center of fortunes for Boys, Skins

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Packers' Havner fined $5K for late hit vs. Dallas

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Greg Ellis officially an ex-Cowboy

As expected, the Cowboys weren't able to find a team willing to trade for Greg Ellis, so they released him today.

Already interest in Greg Ellis

When news broke of the Cowboys' release of Greg Ellis earlier today, the phone of Ellis' agent, James D. Williams, started to ring from interested parties.

Money is no longer flowing for Dallas Cowboys

I don't mean GM broke. Or Michael Vick broke. Or even Tom Hicks broke. But it certainly appears as though Jerry is paying more attention to the bottom line when it comes to the Cowboys than he's ever done in the past.

Kitna knows his job with Dallas Cowboys is be ready if Romo isn't

By MAC ENGEL CARROLLTON - Jerry Jones was just kidding, but the sad part of what he said a few days before the 2009 NFL Draft was true.'Last year we had one quarterback who was hurt and another quarterback who was playing like he was hurt,' Jones said.The comment drew uncomfortable laughter, and Jones immediately recognized what he had just ...

Dallas Cowboys have plenty to prove in 2009

Jean-Jacques Taylor has been at the DMN for 16 years. He covered the Rangers and Cowboys before becoming a columnist.

S Atari Bigby isn't back yet, but he's ready to go

Atari Bigby says he feels great, and that's saying something, considering how the Green Bay Packers' strong safety limped through the 2008 season.

Packers Daily Briefing 06.01.09

Jun. 1, 2009 6:00 a.m. Good morning. Here is your PDB for Monday, June 1, 2009. It contains all the links, info, analysis and occasional humor you'll need to start your day.

Tauscher's replacement will be green

The Green Bay Packers won't anoint a new starting right tackle until August, but they'll go to training camp with a pretty good idea about the identity of Mark Tauscher's successor.

Rodgers looks to expand leadership

Aaron Rodgers' strong 2008 season has him operating the 2009 Packers offense with confidence - much more so than last year at this time.