3 reasons the Dallas Cowboys will beat the Green Bay Packers

The Cowboys will avenge their loss two years ago

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys is not just a rematch of their Week 6 meeting, but it’s also a repeat of the Divisional Round game two years ago when Dez Bryant’s non-catch sent shockwaves through the NFL. However, a lot has changed since both of those games. The Cowboys enter as the better team this time around, while also playing at home. Oh, and Tony Romo isn’t heading Dallas on Sunday – it’ll be Dak Prescott doing that just as he did in the 30-16 win in Week 6.

There’s of course a trip to the NFC title game on the line, and rather than the Packers making it two appearances in three years, it’ll be the Cowboys advancing. Here are three reasons that’ll happen on Sunday at 4:40 p.m. on FOX.

THE PACKERS GAVE UP THE 2ND-MOST PASSING YARDS IN 2016

All year, the Packers’ biggest weakness has been their passing defense. As a team, they’ve given up an average of 270 passing yards per game. The Packers’ number one cornerback Sam Shields was placed on injured reserve with a concussion and Quinton Rollins is battling a neck issue.

I don’t expect the Cowboys to air it out much, but if they need to, it shouldn’t be tough sledding for Dak Prescott. Dez Bryant will be able to win on the outside, but the biggest mismatch should be between Cole Beasley and safety Micah Hyde, who will be given the task of covering Beasley.

Dez Bryant will exploit Green Bay’s secondary

The biggest difference between Week 6’s meeting and Sunday’s is Dez Bryant. He wasn’t healthy for the first matchup, and while the Cowboys didn’t appear to miss him, he’s a game-changing player for Dallas. The Packers like to play man coverage, which Bryant thrives against. When he sees a cornerback lined up across from him and one safety deep in the middle of the field, he knows it’s one-on-one and Dak Prescott will recognize that, too. Prescott and Bryant improved their chemistry in recent weeks, which will help them in this one.

The Packers will be put in a bind defensively with Bryant on the field. Do they shade a safety his way to take him away? Or do they keep a safety in the box to stop the run, thus giving Bryant open looks? Either way, the Cowboys will have an advantage at one of the spots. Bryant’s mere presence on the field will change the way Green Bay plays defense.

The Cowboys are deep in the secondary

The Cowboys are getting healthy at just the right moment. Morris Claiborne is back after missing the majority of the season, while Orlando Scandrick is beginning to look like himself. They give the Cowboys four solid cornerbacks to go along with Brandon Carr and impressive rookie Anthony Brown. And at safety, Byron Jones is a versatile weapon while Barry Church is a sure tackler. There’s a reason Pro Football Focus ranked the Cowboys’ secondary as the best in the NFL this season, and it’s because they can do it all.

The Packers have playmakers on offense, but Dallas’ secondary is so deep and talented enough to match up with Green Bay’s weapons. And with Jones, Church and J.J. Wilcox patrolling the middle of the field, breaking big plays will be tough for the Packers – unlike their Divisional Matchup two years ago when missed tackles were an issue. Dallas’ secondary will have a huge impact on this game, and Claiborne’s return might just be the difference.

by :http://www.foxsports.com/

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